4 Best Restaurants in The Monadnocks and Merrimack Valley, New Hampshire

A departure from the old-school greasy-spoon diners that proliferate in New England, this contemporary space with a white-tile and light-wood interior and a big, inviting outdoor seating area serves delicious, eclectic comfort fare that relies heavily on seasonal, local ingredients, including pasture-raised meats. Think Korean barbecue tacos with house-made kimchi and pickled carrots, or the buttermilk-fried chicken sandwich with a tangy secret sauce and dill pickles.

The owners run 105-acre Inn at Valley Farms, 5 miles away, which also offers elegant B&B accommodations.

Arguably the state's best purveyor of artisanal, small-batch ice cream, this unassuming parlor in Walpole always features a long list of both regular and seasonal flavors, such as Fijan ginger, fresh peach, wild blueberry, and mint dark-chocolate-chip. Thick, rich, and using only all-natural ingredients, this luscious ice cream is also sold in many of the region's restaurants, farmstands, and groceries.

Since 1927, this festive sweet shop and ice-cream parlor with a second location in Manchester has been doling out old-fashioned candies, fudge, and other confections.