Franklin NH and Environs Guidebook (work in progress)

Deb
Franklin NH and Environs Guidebook (work in progress)

Parks & Nature

New England's first whitewater park so far includes a standing wave, amphitheater seating, and a well-maintained trail following the Winnipesaukee River, taking you to Tilton by foot.
Mill City Park
6 Willow Street
New England's first whitewater park so far includes a standing wave, amphitheater seating, and a well-maintained trail following the Winnipesaukee River, taking you to Tilton by foot.
Two public beaches and a boat ramp adjoin 606-acre Webster Lake, which not only has summer activities but an ice fishing derby in the winter, and snowmobiles racing across.
Webster Lake
Two public beaches and a boat ramp adjoin 606-acre Webster Lake, which not only has summer activities but an ice fishing derby in the winter, and snowmobiles racing across.
Numerous guests have come in order to enjoy this highly rated downhill bike park, with lift. Classes and academies are offered periodically. It's a short 15-minute drive from here. Bringing your own bike? Our neighborhood is quiet and the driveway parking is almost out of sight of the road, but for added security you are welcome to keep your bike in our basement, if you like, which has its own entrance.
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Highland Mountain Bike Park
75 Ski Hill Dr
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Numerous guests have come in order to enjoy this highly rated downhill bike park, with lift. Classes and academies are offered periodically. It's a short 15-minute drive from here. Bringing your own bike? Our neighborhood is quiet and the driveway parking is almost out of sight of the road, but for added security you are welcome to keep your bike in our basement, if you like, which has its own entrance.
For a local, tranquil place to walk near water, with a flat, groomed path, consider Odell Park right behind downtown Franklin. Playground included for the littles, as well as tennis courts, a gazebo, restrooms. Photos to follow!
Odell Park
125 Memorial Street
For a local, tranquil place to walk near water, with a flat, groomed path, consider Odell Park right behind downtown Franklin. Playground included for the littles, as well as tennis courts, a gazebo, restrooms. Photos to follow!
A hidden gem 35 minutes to our west, this ski resort has been praised by our guests, and well loved by my sister and her kids (sadly I'm too injured these last 25 years to ski again).
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Ragged Mountain Resort
620 Ragged Mountain Road
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A hidden gem 35 minutes to our west, this ski resort has been praised by our guests, and well loved by my sister and her kids (sadly I'm too injured these last 25 years to ski again).

