Canterbury Shaker Village

Visit Canterbury Shaker Village

Canterbury Shaker Village offers visitors a variety of entertaining, educational and engaging experiences in one of the most picturesque settings in northern New England (get directions). Guided and self-guided tours, accessible historic buildings, family activities, exhibits, educational programs, special events, unique shopping, exceptional dining and breathtaking grounds offer you more than you can do in a day.

All exhibits, guided tours, self-guided tours, craft demonstrations, special events, and access to the Village grounds are included in the price of admission. Click here to view our calendar of events and programs.

2014 Hours

Museum Exhibits & Tours

Weekends in May: 10:00 – 5:00 pm.

Daily, May 26-October 19: 10:00-5:00 pm

Weekends in November: 10:00-4:00 pm

Tarbin Gardens

Tarbin Gardens is the destination for nature lovers, bird and butterfly watchers, photographers and artists, and, of course, for garden enthusiasts. Flowering trees, shrubs and perennials fill the English landscape style gardens creating a parade of new vistas. There is always something new to experience.. Five acres of gardens exhibit the diversity of native and exotic plants, trees and shrubs that can be grown in central New Hampshire.
It is located in the town of Franklin and only about 45 minutes from the Rosewood Country Inn. Spend an afternoon...have tea.

Mt. Sunapee Zipline Tours

The Canopy Zip-Line Tour, located on Mount Sunapee's South Peak features a series of ziplines, rope bridges and rappelling as you descend from the summit. There are eight ziplines in total highlighted by the final 1,000’ dual zip-lines to a platform behind the Welcome Center, from which you will rappel back down to earth. From the first tree platform to the last platform you will travel a distance of almost ¾ of a mile above the forest floor. Groups of no more than eight are lead by two guides as you fly through a canopy of oak, beech, maple, birch and evergreen trees. There are six ski trail crossings that offer spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and Mount Sunapee.
$75 per person for a 2 ½ hour tour
Must be 10 years old or older and between 80 and 260 pounds
Reservations strongly recommended. Now taking reservations. Call 603-763-3564.

How to Dress

We operate rain or shine, so please dress appropriately. We recommend hiking boots or sneakers, but no open-toed shoes, sandals, or other footwear that can fall off.
Dress in layers. We suggest shorts that fall mid-thigh or lower and either short or long sleeves. No tank tops please as the harness straps may cause discomfort. You will be provided safety equipment including a helmet.

Biking the Northern Rail Trail

At 56 miles, the Northern Rail Trail spans Grafton and Merrimack counties and
is the longest rail-trail in New Hampshire. The surface is cinder ballast in
Grafton and stone dust in Merrimack; both easily bike able on hybrids or
mountain bikes. The northern half of the trail in Grafton County follows
the scenic Mascoma Valley as it goes south from Lebanon to Grafton. Trail
development began here in the mid-1990s when the recently abandoned Boston &
Maine's Northern Line was purchased by the State of New Hampshire. Volunteers,
including local snowmobile clubs, removed the thousands of railroad ties left
behind by rail salvagers and decked the many bridges along the line.
Leaving from the trailhead in downtown Lebanon, the trail follows the
Mascoma River, crossing it seven times in just the first few miles.

New London Barn Playhouse

Enjoy an evening of New Hampshire's best summer stock theater!

2014 Summer ScheduleJune 5-8: "57th Annual Straw Hat Revue"

June 11-22: "A Little Night Music"

June 25-July 13: "Damn Yankees"

July 16-27: "Monty Python’s Spamalot"

July 30-August 3: "Over the Pub"

August 6-17: "Kiss Me, Kate"

August 20-31: "Dial 'M' for Murder"

June 30, July 21 & August 11: New London Barn Intern Idols

Things To Do In NH This Summer!

Franklin Pierce Homestead is operated by the Hillsborough Historical Society, is the boyhood home of America's fourteenth president and is a spacious and beautiful, federal style country home. Built by Pierce's father in 1804, it reflects the gracious and affluent living of the nineteenth century. A ballroom, which extends the entire length of the second floor, was used for entertaining neighbors and distinguished families of the state and nation. Franklin Pierce shared Daniel Webster's dedication to national unity and led our country during the most trying of times, the time of slavery. Private tours & large group tours, both coinciding & outside the public hours & months, can be arranged. The Pierce Homestead is available, at a fee, for small private functions & meetings.

Operating Schedule

This site is open on weekends of May 24th and May 31st, 2014. It will be open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from June 6th through June 26th and Friday through Tuesday from July 1st to September 1st, 2014.  Then, it is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from September 5th until it closes for the season October 13th, 2014. Operating hours are 10 am to 4 pm, with the last tour at 3 pm.

Summer on Lake Sunapee

Cruise Lake Sunapee, NH aboard the
MV MT Sunapee Tour Boat or
the MV Kearsarge Restaurant Ship

Two Boats– Two very different and enjoyable experiences on Lake Sunapee.
Experience the FUN of a scenic daytime excursion on the MV MT Sunapee II or enjoy an evening dinner cruise aboard the MV Kearsarge Restaurant Ship. Come aboard, relax, enjoy the wonderful scenery, settle into your deck chair or your table and listen as the Captain narrates the history, lore and points of interest of this beautiful pristine mountain lake.
Departing from the town dock in Sunapee Harbor, NH Tickets for MV Mt. Sunapee may be purchased at the boat anytime after 1:00 pm on the day of the cruise. Reservations for the MV Kearsarge Dinner Cruises are recommended.