'''Keene''' is a city in New Hampshire.

Get in

By car

Keene is most easily accessible by taking I-91 in Vermont to Exit 3 and getting on VT-9 in Brattleboro and heading into the traffic circle until VT-9 continues and follow it over a small bridge into New Hampshire (VT-9 becomes NH-9). Follow NH-9 about 15 miles to Keene. From the east, Keene is accessible via NH-101. NH-9 also connects Keene to Concord to the northeast.

By plane

  • '''Dillant-Hopkins Airport''', 80 Airport Road, Phone: ''+1 603'' 357-9835, [http://www.ci.keene.nh.us/airport/]. Small regional airport has two runways of 6,200 and 4,000 feet.
  • Religion & Spirituality

    Churches

    Emmanuel Baptist Church of Keene [http://www.ebcofkeenenh.org/], First Baptist Church of Keene, Sturtevant Chapel, Hope Chapel, Keene Assembly of God

    See

  • '''Cathedral of the Pines''', 10 Hale Hill Rd., Rindge, Phone: ''+1 603'' 899-3300 [http://www.cathedralpines.com/].
  • Do

    Live Entertainment

  • The Colonial Theatre. 5 Main Street. 03 352 2033. ttp://www.thecolonial.org. pen daily. The Colonial Theatre is an 888-seat non-profit historic theatre operating continuously since 1924 and featuring the finest in live events and niche film. There is something happening every day at The Colonial Theatre, whether it's an arthouse film, touring music/Broadway/dance/comedy, community events or the new BACKSTAGE SERIES (featuring alternative performers in a club-like setting).

    Hiking

    Highland Hill & firetower, Greater Goose Pond and Drummer Hill, Beech Hill Preserve, Beaver Brook Falls, Horatio Colony Trust

    see, [http://www.trailsnkeene.com/ Trails in Keene] and [http://www.ci.keene.nh.us/parks/open%20_spaces.htm Parks and Open Spaces in Keene]

    Recreation

    Keene offers a variety of recreational areas.

    Wheelock Park, Central Square, Robin Hood Park, Otter Brook Dam Recreation Area

    Buy

    Keene, as well as New Hampshire as a whole, is a great place to shop due to the lack of a state sales tax. Keene has a wide array of shops and stores selling almostall things. Below are just a few examples of where to shop when in Keene:
  • '''Colony Mill Marketplace''', West Street on the southern edge of downtown Keene. Once a mill making fine wool preoducts, is now an enclosed shopping mall offering 27 businesses of all types as well as various office spaces on the upper floors. Often noted with having the "finest stores in the Monadnock Region." Home to a small batch of chain stores, such as, Gamestop (EB Games) and Ritz Camera.
  • '''The Center At Keene''', Gilbo Street and Emerald Streets on the southern edge of downtown Keene. An open shopping center complex, with some interior hallways leading to the other side, housed in an old train station. Home to 24 businesses ranging from shops, businesses, a gym, and various eateries.
  • '''Hannah Grimes Marketplace''', Main Street, offers mostly New Hampshire-made specialty goods.
  • '''Cheshire Music''', on Main Street, sells instruments of all types as well as amps for guitars.
  • '''Creative Encounters''', on Main Street sells various things such as funny bumper stickers and toys for kids but mainly is known for its "Extraodinary Framing" and was voted "the best frame shop in the Monadnock region." Also is home to an extensive collection of beads that you can select to be made into various jewlery.
  • '''Ted's Shoe & Sport", Main Street, is known as "Keene's #1 Shoe Store."
  • '''Your Wireless Connection''', located at The Center At Keene on the Gilbo Avenue side, Keene's Friendliest T-Mobile store - Home of the Cell Phone Guys.
  • Eat

