Local Spots to Study, Shop, Socialize and Sightsee
Whether you’re looking for a place to get into your essay zone or just stroll around with some friends after class, Manchester is a city that has it all—and UNH Manchester’s historic campus is just a few minutes away from some of the best spots! Check out some of our current students’ favorites below.
1. Bookery Manchester (844 Elm Street)
Bookery Manchester has a little bit of everything: books (obviously), stickers, a prime selection of Jellycat stuffed animals, an assortment of greeting cards and the cozy Cat Alley Cafe tucked right in the back. From romance novels to fantasy epics to tell-all memoirs, you'd be hard-pressed to leave Bookery without a page-turner in hand and an evening of reading booked (pun very much intended). Bookery also serves as a hub for local events—from author visits to live music to workshops—and there’s always something to enjoy at Manchester’s premier independent bookstore.
2. Queen City Cupcakes and Gift Shop (816 Elm Street)
Learning is serious work, so when you need a boost of saccharine sweetness to fuel your midday study sessions, why not drop by Queen City Cupcakes? With a rotating weekly menu of gourmet cupcakes (with exotic flavors that include Raspberry Lemon, Brownie Batter and Salted Caramel Oreo) and a wide selection of New Hampshire-themed gifts, Queen City Cupcakes is the ideal location for an afternoon pick-me-up. Don’t forget to grab a funky pair of socks on your way out!
3. Millyard Museum (129 Amherst Street)
There’s no better place to appreciate local history and learn something new than the Manchester Historic Association's Millyard Museum. The museum has exhibits on various historical topics and periods—you can see stone tools the Paleo-Indians who fished at Amoskeag Falls used thousands of years ago, dresses worn by notable women from Manchester’s history and a topographical map of the local river’s ecosystems and geography. You don’t need to be a history major to appreciate all the museum has to offer, and UNH Manchester students get to visit for free year-round, so what are you waiting for?
4. Livingston Park (156 Hooksett Road)
Need some time to recharge away from the hustle and bustle and get back to your roots (literally and figuratively)? Situated on Dorrs Pond (which is open for fishing and ice skating on a seasonal basis), Livingston Park is a 131-acre swath of land with trails of various lengths and difficulties for walking and sightseeing. Pack a picnic, lace up your hiking boots or borrow a friend’s dog to live your cottagecore fantasy just five minutes from the city. Keep an eye out for local fauna like herons, warblers and bullfrogs (be sure not to touch them, though!) while attending local sporting and music events at the same park. And, of course: take only pictures and leave only footprints.
5. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash Street)
The Currier Museum is the perfect place for your daily dose of culture and wonder. Rotating exhibits include works by Pablo Picasso, Daniel Torres, and Filippo de Pisis along with recent and local artists Pick up a painting postcard or art book at the gift shops, take classes on figure drawing or mixed media, and learn about storytelling in scientific illustration--all five minutes away from UNH Manchester? The best part: UNH Manchester students get free admission year-round, which makes the Currier Museum a perfectly curated complementary learning destination to complement the student experience. While you’re at it, watch for artwork by UNH’s own Richard Haynes displayed!