Let us introduce you to New Hampshire.

This small yet stalwart state stands strong as a pillar of granite (the rock that led to the state nickname) in the middle of New England. First, let’s establish exactly where it is. New Hampshire is the only state that touches Maine, with an  arrow-straight north-south border stretching from Canada to New Hampshire’s short-but-splendid Atlantic coast. Massachusetts is due south, and New Hampshire’s top tip tickles the southeast border of Quebec. To the west, the sinuous Connecticut River forms a borderline hypotenuse between New Hampshire and the neighbor you may have it confused with: Vermont. Concord is the capital, and its bigger cities include Nashua, Salem, Manchester and Portsmouth.

New Hampshire is steeped in Colonial history, having been around when the country was still in the cradle. People in New Hampshire celebrated the Declaration of Independence in the same cities, towns, buildings, pubs and streets that visitors flock to by the thousands today. The Industrial Revolution saw cities in the Merrimack Valley such as Manchester and Milford turn into chugging regional centers of manufacturing. The Seacoast Region was already becoming a haven for travelers in the early 19th century. In 1911, 780,000 acres — most of the northern third of the state — was set aside as White Mountain National Forest.

Today, the entire state is a paradise for visitors and prospective new residents. Along with the heaping helping of history, there’s jaw-dropping natural splendor and recreational opportunities to be found among the 1,300 lakes scattered across the state and the rugged White Mountains to the north. Dartmouth College, the Ivy League school in Hanover near the Vermont border, makes the Lake Sunapee region an educational and cultural destination. The southern sector of the state remains the most economically diverse. There are considerable business interests, and the area continues to grow as a Boston bedroom community with Interstate 93 funneling thousands of commuters out of New Hampshire and into Massachusetts each morning.

If you’re looking for the complete story on the state that’s been home for an eclectic mix of Americans including Space Shuttle Challenger hero Christa McAuliffe, devil-dueling Daniel Webster, literary titan J.D. Salinger, virtually anonymous 14th President Franklin Pierce and Christian Science guru Mary Baker Eddy, you have come to the right place: The Insiders’ Guide® to New Hampshire, the book's second edition.

Written by local authors, it’s simply the most in-depth source of information you will find on the entire state. Splitting New Hampshire into six distinct geographical regions, the full print version of the guide offers individual chapters on accommodations (including the many glorious bed and breakfast inns), skiing and winter sports, shopping, restaurants, attractions, parks and forests, the arts scene, kidstuff, retirement and much more. So get set to say hello to the best of New Hampshire.