1. The Word Wicked Doesn’t Have Anything To Do With Evil Or Musicals
Instead of saying the words “really” and “very,” New Hampshirites like to throw around the word “wicked,” making phrases like “that moose was wicked huge” quite common.
2. You Learn To Spell And Pronounce Weird Words Like Winnipesaukee and Piscataqua
People new to the New Hampshire area come in contact with a ton of words they can’t pronounce. Here’s a hint, say it like it looks, if you get it wrong, a New Hampshirite is probably too nice to make fun of you for it and they’ll teach you how to say it correctly.
3. Trees Come In Just About Every Color You Can Imagine Here
Sure, you’ve seen the trees change colors in the fall before, but it was nothing like the fall you’ll see in New Hampshire.
Come harvest time, trees start glowing in a sea of vibrant colors, each tree a little different than the one next to it. Plus, the changing colors on the trees means the fruit is ready to be picked, making this time of the year prime for farmer’s markets.
4. Snowmobiles Aren’t Just For Entertainment—But They Are Pretty Entertaining, Too
There’s a reason the first snowmobile ever was used in Ossipee, NH. Especially in smaller cities, big snowstorms can make these machines the ideal transportation around town.
It’s completely normal to see someone take their snowmobile down Main Street.
5. There’s Always Time For A Packie Run
In New Hampshire, it’s not a liquor store, it’s the “packie.” It’s said that the name dates back to the times around the prohibition when people would rather say they were off to get a package rather than armfuls of booze.
It’s also pretty common to hear the term the “state store” used.
6. Ha Ha Uncle Sam, There’s No Income Tax In New Hampshire
It’s always a hot political issue, but you’ll quickly realize that there’s no income tax around the time you get your first paycheck. There’s also no sales tax and no liquor tax, drawing out-of-towners into New Hampshire simply to buy cheaper booze.
7. Everyone Here Cheers For The Pats… And The Celtics… And The Sox… And The Bruins
Unfortunately for sports fans, there aren’t any big pro teams in New Hampshire, leaving them without a home team to cheer for.
While New Hampshirites are proud to separate themselves from “Massholes” and the rest of New England in most instances, sports aren’t the case. Most people in New Hampshire tend to pick team in a nearby state.
8. “This Car Climbed Mt. Washington” Stickers Are A Badge Of Honor Here
At over 6,000 feet above ski level, climbing Mt. Washington is a difficult enough feat in itself before accounting for the record-breaking wind speeds at the summit. Not only has the top wind speed climbed well past 200 miles per hour, the record low on the peak is -59 degrees.
So yeah, Getting to the top is definitely something to write home about.
9. You’ll Learn To Love Hiking, No Really, You Will
New Hampshire is one of the best places for hiking in the nation, providing endless opportunities on nearly every skill level. There are 48 mountains over 4,000 feet and also access points to the Appalachian Trail.
10. How To Spot A Flatlander From A Mile Away
While everyone in New Hampshire doesn’t still use this term, you’ll hear it thrown around every once in a while by older generations.
Basically, a flatlander is a tourist, fittingly from the flatter areas of New England. A lot of times, they’ll make their weekend trips up to New Hampshire, crowding trails and roads. They’re easily spotted from a mile away.
11. Beware The Wolfman
Clark’s Trading Post is unlike any other. Complete with a trained bear show and the White Mountain Central Railroad, but most people come to see Wolfman. With long unkempt hair, an old rusted car, and a shotgun, his main goal seems to be to scare people touring the area by train.
12. The Kanc Makes For The Best Road Trip, Ever
One of those words that it’ll take a while to learn to say and spell, the Kancamagus (often misspelled Kancamangus), is one of the most beautiful drives in the state. It provides endless views, stretching 34 miles, from Lincoln to Conway.
13. New Hampshire Is Not Massachusetts, Or Any Other New England State, Thank You Very Much
You’ll quickly learn that New Hampshirites often take offense to being mistaken with other nearby states.
As far as they’re concerned, New Hampshire is a step above the rest, especially the Massholes, who are known for invading their state to use their lakes and ski hills on the weekends. Just wait until you see a Masshole drive, you’ll understand how they got that nickname.
14. New Hampshire’s Got The Best Beaches In The Country—Period
New Hampshire might not have the longest shoreline on the coast, but it’s got one of the prettiest.
The ocean beaches, coupled with all the freshwater sources provide plenty of opportunities for water sports like fishing and even surfing. A lot of the beaches are kept in pristine shape, making for some of the prettiest shorelines in the nation. Plus, with the ocean so close, New Hampshire seafood can easily compete with the best.
15. Not To Humble Brag But New Hampshire Basically Started America
New Hampshire was the first state to declare independence from England, a bold move that encouraged other states to quickly follow suite. With that being the case, Fourth of July is obviously a pretty big deal in the state.
You’ll quickly realize that the state gets put on hold during celebrations each year, with plenty of parades, festivals, and fireworks.
16. It’s Ridiculously Easy To Stay Healthy In New Hampshire
Not only is New Hampshire the third healthiest state to live in, they’ve got the best health care in the entire nation. Plus, with such beautiful scenery, everyone tends to stay pretty active year round.
17. Weekends In Winter = Tons Of Skiing
Not only did New Hampshire residents found America’s first ski club, skiing has become a part of life in New Hampshire. Their hills may not be as massive as the mountains out west, but residents get plenty of options to choose from.
With over 30 resorts within driving distance for most New Hampshirites, everyone grows up headed to hills for family vacations, making New Hampshire one of the best ski states around.
