1. Folks In Merrimack Valley Take Massive Pride In Calling It Home
In fact, some would argue that it might even be the best place to live. In 2010, Forbes called the Nashua-Manchester area the seventh most livable city in the nation for its safety, great school districts, and arts and culture. Merrimack, Hanover, Hooksett and Concord, New Hampshire have also cracked Money Magazine’s list.
2. Everyone Is Super Passionate About The UMass Lowell and Merrimack College Hockey Rivalry
UMass Lowell and Merrimack College have one of the most heated, historic collegiate hockey rivalries in the country. Both teams play in the competitive Hockey East conference, and while there isn’t nearly as much vitriol between these two teams as there was during the rivalry’s heyday in the ‘70s and ‘80s, when punches being thrown both in the stands and on the ice wasn’t uncommon, there’s still no love lost between these hockey foes.
3. People In The Merrimack Valley Will Run Circles Around You In A Game Of Forty-Fives
This bid and point-based card game is a Merrimack Valley tradition, having been passed down from French Canadian immigrants to the area during the 1920s. Local 45s die-hards have even created their own leagues, tournaments, and clubs. It should be noted that you actually play to 120, making the name of the game almost completely irrelevant.
4. The People Here Are Total Film Snobs
Lawrence, Massachusetts is home to the annual Merrimack Valley Christian Film Festival, a free fest featuring flicks that promote Christian values and draws between 5,000 to 10,000 people annually. For edgier fare, Concord is home to the SNOB (Somewhat North Of Boston) Festival, which features independent cinema from around the world, as well as independent music and craft beer events.
5. They're Beer Snobs, Too
Newburyport Brewing Company isn’t just run-of-the-mill local craft brewing, it’s some of the best beer you can find in all of New England. They only make three beers—a Belgian White, a pale ale and an IPA—but the emphasis is definitely quality over quantity. Of course, you can taste drink, taste and tour, but if beer just isn’t you thing, the brewery doubles as a live music venue.
6. Lowell Folk Festival Is Huge, Awesome, And Free
The Lowell Folk Festival is huge, fun, and completely free. How could you possibly go wrong? The largest festival of its kind in the country, Lowell Folk has been going nearly thirty years strong, with live music from around the world, arts and crafts and some solid opportunities to nosh on authentic food.
7. The Fall Colors In Merrimack Valley Will Blow Your Mind
Everyone loves summer. That’s a given. But the locals will tell you the best season to be in the Merrimack Valley is fall, when the heat’s died down and the leaves have gotten superbly pretty. We’re talking walks along creeks, gentle winds, and some of the most gorgeous foliage you’ve ever seen.
8. The Only Thing People From Merrimack Valley Enjoy More Than Music, Is Free Music At Waterfront Park
Music and freebies are two things that are universally loved by all good and just people. Waterfront Park in Newburyport likes to brilliantly combine these two things by hosting lots of free music events every year, including the Riverfront Music Festival (past performers have included Matt Nathanson and Mat Kearney) and the Yankee Homecoming series featuring local acts.
9. Folks In the Merrimack Valley Can’t Get Enough Of The Gorgeous Great Outdoors
While you might want to steer clear of swimming in the Merrimack River, the same definitely isn’t true for other bodies of water around the area. You can canoe and swim much of the in Contoocook River, or just hang on the beaches if you’re feeling lazy. There’s no swimming at Lake Massabesic since it’s a reservoir, but it’s a favorite for locals looking to kayak, hang, or hike.
10. Merrimack Valley Has Some Serious Beatnik Cred
“On The Road” scribe and beat generation founder Jack Kerouac grew up in Lowell, Mass. and went to Lowell High School, where he was a dominant running back. Today, Lowell hosts the annual Lowell Celebrates Kerouac Festival in October, with events like the Kerouac Pubs Tour and the Kerouac Poetry & Prose Competition.
11. Step Aside England, Merrimack Valley Has Its Own Stonehenge
Salem, New Hampshire is home to “America’s Stonehenge,” a mysterious archeological site that features ancient rock structures spread across 30 acres. People have suggested everyone from pre-Columbian settlers to ancient peoples as the site’s builders, although most academic archeological-types believe it was built by a combination of Native Americans and 17th and 18th century American farmers.
12. Buying Full-Priced Clothes Is For Schmucks
The Merrimack Valley’s savvy shoppers know there’s no real reason to hit a regular clothing store since the outlet shopping is so great (and cheap). Spots like Merrimack Premium Outlets in Merrimack and the Tanger Outlet in Tilton mean tax-free shopping and great deals. Paying full price for clothing in the Valley is pretty much a schmucks-only enterprise.
13. Top Donut Lives Up To Its Lofty Name
The Northeast is notorious for being Dunkin Donuts obsessed (as much for the coffee as anything), but for your deep-fried confectionary needs, Top Donut, with locations in Lowell and Lawrence is, well, tops. In particular, the raspberry squares and apple fritters make run-of-the-mill chain donut spots seem near silly in comparison.
14. Newburyport Is THE Place To Gallery Hop
If small galleries with work from local artists is your thing, you’ll definitely want to check out Newburyport. The small coastal Massachusetts city’s downtown is loaded with nearly 20 galleries. Four weekends a year, Newburyport hosts an ArtWalk, featuring a gallery tour, discussions, and live music.
