As more travelers skip crowded hotspots in favor of quieter, closer-to-home getaways, one small New Hampshire town is getting national attention.

Airbnb just released its first-ever list of “off-the-map” destinations—places with big travel appeal but little traditional tourism infrastructure. And tucked among fishing villages and Western mountain towns is Alexandria, New Hampshire. Check out the cute pics of the cabin that got featured.

Here’s what’s inside today’s newsletter:

📰 What we’re reading, news from around the state

📢 We asked, you answered: Are you concerned about the economy?

🔍 Question of the week: Do you support a Republican bill that would allow students to openly carry firearms on campus?

🎢 6 funky roadside attractions

As grocery prices kept climbing last year, Republican Senate candidate John Sununu was backing President Donald Trump’s tariffs—while also cashing in on stock in companies like PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, and Walmart. His 2025 financial disclosure shows tens of thousands in potential gains as those companies’ stock prices rose.

Colin Booth has the full story.

🚧 A new report says the state’s roads and bridges are in rough shape—and fixing them could cost more than current funding allows. Lawmakers are considering raising tolls for out-of-state drivers (while keeping E-ZPass rates steady for NH residents) as one way to close the gap. New Hampshire Bulletin

⚠️ Safety concerns are mounting at the Bedford Toll Plaza, where a fiery crash this week left a driver seriously injured. It’s part of a long history of serious—and sometimes fatal—crashes at the site, which is now slated to be replaced with open-road tolling by 2027. NBC Boston

🎤 And in a strange twist… that driver has been identified as Eugene Mirman, known for voicing Gene on Bob’s Burgers. He survived the crash with serious but non-life-threatening injuries and is now recovering. WCVB

🧑‍⚕️ Meanwhile… disability care providers in New Hampshire are raising alarms about a lack of investigators handling abuse and neglect cases. Some say it can take months to resolve complaints, leaving vulnerable people—and workers—stuck in limbo. Lawmakers are now debating changes to improve oversight and speed up the process. New Hampshire Bulletin

This week, we asked readers: Are you concerned about the economy?

Here’s what they had to say:

“Yes, very much. DJ Trump is bankrupting the US economy as quickly as he can ruin a casino in Atlantic City. Unsustainable debt and growing international contempt are eroding the momentum of the U.S. dollar and its position as the world’s reserve currency. Oil is now rapidly shifting to other currencies, including the RMB. Ignorance will not remain bliss once this all blows up. Rand Paul seems to be the only Republican who cares at all and is willing to speak up. Democrats will protect overspending on critical social programs, while Republicans will protect overspending on ICE and bombs. Time to throw the bums out!” — Tom Chew

“Tom is 100% correct.” — Michael Donahue

“Who isn’t?” — Mike E.

“Yes, I am concerned. This winter I was whalloped by propane and electric costs. It’s an awful feeling to not be able to heat your own home sufficiently. Food costs are noticeably higher at my local market and now I have to recalculate if it is more efficient to drive the extra 30 miles to a larger, less expensive market due to rising cost of gas. On a fixed income, the challenges are real.” — Jill Houser

“The economy is driving more people to food banks, seniors eating less meals per day. Brings to mind the phrase ‘everything Trump touches is destroyed.’” — Kay Campbell

“Yes. The Trump administration is geared to benefit the top 1%, including the Trump family enterprises. They seem to view the rest of the population as only valuable to serve as a labor pool and a source of revenue.” — JoAnn Carlson

“When we were first married in 1970, I used to budget $20 a week for groceries and household supplies. That figure included beef, pork, chicken, shrimp, beer, wine, and food for our cat. Even though we lived and ate well, I usually had cash left over at the end of the week. Now, $20 won’t even buy a single roast of beef. Yesterday, I spent $40 on one small bag of groceries, including a few items like a lime, a small milk, and a bag of potato chips. I didn’t buy any meat, fruit, or vegetables. Obviously, I know that prices rise over the years, but today’s grocery costs stop me in my tracks. With gas and diesel prices increasing, the cost of everything is going to rise exponentially. If only my Social Security had increased at the same rate as the price of a steak!” — Judy Barker

College campuses in New Hampshire might look a lot different starting next year. Lawmakers just passed a bill in the House that would let students and staff carry weapons.

So this week’s question is:

Do you support a Republican bill that would allow students to openly carry firearms on campus?

By Stacy Milbouer

From a train-chasing wolf man to a scooter-riding black bear and Cinderella’s pumpkin coach, New Hampshire has plenty of funky, vintage, and beloved roadside attractions.

Here are 6 favorites:

🎢 Canobie Lake Park (Salem) — A classic, century-old amusement park with vintage rides like the Yankee Cannonball roller coaster and a nostalgic trolley park feel.

📖 Storyland (Glen) — A storybook-themed park where kids meet fairy tale characters and enjoy gentle rides and live shows.

🐻 Clark’s Bears (Lincoln) — A longtime White Mountains attraction featuring trained bears, a scenic train ride, and the famous “Wolfman” chase.

🎄 Santa’s Village (Jefferson) — A Christmas-themed park packed with festive rides, reindeer, and old-school family nostalgia.

🪨 Polar Caves (Rumney) — A natural attraction where visitors explore granite caves formed during the Ice Age.

🐐 The Friendly Farm (Dublin) — A laid-back petting farm where visitors can feed and interact with a variety of animals.

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Katy Savage with stories from Stacy Milbouer and Colin Booth. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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