Hillsborough is centrally located between Concord & Keene, NH. An easy day trip from Hillsborough will take you to many of the State's attractions:

Hike Mt. Monadnock - (28 mi.) It's the most climbed mountain in North America, the second most climbed mountain in the world. Mt. Monadnock is the centerpiece of the 5,000 acre Monadnock State Park in Jaffrey. There are 40 miles of hiking trails, a visitor center, a campground with 21 tent sites and 7 youth group sites, a camp store, bathrooms, and shower facilities. The park is open year-round although services are limited from November through April. Pets are not allowed. The word "monadnock" originally comes from the Abnanaki Indian language meaning "mountain that stands alone." Because Monadnock "stands alone", views from the treeless summit stretch far into the distance into the surrounding states of Vermont and Massachusetts. Boston and the White Mountains are visible on a clear day. Mt. Monadnock forms one end of the roughly 50-mile Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway Trail. It is also the terminus of the 117-mile Monadnock-Metacomet Trail. Park rangers at the park's entrance and displays in the Monadnock Visitor Center provide excellent information about the mountain. There is a $3 per person entrance fee. For more information: Monadnock State Park, (603) 532-8862

Ski Mt. Sunapee - (24 mi.) 2007-2008 marked Mount Sunapee's 60th Anniversary and its 10th Anniversary under the management of Tim and Diane Mueller. Located in Newbury, NH Mt. Sunapee has 10 lifts servicing 65 trails and slopes covering 230 skiable acres (22 miles of terrain) with 17 novice, 32 intermediate & 16 expert trails. The summit elevation is 2,743 feet with a vertical drop of 1,510 feet (highest in southern New Hampshire.) The resort also features the SoBe Freeride Zone and Terrain Parks. The average snowfall is 100 inches per season, which runs from late-November to mid-April. Snowmaking covers 97% of all terrain. For more information: (603) 763-3500 or www.mtsunapee.com

Ski Pat's Peak - (12 mi.) A family owned mountain in Henniker, NH, Pat's Peak offers 22 trails & slopes for all levels of skiers serviced by 9 lifts. There is a Terrain Park & snow tubing. Summit elevation is 1,400 feet and annual snowfall is 100 inches. They have one of the highest capacity computer controlled snowmaking systems per acre in the Northeast. 100% snowmaking coverage guarantees great conditions all season long. Pat's Peak offer night skiing under the lights. For more information: 1.888.PatsPeak or www.patspeak.com

Ski Crotched Mountain - (12 mi.) Crotched Mountain located in Bennington offers 75 acres of skiing for all levels and is serviced by 5 lifts. They feature 100% snowmaking coverage and 100% of the terrain is lighted for night skiing. They offer 2 Terrain Parks. For more information: 603.588.3668 or www.crotchedmountain.com

Walk through The Fells - (25 mi.) The Fells is one of New England's finest examples of an early 20th-century summer estate. It is the former lakeside summer home in Newbury, NH of American writer and diplomat John M. Hay (1838-1905). Stroll the length of the 100-foot Perennial Border, discover the Old Garden, hidden behind masses of rhododendron, and admire the view of Lake Sunapee from the formal Rose Terrace and hillside rock garden where a brook trickles to a Japanese water lily pool. Walk the 1-mile long John Hay II Forest Ecology Trail or tour the 22-room Colonial Revival mansion this is on the National Historic Register. The nature and hiking trails are open year-round, dawn to dusk and the mansion is open seasonally for historic guided tours. For more information: 603-763-4789 or www.thefells.org

Christa McAuliffe Planetarium (27 mi.) - Take a journey to the stars. In 1986 Christa McAuliffe stepped from the classroom into history. As part of a radical new approach by NASA, she was to be the first civilian in space. While her mission on the shuttle ended tragically, her mission as a teacher continues here at the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium which was erected in her memory. In 1990 the Planetarium began its mission to educate, incite and entertain learners of all ages in the sciences and humanities by actively engaging them in the exploration of astronomy and space science. Since then nearly 30,000 school children a year, and thousands of others, have passed through the doors to participate in The Ultimate Field Trip. The planetarium is located in Concord, NH and is open 7-days a week. It features amazing astronomical adventures in New England's most technologically advanced planetarium theater - participate in a rocket-making workshop - make a comet - land the space shuttle - find cool space toys in our Celestial Treasures gift shop - join a Friday night adventure for the family or just for teens - look through a telescope at the rings of Saturn or sunspots on our very own star. For more information: 603-271-7827 or www.starhop.com

Enjoy a Performance at The Colonial Theatre - (30 mi). The Colonial Theatre is an historic performing arts center in downtown Keene. The Colonial Theatre first opened its doors in 1924. Owner Charles Baldwin proudly called it "New England's most modern and perfectly appointed theater." Over the years, the Theatre has hosted movies, vaudeville shows, operas and numerous community events. In 1991 a small group of devoted citizens decided that The Colonial Theatre must be restored and by 1995 the restored hardwood stage was in use once again. Since that time more than 350 live performances have entertained and enlightened audiences of all ages. Award winning films are shown nightly on the largest state-of-the-art movie screen in the region. In 2004 The Colonial Theatre was placed on the New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places. For more information: Box Office 603-352-2033 or www.thecolonial.org

For more ideas on day trips from Hillsborough go to www.visitnh.gov