Downtown Manchester Manchester, NH

In 1807, merchant Samuel Blodget initiated his idea of a thriving industrial hub to mirror Manchester, England when he created a canal and lock system in the Merrimack River. Two years later, a cotton mill arose, expanding to 3 miles wide by the mid 1800s. Manchester was incorporated in 1846, and the heart of the city continued growing and attracting budding businesses as well as various arts, culture and educational organizations.

Take your kids for a hands-on learning experience at the SEE Science Center or try the Millyard Museum to expand your knowledge of Manchester's history. Head to the Currier Museum of Art to view rotating exhibits by national and international artists.

Each year locals join hundreds from around the state to sample local cuisines at the Taste of Downtown Manchester. Equally as popular is the annual Jazz and Blues Festival held downtown, featuring local, national and international musical talent.

The downtown Manchester area prides itself on having more than 100 restaurants and bars with an outstanding range of both local and international cuisine. Elm and Hanover Streets hold many of these dining options.

Pick up an authentic Greek gyro at The Gyro Spot, a tiny restaurant on Elm Street that is open late on weekends to cater to the after-bar crowds. Locals can't get enough of the spit-roasted meat and the indulgent feta fries; The Gyro Spot also serves salads and vegetarian gyros. When you're in a hurry, use the restaurant's convenient online ordering tool.

To satisfy cravings for authentic Mediterranean dishes, stroll over to the nearby Republic Cafe and Bistro. Using only fresh, local ingredients, the bistro provides perfectly spiced lamb raju, crispy falafel and a great selection of IPA varieties to pair with your meal.

Head to Hooked Seafood on Hanover Street, and experience some of the freshest, best prepared seafood dishes in Manchester with a phenomenal raw bar. The lobster rolls, lobster mac and cheese, oysters and tuna tartar come highly recommended. After dinner catch a play, musical performance or comedy routine down the street at Palace Theatre.

As Manchester's one and only microbrewery, Milly's Tavern provides a great list of on-tap and home-brewed beers. Find $2 drafts and half-priced appetizers during happy hour. Regulars love coming Thursday nights for the stellar live cover band and Friday and Saturday for an array of other bands.

Relax with friends in the laid-back atmosphere of The Shaskeen, a local Irish pub. Check it out on Saturdays and Sundays for live traditional Celtic music and on Wednesdays for a raucous comedy night.

You can enjoy big-name concerts as well as a home game for the local ice-hockey team, Manchester Monarchs, at the Verizon Wireless Arena on Elm Street, further enhancing the active and engaging nightlife scene.

From downtown Manchester, drivers take Routes 3 and 28 as well as I-293 for easy access to other parts of the city, state and Boston. Whether heading out for groceries, a meal, a jog or work, locals can walk to most spots within the downtown area. Biking is a somewhat risky option because of the busy traffic and lack of bike lanes.

Commuters have the option to take public transportation provided by the Manchester Transit Authority. Catch the local bus from downtown to other parts of Manchester and connections to Nashua and Concord. For errands or neighborhood activities, try out the free Green DASH hybrid-electric bus that runs around the Millyard and downtown Manchester.

Those looking to hail a cab will have the best luck on bigger roads such as Elm Street. Other options are Zipcar, Uber or RelayRides for car sharing companies. Parking on busy commercial streets, such as Elm or Hanover, can be tricky with few open spots and time limits on the reasonably priced meters.

Though downtown Manchester residents sit in the middle of urban activity, they still have numerous options for getting fresh air and greenery in nearby parks that are free for recreational use.

Head to the west part of the city to get a scenic view of the Merrimack River and mingle with the historical landmarks at Lafayette Park. Children go there to build snow sculptures for an annual winter festival. Runners, bikers and walkers, with or without their dogs, find a beautiful view of the River along the Arms Park trail, which connects to the heritage trail. This park prides itself as the location for Manchester's Fourth of July fireworks.

Livingstone Park provides a swimming pool for Manchester residents as well as athletic fields and a 1-mile trail around a pretty little pond. Parents bring their kids to the playground and owners bring their dogs to romp around the greenery.

Locals flock to the Manchester Downtown Film Fest to view the free outdoor movie series held in Veterans Park.

Nationally known for quality urban living at a reasonable price, Manchester's average cost of living is about 26 percent lower than that of Boston. Look to pay about $1,132 per month for a one-bedroom downtown rental unit.

Venturing around downtown Manchester is free if you take the Green DASH service. However, if you want to travel to other spots in Manchester, it costs $5 for a day pass and $60 for a monthly unlimited pass.

Stopping by the neighborhood bar for a refreshing glass of ale costs about $5 per pint. Drivers plan to pay about 8 percent above the national average cost of gas.

The downtown Manchester shopping experience provides a wide array of fun, quirky specialty shops and high-end boutiques. All you have to do is stroll down Elm or Hanover Streets for a unique shoppers haven.

For cool antiques from jewelry to furniture and warm, helpful service head into Antiques on Elm. Also located on Elm Street, Manchester Music Mill sells a variety of musical instruments and offers small instrumental classes.

If you're looking for the perfect one-of-a-kind gift or home decoration along with creative advice, check out With Heart & Hand Unique Gifts on Elm.

Find the perfect unique, high-end ensemble while browsing the racks of Statement on Hanover. Not only will you find variety of European designer women's clothes, but the owner will act as your personal shopper.

Residents have several options for grocery shopping, including the well-stocked Market Basket and the Spice Center with Middle Eastern and Indian foods. Grab local and organic ingredients from the Farm and Flower Market on Webster Street. The quality of produce and dairy items is worth the trip.