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Suggest a Feature →New Boston & Southern New Hampshire
Space Force satellite operations in the Granite State. Live Free or Die.
New Boston Space Force Station in Amherst, New Hampshire operates the Satellite Control Network — tracking and commanding military satellites in support of global space operations. The station is a critical node in the worldwide network that keeps military communications, surveillance, and navigation satellites functioning.
The station sits in the Merrimack Valley region of southern New Hampshire — a landscape of hardwood forests, granite ridgelines, and the Souhegan and Merrimack river valleys. The town of Amherst is an affluent New England community of 12,000 with excellent schools and a preserved colonial green. Manchester, New Hampshire's largest city, is 15 miles north.
Southern New Hampshire is one of the most pleasant regional environments for a military posting in the Northeast — affordable relative to Massachusetts, with quick access to the White Mountains, the Maine coast, Vermont's ski areas, and the Boston metro. New Hampshire's lack of income tax and sales tax is a genuine financial benefit.
Must Eat
The spots worth eating at before you PCS out.
The Common Man (Windham)
"A New Hampshire institution. Farm-sourced New England comfort food."
The Common Man restaurant group is beloved across New Hampshire for consistent quality, generous portions, and New England hospitality. The Windham location near New Boston is the most convenient. Chowder, prime rib, and the NH maple desserts are the anchors.
Milford Oyster Festival (annual)
"The oldest oyster festival in New Hampshire. August tradition."
The town of Milford (adjacent to Amherst) hosts an annual oyster festival each August that draws the best shellfish vendors from Maine and Massachusetts alongside local craft brewers. A genuine community event that introduces newcomers to New Hampshire's relationship with its New England seafood heritage.
Molly's Restaurant & Bar (Hanover)
"A Dartmouth-town classic, 90 minutes north. Worth the drive for Vermont."
Hanover, NH (90 minutes north on I-89) has Dartmouth College and a sophisticated small-city restaurant scene. Molly's on Main Street is a reliable New England bistro that serves as the base for a White Mountains / Upper Valley day trip.
Outdoor
Get outside. The land around military installations is usually the best reason to be there.
White Mountains
"The highest peaks in the Northeast. 90 minutes north."
The White Mountains of New Hampshire — Mount Washington (6,288 feet, highest in the Northeast), Franconia Notch, Crawford Notch, and the Presidential Range — are 90 minutes north on I-93. Hiking, skiing (Cannon Mountain, Wildcat, Bretton Woods), fall foliage, and some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in the eastern US.
Pawtuckaway State Park
"An inland lake with camping, bouldering, and hiking an hour from Boston."
Pawtuckaway State Park in Nottingham (30 minutes east) has a 900-acre lake, camping, and a boulder field that has become a destination for rock climbers — the Pawtuckaway bouldering area has world-class problems on glacial erratics. The lake swimming and camping are excellent for families.
Monadnock State Park
"The most-climbed mountain in North America. 45 minutes west."
Mount Monadnock (3,165 feet) in southwestern New Hampshire is reportedly the most-climbed mountain in North America. The Monadnock State Park trails are well-maintained and accessible to fit hikers. The summit views extend to Boston, Vermont, and the White Mountains.
Culture & History
Places with stories. Most military towns sit on deep history — dig in.
Manchester Historic Association Museum
"The history of the Amoskeag Mills and Manchester. New England industrial heritage."
The Millyard Museum in Manchester documents the story of the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company — at its peak the largest cotton textile manufacturer in the world, employing 17,000 people in a mile-long mill complex along the Merrimack River. The mill complex has been adapted to office and creative space and is one of the great adaptive reuse projects in New England.
Currier Museum of Art
"One of the finest small art museums in New England."
The Currier in Manchester has a world-class collection for its size — Monet, Picasso, and a strong American collection including the Zimmerman House (a Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian house on the museum grounds, tours available). Military discount available.
Family
Stuff to do with the kids. Rated by people who have brought actual children.
America's Stonehenge (Salem NH)
◈ Rare"A mysterious stone structure in New Hampshire. Millennia old, authenticity debated."
A complex of stone chambers and standing stones in Salem, NH (20 miles southeast) of disputed origin — some believe it is a pre-Columbian European structure, others attribute it to colonial farmers. The mystery is genuine and the site is strange. Kids who like mysteries and ancient history find it compelling.
Canobie Lake Park
"New England's classic regional amusement park. 1902 vintage."
In Salem (20 minutes south), Canobie Lake Park is a traditional amusement park operating since 1902 on the shore of Canobie Lake. Roller coasters, a log flume, a carousel, and a classic New England lakeside atmosphere. Military discount available in season.
Day Trips
When you need to remember there's a world outside the gate.
"An hour south. The full New England city experience."
An hour south on I-93 or by MBTA train from Manchester, Boston has the Freedom Trail, Fenway Park, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the full cultural complement of a major American city. The drive is direct; the train is relaxing.
"The New England summer coast. Lobster, lighthouses, and rocky shore."
An hour and a half northeast, the southern Maine coast has the classic New England beach experience — Ogunquit Beach, Kennebunkport's harbor, and lobster shacks that have been operating since the 1950s. The summer crowds are real; go in September for the ideal version.
"The most Vermont of Vermont towns. Excellent food and crafts."
An hour west on Route 101, Brattleboro in southern Vermont is the cultural capital of the Connecticut River Valley — a town of artists, farmers, and the kind of progressive Vermont culture that produces extraordinary food coops, craft breweries, and gallery scenes. The Saturday farmers market is exceptional.
New Hampshire's lack of income tax and sales tax translates to a meaningful take-home pay advantage versus Massachusetts. Budget accordingly and enjoy the savings.
The MBTA Commuter Rail runs from Nashua to Boston's North Station — for day trips to Boston, the train is more relaxing and often faster than driving.
Leaf peeping season (late September to mid-October) in southern New Hampshire brings crowds and higher prices to local restaurants and B&Bs. Reserve ahead for anything during that window.
The NH liquor stores at highway rest areas are unique to the state — cheaper than anywhere in New England for spirits, and open on Sundays. This is considered a genuine public service by locals.
New Hampshire winters are real — cold, snowy, and occasionally severe. The Merrimack Valley gets significant snowfall and temperatures below 0°F are possible. The station's location is genuinely quiet and suburban — families who need urban amenities close by will find this area more rural than they expect. Manchester is a working-class New England city with neighborhoods of mixed character; understand the geography before choosing housing.
This guide is built by people who've been stationed here. If there's a spot we got wrong or a gem we missed, tell us.