Northwest Manchester - Manchester, NH

The City of Manchester was once the home to the largest cotton mill in the world. It was also known for manufacturing other products such as shoes, cigars, papers, rifles, textile machines, and fire engines. Manchester often holds events in the community that encourages residents to learn more about the history of their surroundings. For instance, the Millyard Museum holds family days where children can learn how to weave and play old fashioned games.

The Millyard Museum sits on the corner of Commercial and Pleasant Streets tells about the people who worked at the renowned Amoskeag Millyard, while the Zimmerman House showcases the architectural designs of Frank Lloyd Wright within the Currier Museum of Art on Ash Street. Other museums are placed strategically throughout the entire city as well. The community remains proud of its historical significance and it shows.

Most of the restaurants and night time excitement sits just south of the Northwest Manchester neighborhood. Nonetheless, places to dine and grab a cold drink still exist within the neighborhood’s borders. You don’t always have to head to downtown Manchester or Boston for good eats and cold drinks.

For those craving homemade comfort food, try out Mr. Mac’s Macaroni and Cheese on Hooksett Road. This clean diner, full of baseball pictures and kids’ artwork, provides an array of different macaroni and cheese dishes. For a spicy twist, try the Cajun mac and cheese or go lighter with the tuna mac. With over 10 macaroni options, you can get anything from shrimp to pulled pork mixed in with the cheesy goodness.

Cotton, located right by the Notre Dame Bridge on Arms Street, provides a rustic urban atmosphere and great menu options. The restaurant showcases framed vintage posters on warm neutral tones and a stone wall behind the bar. The cozy booth seating and high bar stools deliver plenty of seating for you and your friends. Start off with the baked goat cheese appetizer and a glass of fine red wine while you wait for your meal.

Central Manchester has many of the pubs, clubs and lounges for those who enjoy the active nightlife scene. Luckily, that’s just a few minutes away from the Northwest Manchester neighborhood. However, if you like a good sports bar, you can go to Seasons Tickets Sports Pub on Front Street. This locally owned, dive bar serves cold beer and liquor in their comfy, dim domain.You can even sit in the enclosed patio if you’d like to get away from the crowd.

Considering that the Northwest Manchester neighborhood remains situated between I-293 and I-93, you can easily reach anywhere you need to go. Personally owned vehicles make up most of the transportation in the neighborhood, while sidewalks provide places to walk and ride bicycles. Nevertheless, the neighborhood stays quite busy so automobiles remain preferred by locals and plenty of free parking makes driving convenient.

The Manchester Transit Authority provides bus routes through the neighborhood. Route 4, 5 and 11 can all be reached by foot and take you throughout Manchester. By calling Uber, you can get a cab ride all the way to Boston, though few cabs wait for hails in the area.

Parks and natural settings surround the Northwest Manchester neighborhood. The Merrimack River allows the opportunity for fishing, relaxing spots by the river and kayaking trips. Other public areas offer athletic fields, walking paths, and the opportunity for fun outdoor activities.

Kid-friendly Stark Park, named in the honor of General John Stark, has a statue of the General as well as other historical structures. With 30 acres of land to roam, the park provides water fountains, a summer house, benches, and tons of wooded and grassy areas for leashed pets to get exercise. The park may not host annual activities, but local bands play year round at the scenic bandstand.

Northwest Manchester gives residents a chance to experience urban settings for a lower cost than that of its neighboring major city, Boston. The average one bedroom rental costs about $1,045. To live in Boston you could easily pay $2,000.

Grabbing a cold pint from a pub will set you back around $5, and if you decide to eat, expect to pay around $15 per plate. Manageable gas prices hover at nearly one percent over the national average per gallon. To use the MTA Bus, a one-way fare costs $2. An all-day pass costs $5.

Along Main Street, which parallels I-293, you can enjoy a combination of thrift shops and brand name stores. For a unique shopping experience, head over to Castro's Back Room on Elm Street. This compact cigar shop carries a wide variety of cigars to suit all tastes. Grab a box of cigars to go, or hang out on the store's comfortable furniture to try out one of your purchases.

Grocery shopping presents itself in the forms of major shopping centers and family-owned farmers markets. The Farm and Flower Market on Webster Street has fresh fruits, flowers and vegetables, among other fresh, organic products. It even sells raw milk, which provides a rare treat typically unavailable in most stores.