Lebanon
Around Lebanon
Photo: Artaxerxes · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · New Hampshire · 224k people
Lebanon
Locals say Upper Valley
Lebanon · Claremont
Where the Connecticut River runs through every season.
Dartmouth GreenRiver MidnightAutumn Maple
Welcome to the Upper Valley, where the Connecticut River winds through covered bridges and college towns. Whether you're here for the outdoors or the small-town charm, you'll find a warm community and plenty of seasonal adventures.
Clubs for Lebanon
No clubs for Lebanon yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Lebanon. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
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Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Lebanon. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Dartmouth College Green Historic Ivy League campus with a classic New England green.
- Quechee Gorge Deep gorge carved by the Ottauquechee River, popular for hiking and views.
- Mount Cardigan Granite summit with panoramic views, accessible via trails.
- Montshire Museum of Science Interactive science exhibits along the Connecticut River.
- Lebanon Opera House Historic theater hosting concerts and shows.
- Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridge One of the longest covered bridges in the US, spanning the Connecticut River.
- Outdoors Hike Mount Cardigan
- Outdoors Bike the Northern Rail Trail
- With kids Visit the Montshire Museum of Science
- With kids Swim at a local swimming hole
- Evenings Live music at local pubs and breweries
- Evenings Dartmouth Big Green hockey games
- Locals love Covered bridges
- Locals love General stores
Through the year
- Quechee Hot Air Balloon Festival June Balloon launches and crafts in Quechee, VT.
- Dartmouth Winter Carnival February Winter sports, ice sculptures, and festivities in Hanover.
- Upper Valley Nighthawks Baseball June–August Summer collegiate baseball at the local ballpark.
- Dartmouth Big Green Football September–November Ivy League football games on the Dartmouth Green.
- Springfield Cider Days October Cider tasting and fall harvest celebration in Springfield, VT.
The Upper Valley has a classic New England climate: cold, snowy winters; mild, humid summers; and spectacular autumns. The best times to be out are fall and summer, while winter draws skiers and spring is known as 'mud season.' Best: Fall (September–October) for foliage and mild temps, and summer for outdoor activities.
Talk like a local
- “WRJ”
- Shorthand for White River Junction
- “The Green”
- Dartmouth's central lawn, a gathering spot
- “Creemee”
- Soft-serve ice cream, a local favorite
- “Mud season”
- The muddy weeks between winter and spring
Getaways
- Rutland, VT Shop and dine in a historic downtown, or visit nearby Killington.
- Laconia, NH Enjoy Lake Winnipesaukee and the Lakes Region.
- Barre, VT See the granite quarries and the Robert Burns statue.
- Concord, NH Visit the state capitol and the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center.
Local flavour
Teams
- Dartmouth Big Green NCAA Division I
- Upper Valley Nighthawks New England Collegiate Baseball League
Eat and drink
- Maple Syrup Vermont and New Hampshire are prime maple-producing states; the Upper Valley is dotted with sugarhouses.
- Creemee Vermont's soft‑serve ice cream, often maple‑flavored, a local summer staple.
- Apple Cider Doughnuts A fall favorite at orchards and farm stands throughout the region.
Where people go
- Covered Bridges Historic wooden bridges dot the region, iconic symbols of New England.
- General Stores Quaint country stores that serve as community hubs, often with local goods and a deli.
- College Campus (Dartmouth) The green, brick architecture, and intellectual energy of Dartmouth College.
- Riverfront Trails Walking and biking paths along the Connecticut River, perfect for recreation.
Heritage and traditions
The Upper Valley takes pride in its quintessential New England character—a tight-knit community along the Connecticut River, where rural traditions meet the intellectual energy of Dartmouth College, and where the changing seasons bring maple sugaring, fall foliage, and a deep sense of place.
This time of year in Lebanon
- Fall foliage October Leaf peeping on scenic back roads and hiking trails.
- Lebanon Farmers Market May to October Weekly market featuring local produce, crafts, and live music.
Say it like a local: “Wicked” — Very.
Festivals
- Dartmouth Powwow May A celebration of Native American culture with dancing, drumming, and crafts, hosted by Dartmouth College.
- Cornish Fair August A classic country fair with livestock, carnival rides, and local food.
