1. Everyone Vows To “Live, Freeze And Die”
Revolutionary war general John Stark wrote down a toast in 1809: "Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils." And history was made. As the New Hampshire state motto, part of that toast now graces the license plates of cars across the state.
Locals disgruntled with the cold New Hampshire winters have come up with their own twist on the classic phrase: "Live, Freeze, and Die." You’ll hear that one a lot too.
2. Because You Really Will Need Snow Boots
Manchester gets about 60 inches of snowfall a winter, so you’ll need to yank them on every time you go outside. But don’t despair—embrace the white stuff by heading over to McIntyre Ski Area on the north end of town.
The skiing, snowboarding and tubing will hopefully make you forget there's only about 5 hours of daylight in the middle of winter. Yeah.
3. You Could Make A Fortune In The Postcard Business
Manchester is ideally located nearby to some of the state’s best spots for viewing incredible foliage in fall. Just under an hour west of Manchester is Miller State Park, and the view from Pack Monadnock is stunning in autumn. Keep heading west to Dublin Lake to feel like you’ve ended up in a Disney movie or something.
4. Manchester Is The Envy Of All New Hampshire Sports Fans
Believe it or not, Manchester is only city in the entire state with any professional sports teams. The Fisher Cats baseball, Monarchs hockey and Freedom women’s football teams are just three of your new home teams, and lucky for you, you won’t have to trek all the way across the state just to scream until your voice is hoarse.
5. Local Food Is The Best Food
The Manchester Farmers Market every Thursday from June through October showcases more than 25 vendors and is your one-stop shop for pasture-raised meat, produce, fruit, flowers, baked goods, canned foods and organic products. The best part of summer and fall really is eating it, after all.
6. Brace Yourselves: The Students Are Coming
With 11 colleges and universities in the city, Manchester can get a little crazy when new students move in during the fall and when graduation rolls around in spring. Overall there are more than 8,000 students in the city during the year, so you might just get a little nostalgic about the good old days.
7. The State Motto Even Creeps Into The Poetry
Slam Free Or Die at Milly’s Tavern is every Thursday at 7 p.m., and brings out the best local poets and even some national talent. The competitive slams every other week are especially fun. Milly’s also offers their own microbrews, great food, and live music three nights a week.
8. You'll See Some Real "Friday Night Lights"
High school football is a big deal here, and also a great way to get to know your new neighbors and get a chance to yell “Where's your ground game?” like you know what you’re talking about. Keep your eyes on the annual Turkey Bowl for some fierce competition.
9. Award-Winning After-Work Brews
What do Esquire Magazine, Imbibe Magazine and the N.H. Business Review have in common? They all love Strange Brew Tavern. With over 100 draft beers and an eclectic pub menu, it’s the perfect place to celebrate with friends or just to put your feet up after a long day at the office.
10. Learn To Wash your Hands A Lot
Trust me, you're going to be shaking hands with a bunch of presidential candidates here. They all come through Manchester for the “first in the nation” primary. Schmoozing it up is their job, and you’ll see it at restaurants like Chez Vachon and every pancake breakfast for months. And months. And months.
11. Shopping In Manchester Will Give You Sore Feet
Trivia question: How many square feet of retail space do you think Manchester has? Five hundred thousand? More. One million? Nope, more. Manchester has five million square feet of retail space.
From the Mall of New Hampshire with all the big names to the South Willow Street area with cute boutiques, Manchester has everything you could possibly want to buy. Just wear comfy shoes.
12. But A Lazy Beach Day Is Just A Few Moments Away
Yep, that’s right. Manchester is only about 40 minutes from the coast, and considering that New Hampshire has the smallest expanse of coastline of any eastern coastal state, you’re going to want to get a head start. Hampton Beach is a great place to spend a lazy day, or try North Hampton for a less-crowded spot.
13. Turns Out It Isn’t Actually Too Expensive To “Live Free”
Time and again Manchester has been voted one of the most affordable places to live by sources like CNN Money, which ranked it 13th out of the 100 best cities around the country for living and starting a business. And last year the Equality of Opportunity Project named it the seventh best metropolitan area for upward income mobility. What are you waiting for?
14. And Your Daily Commute Will Be Much Easier
Manchester residents (and just about everyone else who uses I-93) know very well that traffic on this highway is The. Worst. But the state Department of Transportation has heard their cries, and the Rebuilding 93 project is working to widen the highway and make the drive easier on everyone. Many areas have already been finished, but work is expected to continue into 2016.
15. The Best Nepalese Food This Side Of The Himalayas
You might have to fight for a good parking spot, but it’ll be worth it. Cafe Momo serves some of the best traditional Nepalese food in New England. Seriously, people travel all the way from Boston to taste the fresh food perfectly paired with spicy sauces.
16. Get Ready To Take A Trolley To Art
Three times a year Manchester hosts Open Doors Manchester, a mobile art fair where people can take old-timey trolleys to local art galleries, arts centers and museums. Talk about the perfect date night. And it’s free!
17. Get In On Some Patriotic Birdwatching
Don’t forget to look up in Manchester, or you might miss the majestic eagles soaring above you. They’ve been nesting nearby along the Merrimack River for awhile, and the sight of them can turn a normal Tuesday into an awesome memory—and photo op.
18. A Tradition Of Fine Art
The Currier Museum of Art is world-class and right in downtown Manchester. Get your hands dirty with art activities for the whole family or just spend some time in silence contemplating the art—which should take a while, with the 12,000 works including Picasso, Matisse, Monet, Wyeth, and O’Keefe.
19. From Manchester All The (Seg)Way To Arrested Development
Segways probably aren’t the most suave-looking way to get around, but for Manchester entrepreneur Dean Kamen, they’re basically the best thing ever. The Segway line of two-wheeled, personal transport vehicles started right here, and is serious business.
20. Frank Lloyd Wright Was Here
The Zimmerman House is the only home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in New England that the public can actually visit. You’ll have to put on special booties to walk around, but it’s a pretty minor inconvenience for the experience of the home and art. Note: Photography is allowed outside, but not inside.
21. You Can Thank Manchester For The Laughs
SNL alum Seth Meyers graduated from Manchester High School West in 1992. Adam Sandler grew up in Manchester too, and graduated eight years before. This city has some good comedy DNA.
