The highlight of Manchester was of course the Queen City Pride Festival. The event is relatively new, with 2018 being the first year that the city officially recognized June as Pride Month. Manchester has come a long way in the last five years, with a strong community of LGBTQ members and allies who are constantly seeking more ways to celebrate Pride throughout the year. Teraj and I joined in the festivities and really felted so welcomed by the community!

The day after the Festival, we headed outdoors and took a long romantic walk on the Rockingham recreational trail. The 25-mile trail runs past Lake Massabesic as well as multiple small towns and different forest and wetland terrains. After all that exercise and a hot shower, we continued exploring Manchester and visited the Currier Museum of Art. Even before we got in the door, we were greet by Mark di Suvero’s vibrant steel sculpture, “Origins,” the centerpiece of the museum’s entrance. Naturally, we took a million photos.

The next morning we headed out to Keene, NH, but not before stopping by the cutest place for breakfast, the Restoration Cafe. This local all-day breakfast joint’s mantra is “EAT CLEAN. DRINK COFFEE. HAVE FUN,” and we couldn’t agree to this lifestyle more! Their menu had very unique, healthy offerings. When we finally made it to Keene, we were astounded at how beautiful and charming the town was. It really is New England’s “best kept secret” and the perfect place to get away from the crowds. Keene is nestled right in the Connecticut River Valley, and offers activities for foodies, artists, and outdoorsy types alike. They had a huge variety of breweries to choose from, and we wished we could have visited them all, but we settled on Modestman Brewing right on the main downtown strip. Their beer flights are not-to-be-missed!