Forget Boston, Retire To This Underrated New England City With A Walkable Downtown, Quaint Shops, And Outdoor Fun

Dover is an often-overlooked gem in New England. The picturesque metropolis is a part of New Hampshire’s Seacoast area, recognized for its beautiful shoreline, historic cities, and charming cities. Visitors will uncover distinctive shops, fairly parks, and wonderful trails via its riverfront downtown. Its value of residing is way less expensive than Boston, too, all of which makes this seaside hamlet excellent for retirees. Tucked the place the Bellamy and Cocheco Rivers meet the Piscataqua River earlier than it flows into the Atlantic Ocean, that is the oldest permanent settlement within the Granite State. 

Dover’s factories thrived for greater than 100 years earlier than closing in the mid-1930s through the Great Depression. Many of their brick buildings nonetheless stand within the middle of town immediately, lending a historic really feel to town. They sit on Central Avenue, the simply walkable important avenue within the coronary heart of Dover. Home to just about 35,000 individuals, that is the fourth-largest metropolis in New Hampshire and is luring in retirees with its low residing bills, taxes, and crime charges. Although bitter winters with heavy snow and a scarcity of transportation infrastructure would possibly delay some, Dover makes up for its downsides with its preferrred location, sandwiched between the coast and mountain climbing trails.

As you begin strolling down Central Avenue, you will discover plenty of quaint retailers within the middle of Dover. Near the Cocheco River Waterfall at Cocheco Mills, you will discover Dover Art Supply. They promote all the pieces from oils and watercolors to palettes and sketchpads inside SEH Studios Art Gallery, which showcases New England artists. For domestically made items, together with candles and meals, cease at My Country Store. You can decide up New Hampshire-themed gadgets there, too.

After crossing Route 9 over the Cocheco River, you will see Replenish Refillery, an eco-friendly enterprise that eschews plastics by letting you fill your individual containers with their sustainable physique and residential merchandise. Nearby Birch Theory is one other values-driven store centered on its environmental influence. The reward store shares fair-trade merchandise with eco-friendly packaging made by girls, BIPOC, AAPI, LGBTQ, and veteran-owned manufacturers.

If you are on the lookout for issues the little ones will get pleasure from, try Noggin Factory. The large house has been a Dover mainstay for 20 years. In addition to promoting books, video games, and toys, the shop hosts vacation occasions and helps children have a good time their birthdays. Right subsequent door, Lickee’s & Chewy’s Candies & Creamery is one other spot that may delight the entire household. From handmade goodies to caramels, guests can browse candies from all around the world or select between 28 flavors of ice cream for a shake or sundae in its ice cream cafe.

After indulging in too many treats, you will in all probability be prepared for some out of doors enjoyable. The Dover Community Trail runs via the middle of town. This 6.4-mile path, utilized by bikers, hikers, and walkers, has each paved and gravel sections. It additionally has fairly river views alongside the best way. For much more spectacular views, of not solely Dover, however the entire Seacoast area, go to Garrison Hill Park. This is the place you will discover the Garrison Hill Tower, a 76-foot remark tower with 360-degree views that reach all the best way to Portsmouth, a scenic metropolis on the New England coast.

On the outskirts of Dover, you will additionally discover the Bellamy River Wildlife Sanctuary. The 26-acre protect, which sits the place the Bellamy River meets Little Bay, is a peaceable birdwatching spot. You can comply with its simple, 2.5-mile Bellamy River Trail, a loop path that meanders via the estuary.

Getting to Dover is pretty easy with loads of choices. Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT), which gives low cost flights and a wide range of New England beers, is lower than an hour by automobile from Dover. Since New Hampshire’s largest airport receives nonstop flights from principally East Coast cities, you also needs to take into account Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), the place you’ll be able to fly in from world wide. Another possibility is driving the prepare from Boston. Amtrak’s Downeaster prepare, which departs from Boston’s North Station, stops in Dover en path to Brunswick, Maine, a seaside magnificence lined with distinctive retailers.