Keene, NH Road Trips

Keene is the county seat of Cheshire County and has been a local center of commerce and culture for a long time. This is reflected in the profusion of pretty buildings in town, only a few of which are pictured in this article. Keene is also believed to be the inspiration of the fictional town of Brantford in Jumanji. Scenes from the film were shot here.

1 Park Hill Meetinghouse, Westmoreland. built in 1764 (updated Jun 2017)

The Colonial Theatre, 95 Main St, ☏ +1 603 352-2033. open daily. The Colonial Theatre is an 888-seat non-profit historic theatre operating continuously since 1924 and featuring the finest in live events and niche film. There is something happening every day at The Colonial Theatre, whether it's an arthouse film, luring music, Broadway, dance, comedy; community events or the new Backstage Series (featuring alternative performers in a club-like setting). Highland Hill & firetower, Greater Goose Pond and Drummer Hill, Beech Hill Preserve, Beaver Brook Falls, Horatio Colony Trust. Mount Monadnock, 169 Poole Rd. Jaffrey NH (Route 101 or Route 124 to Dublin Rd). Monadnock State Park is located in and around the 3,165-ft. Mount Monadnock. The park is surrounded by thousands of acres of protected highlands. In 1987, Mount Monadnock was designated a National Natural Landmark. The park offers year-round recreational opportunities. Moderate to Difficult hiking to scenic summit from multiple trail heads in the region. Maps available at staffed park HQ. (updated Jun 2023) Keene offers a variety of recreational areas. Wheelock Park, Central Square, Robin Hood Park, Otter Brook Dam Recreation Area

Keene also features several major chains of mid-scale restaurants, each of which have their own bars. On Winchester St. is Applebees. Located off Winchester Street, at the Monadnock Marketplace, are Chilis, and the Longhorn Steakhouse. Brewbakers, 48 Emerald St. (Main St. just past the Colonial Theater), ☏ +1 603 355-4844. M-Th 7AM-9PM, F Sa 7AM-10PM, Su 8AM-8PM. Wonderful little cafe where all the college and high school students hang out. Very busy during dinnertime and on the weekends; you'll be hard-pressed to find a table. Decks of cards, sketchbooks, and newspapers available, outlets and wifi easy to access. Delicious food. $2-7. (updated Jun 2023)

Colony Mill, West St. Houses the Elm City Brewery, which is a micro-brew known for its wide selection of beers made on site. Different brews are featured daily, so check out the daily specials board for that day's choices. The Brewery also has a large menu of pub fare and main courses, at reasonable prices. It has several TVs, and an outdoor seating section during the summer. The Main Street (Downtown) area of Keene hosts several bars and nightclubs. Kilkenny's (near the Railroad). Primarily a beer bar, Kilkenny's has several pool tables. Although it is one of the smaller bars, its drinks are fairly inexpensive, making it a common starting point for people making the rounds of the Keene bar scene or doing a crawl. However, Kilkenny's does tend to draw more locals, and has a more conservative feel. Margarita's, Main Street (next to the Colonial Theater). A large Mexican restaurant. While it does serve a full range of drinks, it is mainly known for its creative, though expensive, margaritas. It has an extensive Mexican-themed menu, and outdoor seating. In addition to a restaurant section, it has a lounge area that also features a pool table. Lab and Lager, Main Street. One of the newer bars in Keene. The Lap has a small outdoor seating section, and some pool tables indoors. It draws a college-aged crowd, though it is generally considered a cheap knock-off of the Railroad. Generally hosts an older, more mature crowd (30-40). 21 Roxbury, Roxbury St (just off Main Street). It is a martini bar with up-scale martinis and other cocktails.

1 Fairfield Inn & Suites, 30 Main St, ☏ +1 603 357-7070, fax: +1 603 357-7075. Best Western Plus Keene Hotel, 401 Winchester St, ☏ +1 603 357-3038, toll-free: +1-800-780-7234, fax: +1 603 357-4776. Keene Elm City Hotel, Ascend Hotel Collection, 175 Key Rd, ☏ +1 603 352-7616. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. $129.

Keene is most easily accessible by taking I-91 in Vermont to Exit 3 and getting on VT-9 in Brattleboro. Then head into the traffic circle until VT-9 continues and follow it over a small bridge into New Hampshire (VT-9 becomes NH-9). Follow NH-9 about 15 miles to Keene. From the east, Keene is accessible via NH-101. NH-9 also connects Keene to Concord to the northeast. NH-12 heads southeast and continues into Massachusetts as MA-12, where it leads to Fitchburg, Leominster, and eventually Worcester. Dillant-Hopkins Airport, 80 Airport Rd, ☏ +1 603 357-9835. Small regional airport has two runways of 6,200 and 4,000 feet.