General Information About The Area

Southwestern New Hampshire is known as the “Monadnock Region” and also New Hampshire’s “quiet corner.” Mount Monadnock is the most climbed mountain in North America and the second most climbed mountain in the world (after Mt. Fuji). There is much to do in this region, from biking, hiking, lakes/recreation, arts and culture, antiques, plenty of places to dine, and much more.

The Monadnock Travel Council Website has a wealth of information about the Monadnock Region. 

SouthwestNH.com is another great source of information for things to do, dining, resources, and outdoor activities.

Click here for a Calendar of Events in the Monadnock Region

The Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce Website has information for those visiting the area, those relocating to the area, and those who live and work in the area.

Things to Do

Keene State College – Arts and Entertainment at:

Thorne-Sagendorf Art Gallery (Visual Arts Center)

Films at the Putnam Arts Lecture Hall

Redfern Arts Center of Brickyard Pond offering a variety of performances  in theatre, dance, music, and more

Enjoy a concert at the Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music which is dedicated to the performance and teaching of classical music. You’ll love the music and the idyllic setting on top of Apple Hill.

Take in one of the many performances by Monadnock Music

You’ll want to check out what’s happening at The Colonial Theatre in Keene

For professional summer theatre, visit the Peterborough Players

Mariposa Museum and World Culture Center in Peterborough is worth the trip

Keene Pumpkin Festival where thousands and thousands of carved pumpkins are aglow and daytime activities abound for children; attracts thousands of people each year. [photo 0550]

Treat yourself to a scenic flight with Monadnock Aviation and see the Monadnock Region from the sky

The MacDowell Colony in Peterborough is open to the public one Sunday in August for Medal Day. The Colony was founded in 1907 to nurture the arts by providing an inspiring environment in writers, composers, visual artists, photographers, printmakers, filmmakers, architects, and those collaborating on creative works can produce their work.

Swamp Bats Baseball – Home Games are at Alumni Field at Keene High School on Arch Street. Join in the fun.

Shopping

Colony Mill Markeplace (Keene), a variety of unique shops, eateries, and boutiques. If you like antiques, be sure to stop at the Antiques at Colony Mill

Hannah Grimes Marketplace (Keene)

Chrysalis Farm Gallery Studio, fine arts and artistic items for sale, located a couple of miles from the inn

Knotty Pine Antique Auction Gallery, located less than a mile from the inn, has auctions typically on Thursday nights

Depot Square in Peterborough has lovely shops, antiques, great places to eat, and is a treat for artists

Outdoor Activities

Mount Monadnock, the focal point of the Monadnock region

Hiking Mount Monadnock

Monadnock State Park, Jaffrey

Foliage Tours in the Monadnock area, late September and into October

Trails in Keene

Ashuelot River Park, other parks, and open areas in Keene

Rhododendron State Park (Fitzwilliam)

Surry Mountain Recreation Area (Surry)

Otter Brook Dam Recreation Area (Keene / Roxbury)

Keene Country Club – Golfing

A seasonal farmstand, Monadnock Berries is a lovely place to pick your own berries (Troy, NH).

Bretwood Golf Course, open golf available daily; tournaments and championships.

Granite Gorge Ski Area (Keene/Roxbury)

Camp Takodah in Richmond; we hope you’ll stay with us when you drop off or pick up your children attending this wonderful nearby camp.

Fishing

Stonewall Farm, a nonprofit working farm and educational center whose mission is to connect people to the land and to the role of local agriculture in their lives. Events and programs range from maple-sugaring in the spring to Thanksgiving Farm Fare.

Crescendo Acres Farm in Surry has berry picking, Christmas trees, alpacas, maple sugaring and more.

Chesterfield Gorge, off Route 9 (Chesterfield)    

Pisgah State Park, over 13,500 acres in southwestern Cheshire County towns of Hinsdale, Chesterfield, and Winchester

Swanzey Lake Recreational Area is only a few miles away. Family-friendly. It’s for Swanzey residents only, but guests of the Bridges Inn are admitted at no charge.

Area Attractions

Covered Bridges - The inn is located a stone's throw from the historic Thompson Covered Bridge and near the other Cheshire County covered bridges for which the inn is named. Don’t miss seeing all six covered bridges.