Food scene

Many delicious savory and sweet options, including gluten free and vegan alternatives, as well as lattes, smoothies, and other drinks. Exciting to have a crêperie right here in town!
Downtown Crêpes
42 Franklin Street
Many delicious savory and sweet options, including gluten free and vegan alternatives, as well as lattes, smoothies, and other drinks. Exciting to have a crêperie right here in town!
Highly rated Asian restaurant one mile away. Every option so far has been delicious! Take out, gluten free available. Menus in rooms at house and online.
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Asian Delight NH
330 Central St
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Highly rated Asian restaurant one mile away. Every option so far has been delicious! Take out, gluten free available. Menus in rooms at house and online.
Nearby take out-only noodle shop, includes gluten free alternative.
Broken Spoon
416 Central Street
Nearby take out-only noodle shop, includes gluten free alternative.
Generous portions of Mexican food, nice seating, dine in and take out available. Nachos are our favorite!
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Casamigos
276 Main St
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Generous portions of Mexican food, nice seating, dine in and take out available. Nachos are our favorite!
Go back to the '50s with this expansive train car-style diner. Excellent and diverse menu for all meals. Close to freeway.
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Tilt'n Diner
61 Laconia Rd
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Go back to the '50s with this expansive train car-style diner. Excellent and diverse menu for all meals. Close to freeway.
Creative lattes, bagels, panini sandwiches, gluten free wraps, and more! Hang out with the locals in this café recently under new ownership, yet still with the Franklin vibe.
The Franklin Studio
366 Central St
Creative lattes, bagels, panini sandwiches, gluten free wraps, and more! Hang out with the locals in this café recently under new ownership, yet still with the Franklin vibe.
My brother-in-law, a gluten eater from North Jersey, says Vulgar has the best pizza north of New York City. (If you are gluten intolerant, like me, I've been told not to even come in the restaurant with all the hops and flour!). Check their website for offerings and hours - as of this writing, they are open Thursday-Sunday evenings from 12pm until 8pm except Sunday until 7pm.
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Vulgar Brewing Company
378 Central Street
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My brother-in-law, a gluten eater from North Jersey, says Vulgar has the best pizza north of New York City. (If you are gluten intolerant, like me, I've been told not to even come in the restaurant with all the hops and flour!). Check their website for offerings and hours - as of this writing, they are open Thursday-Sunday evenings from 12pm until 8pm except Sunday until 7pm.
Shorey's has numerous options and great creativity beyond a simple grilled cheese! The portions are often quite generous, and gluten-free alternatives available. Recommend the ice cream flavor with the word "butter" in it - looks like I'll need to go back to get a picture and the ice cream menu! As of this writing (July 2023), open 11-5 Tue-Thu, 11-8:30 Friday, 12-8:30pm on Saturday. Closed during the winter.
Shorey's Grilled Cheese & Ice Cream
421 North Main Street
Shorey's has numerous options and great creativity beyond a simple grilled cheese! The portions are often quite generous, and gluten-free alternatives available. Recommend the ice cream flavor with the word "butter" in it - looks like I'll need to go back to get a picture and the ice cream menu! As of this writing (July 2023), open 11-5 Tue-Thu, 11-8:30 Friday, 12-8:30pm on Saturday. Closed during the winter.
Don't miss your chance to grab a donut or three from Brothers! We've seen their donuts being sold around NH more than 50 miles away. Open 3am to 11am as of this writing; closed Tuesdays and Sundays. Tripadvisor reviews have folks driving 2 hours for their donut - but from here you can take a 15-minute morning *walk* to see Mill City Park, downtown, and have a donut. (No gf as far as I know - that's probably a good thing, for me...)
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Brothers Donuts & Deli Shop
426 Central St
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Don't miss your chance to grab a donut or three from Brothers! We've seen their donuts being sold around NH more than 50 miles away. Open 3am to 11am as of this writing; closed Tuesdays and Sundays. Tripadvisor reviews have folks driving 2 hours for their donut - but from here you can take a 15-minute morning *walk* to see Mill City Park, downtown, and have a donut. (No gf as far as I know - that's probably a good thing, for me...)
We've heard good things about Park Street from our guests and other locals - being fairly new to NH, they are still on our list to go check out! Open Thursday through Sunday as of this writing, 11:30am - 9 except until 8pm on Sunday.
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Park Street Pub and Tavern
41 Park St
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We've heard good things about Park Street from our guests and other locals - being fairly new to NH, they are still on our list to go check out! Open Thursday through Sunday as of this writing, 11:30am - 9 except until 8pm on Sunday.
The Franklin community eagerly anticipated Waterhorse's opening in 2023, a second location of an Irish Pub in Bristol. Located right in the middle of Franklin's downtown, it's a great place to catch an Irish meal or gluten free fish and chips. Check online if live music - or even a comedy night! - is included for the evenings that you are here!
Waterhorse Irish Pub
The Franklin community eagerly anticipated Waterhorse's opening in 2023, a second location of an Irish Pub in Bristol. Located right in the middle of Franklin's downtown, it's a great place to catch an Irish meal or gluten free fish and chips. Check online if live music - or even a comedy night! - is included for the evenings that you are here!

Entertainment

"How far is it to...?" is a frequent question we hear, and especially of this music venue in Gilford! It's approximately 35 minutes away, depending on traffic. Checking in and picking up your key before the concert, and returning quietly afterwards, has worked well for guests and us so far! Follow their fb page for news of the 2023 calendar of artists.
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Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion
72 Meadowbrook Ln
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"How far is it to...?" is a frequent question we hear, and especially of this music venue in Gilford! It's approximately 35 minutes away, depending on traffic. Checking in and picking up your key before the concert, and returning quietly afterwards, has worked well for guests and us so far! Follow their fb page for news of the 2023 calendar of artists.