In June of 2015 we moved to Hanover from Norwich the day after our oldest graduated from Hanover High School. Though we loved the 10 years we lived in the idyllic village of Norwich we were ready to downsize, and as our younger daughter had only one more year at the high school, the timing was right. Each town in the Upper Valley has its own personal vibe so even though our move across the river was less than four miles, life in Hanover felt new and different.
Named one of New England’s “best places to live” by Money magazine, Hanover offers first-rate cultural, recreational, and educational opportunities – for individuals of all ages – to partake in. The perks of living in a college town, the natural beauty of the landscape, and an engaged community are just a few of the attractions for living here.
At the center of Hanover is Dartmouth College and its graduate schools in medicine, engineering, and business. The campus brings a lively energy to town and offers locals access to one of the finest small art museums in New England, The Hood Museum, and a globally influenced array of film festivals and performing arts at the Hopkins Center for the Arts. Though the HOP is currently undergoing a significant renovation that will establish a central ‘Arts District’ between the Dartmouth green and downtown, films and performances are ongoing.
On Main Street you’ll find a variety of shops and restaurants, both independent local businesses and familiar national brands. There is an excellent bookstore where you can also get a great coffee, Still North Books and Bar, a first-rate live music venue serving exceptional southern influenced fare, Sawtooth Kitchen, and the beloved local movie theater, The Nugget.
If getting outside is your passion, Hanover offers numerous points to begin your explorations whether on land or water. Hiking trails can be accessed throughout town, from Velvet Rocks to the Mink Brook Nature Preserve. And the Ledyard Canoe Club offers an assortment of opportunities to explore the Connecticut River. Winter brings cross country skiing at Garipay Field and Oak Hill and snowshoeing at Pine Park.
Perhaps you’d like to expand your intellectual horizons? Prior to a trip overseas a few years ago we signed up for a language course at Dartmouth’s Rassias Center for World Languages and Cultures. Two nights a week for eight weeks and we were good to go. You could also take a class at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute which offers courses and lecture series on a wide spectrum of subjects throughout the year.
When it comes to quality of life, the Upper Connecticut River Valley of Vermont and New Hampshire has it all. With proximity to Boston, New York, and Montréal, and at the intersection of the region’s two major interstates, the Upper Valley shines as the geographic center of the northeast. Questions? Ask Higgerson & Company what else makes living in the Upper Valley ideal. If you are considering a new home in the area or a vacation property, we are your real estate experts in Hanover, NH and Woodstock, VT, and the constellation of wonderful towns that surround us. Please be in touch and let us guide you home.