Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business 
Merrimack is where New Hampshire's Clydesdales live: the Anheuser-Busch brewery on the edge of town keeps a stable of the famous draft horses alongside one of the company's large breweries. The town of about 26,000 stretches along the Merrimack River between Nashua and Manchester, with wooded hills, small lakes and quiet neighborhoods.
Settlers arrived in the early 1700s, and a ferry crossing at Thornton's Ferry tied the town to the river trade. Matthew Thornton, one of New Hampshire's signers of the Declaration of Independence, spent his last years here and is buried near the old ferry landing.
Modern visitors come mostly to shop at the outlet center off the F.E. Everett Turnpike, then stay for the outdoors: lakeside Wasserman Park, the trails of Horse Hill Nature Preserve and the town forest at Grater Woods. Nashua's restaurants and Manchester's museums are each about 15 minutes away.
One of Anheuser-Busch's large breweries, set on wide grounds with the Clydesdale Hamlet stables where the famous draft horses live and train. Brewery tours and beer tastings are offered for visitors of legal drinking age. Check the brewery's website for tour times, as schedules change by season.
An open-air outlet center with around 100 brand-name stores, from clothing and shoes to kitchenware, right off the F.E. Everett Turnpike. New Hampshire has no sales tax, which draws shoppers from Massachusetts. Weekday mornings are quietest; holiday weekends get very crowded.
A town park on the shore of Naticook Lake with a swimming beach, picnic pavilions, playgrounds and wooded trails. Residents get priority for the beach in peak summer, so check rules before you go. The quiet lake views make it a pleasant stop even outside swimming season.
A small town park where Baboosic Brook runs under two bridges, with shade trees, lawns and spots to sit by the water. It is a calm break on a summer day and a good place for children to watch the brook. Facilities are basic, so bring what you need for a picnic.
A large Merrimack conservation area, with several miles of trails through pine and oak forest, past wetlands, stone walls and small brooks. The trails are popular with hikers, mountain bikers and snowshoers. Download a trail map before you go, as the network is large and can be confusing.
A large town forest with a network of trails over rolling hills and through mixed hardwood forest, used for hiking, mountain biking and cross-country skiing. Fall foliage is lovely here. Trails are blazed but rugged in places, so wear sturdy shoes and bring a map or GPS app.
The historic ferry landing on the Merrimack River that gave this part of town its name. Matthew Thornton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, lived nearby and is buried in the small cemetery close to the landing, marked by a memorial. It is a quiet spot to look out over the river.
Top-rated local businesses in Merrimack, with real reviews on WiserMap.
No reviews yet. Been to Merrimack? Be the first to share your experience.
Share what you loved, what to skip and tips for other travelers.
Log in to write a reviewBeen to Merrimack? Add your best shots to the gallery.
Log in to add photosPhoto: rickpilot_2000, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: CaptainGeorgeTKirk, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Unknown author, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: John Phelan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: John Phelan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Jane023, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jane023, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jane023, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: John Phelan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Jane023, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: rickpilot_2000 from Hooksett, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: rickpilot_2000 from Hooksett, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: rickpilot_2000 from Hooksett, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Jane023, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jane023, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jane023, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jane023, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jane023, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