- White River Junction Art Walk First Fridays Monthly gallery openings and street festivities in the renovated downtown.
- Lebanon Farmers Market May to October Weekly market featuring local produce, crafts, and live music.
- St. Johnsbury Holiday Stroll December An evening of caroling, storefront lights, and horse-drawn wagon rides.
- Claremont Summer Concert Series July-August Free outdoor concerts in the city's parks.
Landmarks with a story
- Enfield Shaker Village One of the oldest Shaker communities, with preserved buildings and gardens.
- Old Constitution House Where Vermont's constitution was signed in 1777, earning Windsor the title 'Birthplace of Vermont'.
- American Precision Museum Housed in a former armory, it showcases the region's machine tool industry.
- Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium A natural history museum in St. Johnsbury with a Victorian-era collection.
- St. Johnsbury Athenaeum A historic library and art gallery with a stunning collection of Hudson River School paintings.
Food traditions
- Sugar on Snow A springtime ritual where hot maple syrup is poured over snow to make a chewy candy, often with a pickle and doughnut.
- Tourtière A French-Canadian meat pie traditionally served at Christmas, reflecting the region's mill-town heritage.
- Church suppers Community meals at local churches, with potluck casseroles, ham, and homemade pies.
- Boiled dinner A Yankee classic of corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, and carrots, simmered together.
- Sugarhouse breakfast Pancakes and sausages with fresh maple syrup at a local sugarhouse during sugaring season.
Music and arts
- Hopkins Center for the Arts Dartmouth's performing arts venue hosting theater, music, and dance.
- Lebanon Opera House A historic 1920s theater presenting concerts and shows.
- Cornish Art Colony legacy A turn-of-the-century artist community that influenced American art.
- Contra dancing A lively New England folk dance tradition with local bands and callers.
A little history
- Dartmouth College founded in Hanover, shaping the region's intellectual life. 1769
- Vermont Constitution signed in Windsor, creating an independent republic. 1777
- Textile and machine tool mills thrived in Claremont, Springfield, and Windsor. 19th century
- The Cornish Art Colony attracted painters and sculptors to the hills above the Connecticut River. Late 1800s-early 1900s
- The Enfield Shaker community flourished, known for their inventions and craftsmanship. 1790s-1890s
Rivalries
- Dartmouth vs. Harvard Ivy League rivalry in football and hockey.
- Lebanon High vs. Hanover High Local high school football and basketball rivalry.
- Game day Dartmouth Big Green hockey
- Game day Dartmouth ski team
- Outdoors Snowshoeing
- Outdoors Cross-country skiing
- With kids Visit the Fairbanks Museum
- With kids Ride the Amtrak Vermonter
The Upper Valley has a rural New England accent with a touch of French-Canadian influence. People often say 'ayuh' for yes, 'wicked' for very, and use 'bub' as a friendly term. Maple-related words like 'sugar bush' are common.
Only here
- The Cornish-Windsor Bridge is the longest wooden covered bridge in the United States.
- Vermont's constitution was signed in Windsor, making it the 'Birthplace of Vermont'.
- The Enfield Shaker Village is one of the oldest Shaker communities in the country.
- An Ivy League college (Dartmouth) sits in a rural valley, creating a unique blend of academia and farm life.
New here? A few tips
- Invest in a good winter coat and boots—winters are cold and snowy.
- Embrace mud season in April; roads and trails can be messy.
- Try a creemee at a local stand—it's a New England soft-serve treat.
- Visit a sugarhouse in early spring to see maple syrup made.
- Attend a town meeting to understand local governance.
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Nearby
Every areaRutlandVermontWhere the Green Mountains meet the maple groves.LaconiaNew HampshireThe heart of the Lakes RegionBarreVermontWhere granite meets the Green Mountains, and maple runs deep.Mount Washington ValleyNew HampshireBig mountains, clear lakes, and a slower pace.ConcordNew HampshireThe granite heart of New England.KeeneNew HampshireWhere the mountain meets Main Street.BrattleboroVermontWhere the river meets the hills, and everyone knows your name.Manchester–NashuaNew HampshireWhere the Merrimack winds through mill towns and maple groves.
Lebanon-Claremont, NH-VT. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.