IN TOWN
A few square blocks hold most of what you'll want: shops, cafes, the museum, and the river, all an easy walk from the lobby.
Downtown Exeter
ON THE DOORSTEP
Independent shops, antique stores, galleries, and gift shops along the nineteenth-century storefronts of Front and Water Streets, anchored by the 1855 Town Hall and the town library.
Swasey Parkway
12-MIN WALK
A riverside park on the Squamscott with broad lawns, benches, and frequent farmers markets and events. Loveliest near sunset.
American Independence Museum
5-MIN WALK
Revolutionary-era artifacts and an original copy of the Declaration of Independence; the American Independence Festival fills the grounds each July.
Exeter Farmers Market
SEASONAL · DOWNTOWN
Local growers and makers, a warm-weather Saturday fixture. Dates run on the town's events calendar.
Fat Hen Brewing
WALKING DISTANCE
A small neighborhood brewery an easy walk from the inn, one of several that have brought the downtown to life.
ON THE WATER & TRAILS
The Squamscott runs through the middle of town, and quiet trails sit a few minutes beyond it.
Squamscott River & waterfront
2 BLOCKS EAST
Footbridges and birdwatching downtown, with kayaking and paddleboarding in the warmer months.
Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge
~20 MIN
Flat, fully accessible boardwalk trails through tidal marsh and saltwater estuary, a favorite for birdwatching and an easy, scenic outing.
Stratham Hill Park
~10 MIN
Wooded trails and an observation tower with views across the seacoast region.
Alnoba · Sawyer Park
~15 MIN
A conservation campus known for its outdoor art collection and walking trails (check access before visiting).
SPORTS & OUTDOORS
Golf, the river, and room to move. The active side of a weekend here.
Exeter Country Club
~10 MIN
A classic local club with golf a short drive from town.
Sagamore Golf
~20 MIN
A well-regarded public course out toward the seacoast.
Paddling the Squamscott
FROM DOWNTOWN
Kayak and paddleboard the river in the warmer months, launching a few minutes from the inn.
Planet Playground
~5 MIN
A large community playground, the easy answer for families with energy to spend.
Cycling & winter
SEASONAL
Quiet back roads for shoulder-season rides, and nearby parks for snowshoeing and sledding once the snow settles in.
THE COAST
Exeter is inland by a few miles. The Atlantic is about fifteen to twenty-five minutes east.
Hampton Beach State Park
~25 MIN
The classic sandy New England beach: boardwalk, summer live music, and a long shoreline.
Wallis Sands & Jenness Beach
~20 MIN
Quieter, rockier stretches of the Rye shoreline for a calmer afternoon.
Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse
~25 MIN
The only New Hampshire lighthouse reachable by land, an 1877 light with harbor views, walkable fort grounds, and seasonal tours.
Seacoast Science Center
~25 MIN
Tide pools and marine exhibits at Odiorne Point on the Rye coast; good for families.
Great Island Common
~30 MIN
A waterfront town park in New Castle with island and lighthouse views and picnic lawns.
EAT & DRINK
Start at Epoch downstairs, then work outward through downtown and the seacoast.
Epoch Restaurant & Bar
AT THE INN
Seasonal American cooking in a candlelit room just off the lobby.
Ambrose
DOWNTOWN EXETER
An upscale, seasonal, globally inflected room overlooking historic downtown, with a fireplace inside and a garden patio in summer.
The Big Bean Kitchen & Bar
DOWNTOWN EXETER
Scratch-made comfort food and a well-loved brunch, a good stop while exploring the town.
Vino e Vivo
PORTSMOUTH · ~25 MIN
A natural-wine bar with seasonal, shareable small plates in a warm, intimate room.
Exeter-area breweries
IN TOWN & NEARBY
Exeter Brewing Co., Sea Dog, and The Czar's in and around town, with Throwback in North Hampton.
Zorvino Vineyards & Flag Hill
~30 MIN
A local vineyard and a distillery-winery, both with tastings a short drive from the inn.
ARTS & MUSIC
The seacoast keeps a deep bench of live-music rooms, most within half an hour.
The Music Hall
PORTSMOUTH · ~25 MIN
A restored 1878 theater hosting concerts, film, and talks.
Jimmy's Jazz & Blues Club
PORTSMOUTH
Nightly live jazz and blues in an intimate, well-run room.
The Word Barn
EXETER
Intimate concerts and readings in a converted barn just outside the center of town.
The Stone Church
NEWMARKET · ~15 MIN
A long-running live-music room in a former church.
Prescott Park
PORTSMOUTH · ~25 MIN
Riverfront gardens with an arts festival, trial gardens in July, and outdoor concerts all summer.
Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
~25 MIN
Touring acts by the shore through the warmer months.
FARMS, GARDENS & SEASONS
The countryside around Exeter turns over with the calendar. This is the part of the guide that changes most by season.
Applecrest & Cider Hill Farms
~15–20 MIN
Pick-your-own, fresh cider, and farm stands that peak in the fall.
Coppal House Farm
~15 MIN
A working farm with a summer sunflower field and seasonal events.
Fuller Gardens
NORTH HAMPTON · ~25 MIN
A 1920s estate rose garden on the coast, in full bloom through the summer.
Through the seasons
YEAR-ROUND
Foliage along the Squamscott in autumn, the farmers market in summer, and the quiet of a snowy Front Street in winter. For what's on, see the town of Exeter's events calendar and TEAM Exeter.
FROM OUR DOORSTEP
Getting Around
The inn sits at the top of Front Street, an easy walk to shops, the museum, and the Squamscott. Beaches and gardens are fifteen to twenty-five minutes by car.