18. A Steak Bomb Is Blow Your Face Off Delicious
The steak bomb is basically a most extreme Philly cheesesteak. A toasted bun stuffed with steak, topped with salami, provolone, sautéed onions, sautéed peppers, and sautéed mushrooms, the first bite will take you to heaven, while the last bite will have you being rolled off your chair.
While it’s a classic on several local menus, Jitto’s in Portsmouth and Crossroads in Dover can’t be beat.
19. There Is Fire In The Sky All Through July
Lax firework laws, extreme patriotism, and no sales tax means one thing, tons of explosions in the night sky.
People from all around come to New Hampshire for the fireworks, not only are they cheap and plentiful, but they’ve got some of the coolest firework stores in the states with some of the best selections around, like Atomic Fireworks and Atlas PyroVision.
20. Local Brews Make New Hampshirites Very Hoppy
Known among East Coast residents for having some of the tastiest beer around, New Hampshire takes their beer pretty seriously. With 21 breweries in the state, it ranks 10th in number of craft breweries per capita, with some of more famous breweries being Smuttynose Brewing Company, Portsmouth Brewery, and Canterbury Aleworks.
Even industry giants like Redhook Ale Brewery and Anheuser-Busch have local facilities that call this state home.
21. In New Hampshire Pancakes Never Fall Flat
As every New Hampshirite will tell you, nothing beats waking up to a fat stack of flapjacks. Even though Vermont is more famous for its maple syrup, New Hampshire’s is just as good, the perfect topping for everyone favorite fluffy morning treat.
22. Comfort Food Can Be Summed Up in Two Words: “Fluffa Nuttah”
Speaking of fluffy treats, New Englanders love mixing marshmallow fluff and peanut butter together on a huge range of treats. From cakes, to ice cream to the simple fluffernutter sandwich, you can’t go wrong.
This delish combination is one of the few things New Hampshirites will admit they stole from Massachusetts, but not after finding creative ways to make it their own.
23. No We’re Not Poutine You On—Fries, Curds, And Gravy Are The Best Thing Ever
Champion of the late night munchies, Poutine is a one-of-a-kind treat.
Consisting of thick fries, topped with cheese curds, and doused with boiling hot gravy, it can sound a little off-putting to people that have never tried it before.
One of the best places to get it in Manchester is at Chez Vachon, where the huge portions and delicious flavors are sure to make you a return customer.
24. New Hampshirites Aren’t Surprised To See Every Season In A Single Day
New Hampshire is one of the few places where your recreation isn’t restricted by the seasons. You can simply drive to a different area of the state to get what you want. It’s totally realistic to go fishing in the morning, surfing in the afternoon, hiking during the sunset, and skiing at night.
25. You’ll Develop A Sweet Spot For Quaint Covered Bridges
Now protected by state law, there are covered bridges all over New Hampshire. In fact, 54 of the remaining 750 bridges in the country are in the state, including the longest covered bridge in the nation, the Cornish-Windsor Bridge, spanning around 450 feet over two segments.
26. There’s A Thing Called American Chop Suey, And It Is Insanely Delicious
Made up of elbow macaroni, scrambled hamburg, onions, peppers, and tomato sauce, no two pots are the same. American chop suey is often used as an excuse to use up whatever is left in the fridge, making a sort of pasta beef stew. Yum.
27. New Hampshirites Feel Safe To Go Outside At Night
Any resident will tell you that they feel safe in New Hampshire. While there are isolated incidents, New Hampshire is the third safest in the nation looking at crime rates per capita, behind only Maine and Vermont, two of the state’s neighbors. It must have something to do with being so close to Canada.
28. ManchVegas Is A Thing, And You Will Roll Over As Often As Possible
New Hampshire seems to have mixed feelings about this nickname that’s been given to Manchester, earned by being one of the top party and shopping cities in the state. With no taxes, people often travel here from other nearby states, making certain parts of the city quite touristy.
The local roller derby team, the ManchVegas Roller Girls, have embraced this new persona, with their matches being one of the most entertaining things to see in town.
29. Always Give The Moose The Right Of Way
If you think a 300 pound deer will do damage to a car, wait until you see what a 1,500 pound moose will do. They’re beautiful creatures, but a New Hampshire moose is best to observe from a distance, as they’re very aggressive and can be a big hazard on many scenic routes.
30. There’s A Deerfly Season, And It Literally Sucks
Along with the beautiful summer outdoors comes huge swarms of deerflies. With painful bites, these pests are every camper’s nightmare.
31. There Is No Better Way To End Your Night Than At The Red Arrow Diner
Voted a top ten diner in the country, Red Arrow Diner has some of the best food in the state and its open 24 hours a day. After all, at 3 a.m., nothing sounds better than a huge breakfast platter and world-class chili.
32. An Old Man Fell Down A Mountain, But You’ll Still Hear About Him
A series of what was once five granite cliffs on Cannon Mountain made up the beloved Old Man of the Mountain. Unfortunately, in 2003 the rock face collapsed, despite every effort to keep the face where it was.
Today, a set of “Steel Profilers” have been put up to commemorate the face, letting visitors get a taste of what used to be.
Just because it’s fallen, doesn’t mean New Hampshirites aren’t still proud their “Great Stone Face,” as its still considered one of the state’s many claims to fame, with memorabilia still a hot ticket item.
33. New Hampshire Has The Most Kickass State Motto In The Country
And it’s plastered everywhere: “Live Free Or Die.” Though it sounds like it might be the title for the next installment in the “Die Hard” series, this is the mentality that built New Hampshire into the awesome state it is today. Said by dying General John Stark, “Live free or die, for death is not the worst of evils” is a saying that still holds true.
With a motto that is the perfect example of New Hampshire’s state pride, the “Granite State” is one of the best places in America to live.
What’s something you learned living in New Hampshire? Tell us in the comments below! 