    Drink

  • The '''Colony Mill''' on West Street houses the '''Elm City Brewery''', which is a micro-brew known for its wide selection of beers made on site. Different brews are featured daily, so check out the daily specials board for that day's choices. The Brewery also has a large menu of pub fare and main courses, at reasonable prices. It has serveral TVs, and an outdoor seating section during the summer.
  • Keene also features several '''major chains''' of mid-scale restaurants, each of which have their own bars. On Winchester St. are Pizzaria Uno, 99 Restaurant, and Applebees. Located off Winchester Street, at the Monadnock Marketplace, are Chilis, Longhorn Steakhouse, and the Olive Garden.
  • Main Street area

    The Main Street (Downtown) area of Keene hosts several bars and nightclubs. The most popular of these is the '''Railroad Tavern''', located on Railroad Square. This bar/nightclub features a dancefloor and DJs on Thursdays through Saturdays, several pool tables, as well as three bars located throughout its large venue. Although it primarily draws a younger (college-aged) crowd, people of all ages do frequent this location. The owners and bartenders draw a straight crowd.

    Near to the Railroad is '''Kilkenny's'''. Primarily a beer bar, Kilkenny's has several pool tables. Although it is one of the smaller bars, its drinks are fairly inexpensive, making it a common starting point for people making the rounds of the Keene bar scene or doing a crawl. However, Kilkenny's does tend to draw more locals, and has a more conservative feel.

    '''Margarita's''' is a large Mexican restaurant located on Main Street next to the Colonial Theater. While it does serve a full range of drinks, it is mainly known for its creative, though expensive, margaritas. It has an extensive Mexican-themed menu, and outdoor seating. In addition to a restaurant section, it has a lounge area that also features a pool table.

    The '''E.F. Lane Hotel''' also has a bar/lounge known for its cocktails. The atmosphere at the E.F. Lane tends to be quieter and more intimate than some of the other downtown venues.

    Further up Main Street is the '''Lab and Lager''', which is one of the newer bars in Keene. The Lap has a small outdoor seating section, and some pool tables indoors. It draws a college-aged crowd, though it is generally considered a cheap knock-off of the Railroad.

    Across Main Street from the Lap (and beside Athens Pizza) is '''McCues'''. This location is mostly a pool hall, with numerous pool tables and several TVs. It also serves a wide range of beers, and is popular for those looking to play a few games, or as a starting point for a crawl. The beers here are also fairly inexpensive, making a good place to start a night out.

    '''21 Roxbury''' is located just off Main Street on Roxbury St. It is a martini bar with up-scale martinis and other cocktails. Its small, intimate location draws a more up-scale crowd, and is a good place for a date or a more quiet conversation.

    Sleep

  • '''E.F. Lane Hotel''', 30 Main Street, Phone: ''+1 603'' 357-7070, Fax: ''+1 603'' 357-7075, [http://www.someplacesdifferent.com/eflanehome.htm].
  • '''Best Western Sovereign Hotel-Keene''', 401 Winchester Street, Phone: ''+1 603'' 357-3038, Toll-free: ''+1 800'' 780-7234, Fax: ''+1 603'' 357-4776, [http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/productInfo.do?propertyCode=30017].
  • Holiday Inn Express Keene. 75 Key Road. 03-352-7616. ttp://www.keenehi.com.
  • '''Goose Pond Guest House''', East Surry Rd., Phone: 603-357-4787, email: reservations@goosepondguesthouse.com, [http://www.geocities.com/lsise/gp.html].
  • Colony House Bed and Breakfast. 04 West Street, Keene NH 03431. 03-352-0215. ww.colonyhouse104.com.

    Get out

    Mount Monadnock is 12 miles to the east on NH-124 in Jaffrey. There is a small parking lot where NH-124 crests over the mountain. Just before Jaffrey Center, there is a sign pointing to the entrance to Monadnock State Park. The trails from both locations lead to the summit. Mount Monadnock is the highest mountain in southern NH and perhaps the most accessible for novice hikers. No special equipment is needed to climb the mountain and it can usually be done in about four hours round trip for a healthy person.