The Hanover, NH are has lots of fun activities...hiking, swimming, canoeing, biking, shopping, and eating! Here are some of our favorite quick things to do for Saturday or Sunday:

Breakfast at Lou's Diner

Our favorite way to start a Saturday or Sunday is breakfast at Lou's Diner on Main Street in Hanover.  Good food fast (with the possible exception of the french toast), and a Dartmouth mainstay.  From the Hanover Inn it's a quick 2 minute walk - ask anyone....everyone knows where Lou's is!  If there is a long line, don't fret! It moves very fast and is worth the short wait.

Mink Brook Trail

For a nice walk or run in Hanover along the river, we suggest the Mink Brook Trail. One loop is about 2 miles (maybe?), most of which is along the river (to complete the loop you take some streets). This is also a favorite swimming hole (from the point), and we usually end our runs with a quick dip in the river.

How to get there: From the Hanover Inn, follow South Main Street south a block or two to the corner of Main and Maple Streets (Just before the gas station on the right). Turn right onto Maple Street and follow it through the stop signs until it comes to a dead-end sharp right just after reaching the top of a small hill. The trail starts from the corner of the sharp turn - there is a sign. Park on the road near the trail head. The trail goes down a steepish hill to the swimming hole, and the trail continues from there.

Norwich Farmer's Market

Every Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm local farmers and artisens sell their produce and crafts at the Norwich Farmer's Market on Rt 5. It's a nice way to spend an hour on Saturday morning.

How to get there: From the Hanover Inn, go down the hill and cross the Connecticut River into Norwich and turn left at the first set of lights onto Route 5 (just after the I-91 overpass). Go ~2 miles down Route 5 until you see the sign for the Norwich Farmer's Market on your left.

Canoeing on the Connecticut

You can rent a canoe from the Ledyard Canoe Club in Hanover and take a paddle on the Connecticut. On weekends the canoe club is open from 9 am to 8 pm, and canoes are $10/hour or $30/day.

How to get there: From the Hanover Inn, head down the hill towards the river. Just before crossing the bridge over the river, take a right onto a dirt driveway and follow it through the parking lot to the Ledyard Canoe Club.

Connecticut Swimming Area

If you're not up for wading into the river along the Mink Brook Trail (see above), you can go to the small Swimming Area with a dock and ropes and a lifeguard.  The swimming area is located next to the Ledyard Canoe Club, so just follow the directions above. You'll see a path down to the dock.

Norwich Firetower Hike (Gile Mountain)

The 360 degree view from the top of the fire tower on Gile Mountain offers a beautiful view of the upper valley. It's a quick 3/4 mile hike (~30 mins) from the parking lot - good for trail running too!

How to get there: From Hanover, go down the hill and cross the Connecticut River into Norwich, and follow Main Street under I-91 into the center of Norwich. Pass Dan & Whit's General Store (0.0 miles) on the left and continue straight. Turn left onto Turnpike Road (0.6 miles), and stay left at the fork with New Boston Road (1.5 miles). At 3.2 miles, stay straight on Lower Turnpike Road, which turns to gravel at this point. At 5.8 miles, the road narrows further and on your left you'll see a sign that says "parking for tower trail". After the parking lot, the road get REALLY impassable, so you won't be able to go too far.

River Loop Bike Ride

Our favorite road bike loop is the 20 mile River Loop (1-2 hrs). From the Hanover Inn, coast down the hill and cross the Connecticut River into Norwich and take an immediate right onto River Road/Route 5. Follow Rt 5 up to East Thetford and take a right onto Lyme Road, and cross the bridge. On the other (New Hampshire) side of the bridge, take an immediate right onto River Road. A few miles down, River Road joins with Route 10. Continue south on Route 10 passing the Chieftain Inn on your right just before you get into Hanover. You'll pass the golf course and go through Dartmouth College before ending back at the Hanover Inn.