Since then, Concord has been the hub of political activity within the state. New Hampshire boasts the largest legislature in the country. The spotlight shines on the city and state every four years when New Hampshire citizens vote in the First in the Nation New Hampshire Presidential Primary. A compact, but bustling, downtown lies along the west bank of the Merrimack, and is easily accessible from I-93. Visitors and residents alike can experience the nostalgia of quaint shops, offices and eateries housed in these and other restored Victorian-era buildings and homes.
Downtown also serves as the backdrop for special shopping events, theater and entertainment.
A favorite annual event, the First Night New Hampshire Celebration joins Concord and Manchester together to host more than 600 artists in 200 performances at over 60 sites on New Year's Eve. Reopening rail service through Concord is being mulled by city planners. Speaking of travel, Boston is just a one hour drive to the south. In under an hour, residents can visit Atlantic Ocean beaches in New Hampshire's Seacoast Region, participate in recreational activities on Lake Winnipesaukee in the Lakes Region, or hit the slopes and peaks of the scenic White Mountains Region. Vermont, Maine and Canada are also short day or weekend trips away.