A peek into Peterborough

By Ben Conant - Sep 13, 2011 | 0 comments

The Peterborough Diner has been a favorite destination for local regulars and presidential hopefuls alike for over half a century. The green-and-yellow dining car that houses the restaurant is the perfect slice of Americana for a candidate’s photo opportunity, and every election season, they flock to the sleepy little diner for another front page picture. Of course, the food’s not too bad there either! We recommend the “Peterburger,” a tasty 12-ounce beef burger that’s a hometown hero. And you would do well to get down on one of their thick, creamy frappes, just about the best the Insider has ever tasted.

Pop into the Sharon Arts Gallery in downtown Peterborough if you want to see – or buy – some community-supported, locally created art. Hey, just like this stoneware piece, “The Shell,” created by Liz Sibley Fletcher. Free upcoming events at the gallery include an oil painting demonstration by Mary Iselin on Sept. 24, an artist talk with Marylise Reilly-Fajal on Oct. 6 and a polymer clay mini-workshop with Connie Gray on Oct. 22.

In New England, fall means harvest time. In Peterborough, harvest time means Rosaly’s Garden and Farmstand. It’s just not fall unless you’ve got a plethora of homegrown pumpkins littering your house, yard and car. Open through Columbus Day, Rosaly’s offers just about every gourd, pepper, leafy green or vegetable you could desire. Get there early enough in the season, and there may still be some pick-your-own flowers available too. And we can’t get enough of their homemade fruit pies and pastries!

Let’s face it: If you’re looking through our Fall Guide right now, you’re probably interested in checking out some of New Hampshire’s fine fall foliage. Shieling Forest is home to a well-maintained, not-too-challenging series of trails, perfect for taking a stroll through the woods and taking in nature and all its plumage. Looking for more of a hike than a stroll? Check out Mount Monadnock in Jaffrey, the next town over, or check out its little sister Pack Monadnock in Peterborough.

That was all the Peterborough that the Insider could take in in a day, but there is so much more to the quaint little town. If you’ve exhausted all of these options, why not:
Grab some ice cream or chocolate at Ava Maries!
Pick up some organic groceries at the Green Grocer or Maggie’s Marketplace!
Check out what’s going on at the Mariposa Museum and World Culture Center!
Try some oysters at Pearl or some sushi at Lee Mount Fuji!
Browse the cool children’s toys at The Magic Flute!
Lastly, you may want to consider planning your visit around the annual “Peak Into Peterborough” celebration on Oct. 15. Downtown Peterborough will be a madhouse of activites, fun fall events and super specials at local businesses. See you there!