Did you know that the suspected oldest man made structure in the United States is located right here in New Hampshire? America’s Stonehenge in Salem, NH is a “maze of man-made chambers, walls and ceremonial meeting places, at over 4,000 years old.” from American’s Stonehenge Website.
My husband visited America’s Stonehenge over 25 years ago as a field trip for school. When I was studying Sociology in college I had to come here for research for a paper. We figured it was time to bring our 12 year old for a history lesson.
America’s Stonehenge is located on 105 Haverhill Road in Salem NH. There is a sign marking the location. There is dirt parking lot with a picnic area nearby There is a fee to enter this historical site. You enter through a gift shop to purchase your tickets. I highly recommend downloading the virtual tour app and watching the 11 minutes video providing history on the site, both can be found on their website. There is an option to watch the movie in the gift shop.
From the back of the gift shop you walk out to the trail leading up to the site.
The walk is about a half mile. There are markers along the way noting various attractions. This is where the app comes in handy as it gives you information on each marker.
The actual site is not very big, but there are some cool chambers to explore.
I am always amazed by the stone work prior to machines being around. Some people put some serious work into these.
My favorite part was the trail following an astronomical calendar. They have events throughout the year where you can watch the sunrise and sunsets from different viewpoints.
On the way back to the parking lot make sure you stop and check out the Alpaca’s, they are pretty cute.
We spent about 1-2 hours exploring the historical structure. We enjoyed visiting and felt there was enough to keep our 12 year old entertained.
Since we were in Salem I wanted to visit the Tuscan Village. So many people have raved about this and I wanted to see what the hype was.
Located near the Rockingham Mall on Rockingham Park Blvd is the Tuscan Village. There are several shops here, but the coolest part is the outdoor space behind the Tuscan Market. There is a small pond, several chairs and fire pits, a stage for live music, beverage trucks and outdoor games. A perfect place to spend an afternoon or evening. They do hold special events here make sure you check out their website.
Before leaving we took a walk through the Tuscan Market. All the food looked and smelled amazing from fresh pastas, a variety of meats and cheeses, baked goods and so much more. We could not resist picking up a few things before heading home. If you are in the Salem area make sure you stop at Tuscan Market.
Overall, a great day getting in a history lesson and indulging in some refreshing drinks and delicious food.
