The longer I have lived in New Jersey, by far the most densely populated state, the more I have appreciated under-the-radar destinations over crowded Instagram hot spots.
In a region with destinations like Acadia, Provincetown, and Newport, it’s easy for plenty of fantastic places to get drowned out by the big players. I’d even argue that the whole state of New Hampshire is the unsung hero of New England. The reality is that Americans in other parts of the country have trouble pointing to NH on a map. “Oh it’s one of those little states up there”, they say.
Walpole, NH, population 3,734, fits the bill of the path less traveled even for New Hampshire. You could probably count all of the shops in the center of town on one hand. However, the crown jewel of Walpole is the flagship location of L.A. Burdick Chocolate, home of the best hot chocolate in the entire world. Burdick’s annex locations in Manhattan’s trendy SoHo and Boston’s Back Bay have become famed cafés.
Every summer as a teenager, I would make a point to drive my grandmother down to Burdick’s in Walpole for lunch. The restaurant is home to some of the best Franco-Swiss food for miles. In a state where the largest ethnic group is French/French Canadian, it is deceivingly hard to find many French dining options, but Burdick’s will not disappoint. My drink of choice is the dark hot chocolate, which can also be served iced, perfect for Burdick’s Bastille Day lunch on a hot July day. The croque-madame, an open-faced French grilled cheese and fried egg sandwich, has gone on and off the menu through the years and is one of my favorites.
After the pursuing the two other stores in town, a trip to Walpole is not complete without a scenic drive around the hillside farmland, which provides excellent views of the Connecticut River Valley. Great stopping points include: Alysons Orchard and Walpole Valley Farms.