Keene State College (Keene)

Antioch New England Graduate School (Keene)

Franklin Pierce University (Rindge)

Cathedral of the Pines (Rindge)

Pilgrim Pines on Swanzey Lake offers biblically-based, ministry-driven programs for people of all ages

School for International Training (SIT) in Brattleboro)

Marlboro College Graduate Center (Brattleboro)

Swanzey Historical Museum, open May through September. Tourist information and information on the history of Swanzey.

Historical Society of Cheshire County in Keene

Places to Eat

Click here for a list of places to eat in the region, courtesy of MonadnockDining.com

Armadillo’s Burritos, excellent Mexican food, 82 Main Street, Keene

Cherry Garden, Chinese and Japanese Cuisine

Country Life Natural Food, Vegetarian lunch, made from fresh, all natural ingredients, 15 Roxbury Street (just off Central Square), Keene

Elm City Brewing Company and Pub, beer is brewed on premises at the microbrewery. Great selection of main dishes, salads, steak, and burgers; breads, sauces, and desserts are made fresh, using locally grown produce when available

Fritz’s Belgian Fries, offering a whole lot more than fries, 45 Main Street, Keene

India Pavillion, at the Keene Airport, off Route 32 in Swanzey

Keene Fresh Salad Co., offers salads, soup, and sandwiches, and cater to many specific dietary needs, 44 Main Street, Keene

Kristin’s Bakery and Bistro, on Washington Street (just off Central Square), Keene

Lee and Mt Fuji Chinese and Japanese Restaurant, 144 Main Street (Route 101), Marlborough, NH

Luca’s Medeterranean Café, representing true Mediterranean cuisine of Italy, France, and also of North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean, 10 Central Square, Keene

Margarita’s Mexican Restaurant and Watering Hole, 77-81 Main Street, Keene

Market at Luca’s, 11 Central Square, Keene

Michele’s Ristorante, Italian cuisine, 64 Main Street, Keene

Nick’s Restaurant, variety of seafood, dinner selections, and prime rib; located about 3/10 mile from the inn on Route 10 in West Swanzey

Nicola's Trattoria, outstanding, authentic, Italian food; 39 Central Square, Keene

Ocean Harvest, great seafood in an informal atmosphere, 429 Winchester Street (Route 10), Keene

Papagallo’s Restaurant on Route 12 on the Keene-Swanzey border, Italian restaurant featuring a variety of salads, sandwiches, wood fired brick oven pizza, chicken, veal, steaks, seafood, and pasta dishes

Pub Restaurant and Caterers, American, Greek, and Italian food, 131 Winchester Street, Keene

T K's Family Restaurant, about ½ mile from the inn at 767 West Swanzey Road (Route 10), West Swanzey

Thai Garden, excellent Thai food, 118 Main Street, Keene

Local Products We Proudly Carry and Use

We use fresh herbs, many of which are home-grown, and to whatever extent possible, we support fresh, local farmers for produce and other products.

W.S. Badger, maker of pure body care products, including healing balms, many of which we use and sell at the inn

Terra Nova organic, fair-trade coffee, locally roasted; served with our breakfasts and sold at the inn

Cheshire Garden, specializing in heirloom berries, fruits and herbs made into preserves, vinegar, mustard, salsa, and more. We use these delicious products in our breakfasts and sell them at the inn.  

We get our farm-fresh eggs from Squier Davis Farm in Royalston, Massachusetts as well as fresh honey, which we use in baking and also sell at the inn.

Covered Bridge Maple Syrup; our trees are tapped for maple syrup in the spring. The Faulkners of Covered Bridge Maple Sugar House in West Swanzey (right next to the Slate Covered Bridge) gather the syrup, boil it down, and bottle the syrup.

We rely on Your Kitchen Store in Keene for our cookware, bakeware, small kitchen appliances, and other kitchen gadgets and accessories,

Suerae Stein of Red Barn Artworks creates original digital photography turned into impressionistic pieces of art such as ceramic ornaments and mouse pads. Click here for some impressionistic image of the Bridges Inn.