The College Town Near New Hampshire's Coast Where New England Charm Meets Scenic Farmland

For many of us, New England evokes an image of rugged coastlines, sea breezes, and beautiful fall foliage. It's a place where college towns are filled with red brick buildings and clapboard houses, and the countryside is full of winding country lanes, covered bridges, and acre upon acre of rolling farmland. New Hampshire offers all of this and more, and Durham stands out as a must-visit destination.

Home to the University of New Hampshire's (UNH) main campus, Durham is a quintessential New England college town. The permanent population of around 15,000 is nearly equalled by the student body, making Durham a young, vibrant city. There's a thriving arts scene and tons of coffee shops and diverse restaurants to keep students and locals happy. Just a short drive from the coast and surrounded by serene farmland, Durham offers a college-town atmosphere, scenic hiking trails, and a healthy dose of classic New England charm.

To soak in Durham's charm, your first stop should be on tree-lined Main Street, where low red brick buildings sit alongside pretty clapboard houses. Grab a drink from the volunteer-run Freedom Café, a non-profit working to end human trafficking, where customers love the coffee as much as the cause. For a sweet treat, pop into Campus Creamery and try a generous serving of ice cream.

Just outside of town, Emery Farm is a must-visit — it's one of the oldest family farms in America. Its café is the perfect place to try New Hampshire's farm-to-table produce, with all ingredients sourced as locally as possible. There are homemade baked goods, including apple cider donuts and indulgent cookies, delicious sandwiches, healthy smoothies, and coffee and tea served all day long. Visitors love the outdoor seating area, which affords peaceful views across the countryside. Emery also features a small petting barn with friendly goats, hens, and a rabbit, a family play area, and events such as sunset hayrides and live music in the summer.

For more time in nature, Wagon Hill Farm offers a preserved wilderness with meadows, forests, and winding trails backing onto the Oyster River. More walking trails can be found starting from the UNH campus. The most popular are in College Woods, which covers 250 acres and has over 6 miles of tree-lined pathways. As you wander, you're likely to bump into college students exercising and even professors conducting classes.

If you're staying overnight in Durham, check out the Three Chimneys Inn, with its quaintly decorated rooms and an adjoining restaurant serving local cuisine and craft brews. A stay costs around $200 per night. A number of other well-reviewed, independent, and chain hotels are available in the town center.

Durham is well-connected and easy to reach. It's a little over an hour's drive from Boston, where the Logan International Airport is served by flights from all over the country and beyond. You can also take the train in under an hour and a half from Boston — the Amtrak station in Durham is right on the UNH campus. The town is also less than an hour's drive from Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, which offers a variety of domestic flights.

While Durham is a great destination in its own right, it's perfectly situated as a base to explore southern New Hampshire. You can visit nearby Portsmouth, known for its historic downtown, mouthwatering seafood, and large number of art galleries. Not to mention that travel expert Samantha Brown says that Portsmouth has some of the best ice cream in the U.S. Alternatively, you could drive 30 minutes inland to Epsom, a cozy destination for a couple's camping trip.