OUR TOWNS Henniker, New Hampshire So Many Reasons to Warm Up to a Weekend in Henniker

Henniker, NH Incorporated: 1768 County: Merrimack Land Acknowledgment: Wabanaki (Dawnland Confederacy) N'dakina (Abenaki/Abénaquis) Pennacook Population: 6,185 Elevation: 436 feet Area: 44.80 square miles "If you close your eyes and put a pin in the middle of a map of New England, Henniker is right there," says Jefferson Brechbühl. He co-owns the Colby Inn in town alongside chef proprietor Bruce Barnes. &emsp;&emsp;Together they host retreats for museum directors from all over New England, intimate winter weddings in the parlor, and family picnics in the meadow when summer blooms. Beyond luxurious and eco-friendly lodging, the Inn is known for its restaurant, The Grazing Room, which Brechbühl said focuses on "bringing global flair to local ingredients." &emsp;&emsp;"We thought it was a good central place to create a dining destination," he says. &emsp;&emsp;And transforming it into a destination is exactly what Chef Barnes has done with globally themed cuisine and specialty wine dinners showcasing specific regions and vineyards from around the world. &emsp;&emsp;For instance, one lavish meal took diners on a tour of Morocco with wine pairings imported from Austria. On Jan. 28, the restaurant will host an evening of Argentinian wines from Nomad Vineyard. And in February, look for a dinner highlighting Channing Daughters Winery of Long Island. Not far behind, a Mexican wine importer will be presenting during Cinco de Mayo weekend in May. &emsp;&emsp;Brechbühl and Barnes have found these wine gatherings to be one of their favorite elements of the Inn and have even started offering a program for frequent diners with special deals, events and gift certificates. &emsp;&emsp;"We want to make it feel like a community place for people where they have a sense of belonging," Brechbühl says. &emsp;&emsp;Building relationships with neighbors is something they've invested in, creating connections with numerous area farms that contribute to the restaurant's seasonal menus. The Grazing Room is putting its original spin on farm-to-table, from mushroom foraging brunches with local expert Christine Gagnon to dishes inspired by meats and veggies from Hop N Hen Farm right in town. &emsp;&emsp;Henniker is home to several farms, including the less traditional Henniker Book Farm, a "Mom and Pop" bookstore with over 30,000 titles that have been in business since 1964. It's in good company with the Old Number 6 Book Depot, a massive old farmhouse with a labyrinth of books. &emsp;&emsp;Not surprisingly, the Book Depot is located just up the hill from New England College (NEC), which spans much of Henniker's historic downtown. Though its location may be rural, the college offers some of the state's most sought-after higher ed programs. &emsp;&emsp;It's also poised to begin an exciting new chapter with the announcement of the 16th president, Wayne F. Lesperance, Jr., in December 2022. Lesperance arrived at NEC in 1999 as an assistant professor and has been part of the college ever since. He will now serve as its first-ever Hispanic president. &emsp;&emsp;NEC brings together students and families from all over. But it's just one of many unique draws in Henniker, including Pat's Peak, an alpine ski resort offering snowboarding, tubing, racing, weddings, parties, banquets and more. &emsp;&emsp;Avid local skier, Julie Bella, took ski lessons at Pat's Peak back when she was a kid at Sullivan Elementary School. She and her friends would head to the mountain every Thursday after school. &emsp;&emsp;"It gave us something to look forward to in the wintertime," she says. &emsp;&emsp;They also never missed a chance to get their hands on the famous M+M cookies served in the lodge. &emsp;&emsp;"Funny, even after all these years, we still talk about our ski trips to Pat's Park and those huge cookies," she says with a laugh. &emsp;&emsp;She wanted her kids, Dean and Leo, to enjoy the experience and to learn from skiing, which allows you to take it slow and easy or hard and fast —whichever you choose. &emsp;&emsp;"The challenge of learning something new and the confidence it gives oneself is unexplainable. It's just you and yourself down the mountain," she says. &emsp;&emsp;So she kickstarted a new ski program in Winchester last year and invited kids in grades 1 through 12 from surrounding towns. Sign-ups for this year go until Feb. 15, with classes starting on the 17th and running for five weeks. Find details about the Learn to Ski & Ride Program at PatsPeak.com. &emsp;&emsp;If you're a snow lover and plan to hit the slopes yourself this season, don't forget to enjoy some eats at the lodge or grab something delicious at one of Henniker's numerous eateries, which range from country and pub dining to pizza and Chinese. &emsp;&emsp;And definitely don't miss out on a steaming stack of pancakes from the Intervale Farm Pancake House on Flanders Road, open every morning except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Later in the day, hit up the Henniker Brewing Company for a different kind of Flap Jack, their Brown Ale —Imperial / Double with locally sourced maple syrup. It's just one of many impressive brews they've come up with. &emsp;&emsp;From local flavors to local flair, Henniker is an understated destination in the Monadnock Region and one that's hard to pack into a day. So if you're sketching out your next visit, plan to meander; there's plenty to take in.