Peterborough

Thornton Wilder's play Our Town was based on Peterborough. The nation's first free public library opened here in 1833, and the town is home to the country's oldest continuously operating basket manufacturer—it's been making baskets since 1854. The town, which was the first in the region to be incorporated (1760), is still a commercial and cultural hub, drawing big crowds for its theater and concerts in summer. Downtown's charming Depot Square district abounds with distinctive boutiques, galleries, and restaurants. At Putnam Park on Grove Street, stand on the bridge and watch the roiling waters of the Nubanusit River.