15. People In Merrimack Valley Have Their Pick Of The Best Fresh Produce—Literally
In case you weren’t familiar with PYO it means “pick your own”—kind of like DIY, but for fresh fruits. There are great PYO options in the Merrimack Valley all spring, summer and fall, including strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and apples. All this fresh produce also means ample farmers’ market shopping.
16. College Kids Invade Every Fall Like Clockwork
The Merrimack Valley is home to a whole lotta 18-22-year-olds studying hard, and partying equally hard. There’s a huge number of college, community colleges and universities in the area, including Daniel Webster College in Nashua, New Hampshire Institute of Art in Manchester, and Saint Anselm College in Goffstown.
17. Merrimack Valley Is Home To An Amazing Food Scene
Diverse populations and a focus on fresh ingredients has made the greater Merrimack Valley a major dining destination. High-end eating spots like Cobblestones in Lowell, Yella Grille in Andover, and Gibbet Hill Grill in Groton have gained diehard fans in the area and beyond. And because this is New England, there are lots of local and sustainable options.
18. Robert Frost Is Kind Of A Big Deal
Frost, whose work is full of rural New England visuals and references, moved to Lawrence, Massachusetts at a young age, and is still one of the Merrimack Valley’s favorite sons. He later lived on a family farm in Derry, New Hampshire. The farm has been preserved as the Robert Frost Farm Historical Site and hosts tours and poetry readings.
19. Andover Bookstore Has Way More Going For It Than Books
Andover’s Andover Bookstore is one of the coolest (and oldest) bookstores in America, having been founded all the way back in 1809. Locals gather at the long-running, cozy book nook not just to find a good read, but to hear talks from major authors, attend book groups, and take writing and art classes.
20. There’s More History Than You Can Shake A Copy Of The Declaration Of Independence At
With European colonial origins dating back to the early 17th century, and the native Pennacook people dating back much, much further back than that, the Valley is loaded with historical stuff worth checking out, like the American Textile History Museum in Lowell and the Robert S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology in Andover, which hosts a massive Native American archaeological collection.
21. Matisse, Monet, And More Are At The Currier
The Currier Museum of Art has one of the most impressive European and American art collections in the country, featuring works by Picasso, Matisse, Monet, O'Keeffe and many, many more. The museum was founded in 1929, and in 2006 underwent a $24.4 million expansion, solidifying its place as one of the Northeast’s very best.
22. The Clean River Project Is Purifying The Merrimack River
Over the last 200 years, the Merrimack River has had a well-earned reputation as one of the most polluted waterways in the country, due to the textile industry, which kept the economy moving but the waterway, well, quite icky. Lately, however, the river has been undergoing a rebirth: $80 million dollars have been spent to keep pipes from leaking into the water, and the Clean River Project has been established to keep the river clean and recreation-friendly.
23. Canobie Is A Little Amusement Park With Major Thrill Rides
If you’re feeling like some artificial outdoor fun might be a nice change of pace, Canobie Lake Park in Salem features three roller coasters, family friendly rides and a water park. In Candia, you’ll find the family-owned Liquid Planet Water Park, where you can also get your outdoor ziplining on.
24. Fancy Prep Schools Aid The Arts Scene
The huge number of preparatory boarding schools in the Merrimack Valley area helps give the art and culture scene a major boost. The area is home to Phillips Academy’s Addison Gallery of American Art in Andover, and the Christopher Brodigan and de Menil Galleries at the Groton School in Groton.
25. The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center Would Make Bill Nye Proud
McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord, New Hampshire features interactive science exhibits, a digital dome planetarium and an observatory—pretty much everything you need to enjoy the massive and expanding cosmos. The SEE Science Center in Manchester is full of fun and kid-friendly interactive science exhibits, and notably, a massive Lego representation of Manchester's Amoskeag Millyard circa 1900.
26. You Can Pump Your Own Water (If You’re Into That Kind Of Thing)
Sure, you could get your water the boring way, in bottles and through your faucet. But in much of the Merrimack Valley, you also have the option to pump your own: throughout much of the region there are old-fashioned fresh water pumps that tap directly into the local water supply.
27. Lawrence Is A Center Of Hispanic Heritage
Lawrence isn’t just the place where Robert Frost came of age: the area is known as a center of Dominican Republic and Puerto Rican culture, with nearly 75% of the population identifying themselves as Hispanic. The city’s Hispanic Week Festival celebrated on the second week of June, is the largest in the area, and features music, dancing, art, and, of course, good eats.
28. The Locals Get Their Musical Theater On At Manchester’s Palace
The arts run the gamut at Manchester’s historic Palace Theatre. Opened in 1915, the 880-seat venue hosts everything from food and drink events to concerts to stand-up comedy (Manchester native Seth Myers recently headlined) to Broadway shows on the road. The theater also has its own youth, teen, and professional companies.
29. Merrimack Valley Philharmonic Orchestra Has Got The Classics Covered
How many valleys have their own philharmonic orchestra? Merrimack Valley Philharmonic Orchestra, the orchestra in residence at Rogers Center for the Arts, dates back to 1961, performs masterworks, holiday and pops performances throughout the year, and helps foster classical music development in the area.
What do you love about living in Merrimack Valley? Tell us in the comments below! 
