WalletHub ranked Nashua the fifth best-run city in America, and that smooth-functioning civic machinery translates directly into an easy visit. This city of roughly 90,000 sits in southern New Hampshire, about 45 miles from Boston, and punches above its weight on three fronts: shopping, food and casino nights.
The big draw for shoppers is simple — New Hampshire charges no sales tax. Pheasant Lane Mall, right on the Massachusetts border, is the flagship, with more than 140 shops including Apple, Abercrombie & Fitch, Pandora and Swarovski, plus a renovated food court. Prefer something less fluorescent? Downtown Nashua has a small-town feel and a 1.6-mile riverwalk loop that crosses bridges, parks and Cotton Mill Square. The stores here are independents: Grave-Troll Games for tabletop and comics, Castro's Back Room for cigars, and Nashua Coins & Collectibles, whose rare inventory includes a 1916 barber dime. A third retail strip, the Amherst Street corridor near Nashua Airport, adds L.L. Bean, Hobby Lobby and The Paper Store.
When you need a break from retail, Mine Falls Park is a half-hour walk from Main Street, with quiet miles of trails along the Nashua River.
Downtown is also where the food scene clusters. Bonhoeffer's Cafe & Espresso roasts its Direct Trade coffee in-house and serves waffles, crêpes and breakfast burritos. Crosby Bakery has been turning out donuts, pastries and pies since the 1940s. For dinner, Cucina Toscana on Amherst Street currently tops Tripadvisor locally with homemade meatballs and Italian sauces.
Nightlife leans green-felt. Gate City Casino earns top Google ratings for blackjack, baccarat and poker tournaments, while The Nash Casino inside Pheasant Lane Mall runs over 1,000 slots plus roulette, craps and pai gow — and its Tuesday trivia and live bands mean non-gamblers have a reason to come too.
Practically speaking, Boston Logan International Airport is your gateway, about 50 miles away. Hotels cluster near the airport and the mall; if you want to be downtown, a vacation rental is the better bet. Hudson, just across the Merrimack River, makes an easy add-on for more restaurants.
Nashua suits travellers who want New England charm without Boston prices or crowds — and anyone who enjoys the small thrill of paying no sales tax at the till.
