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7 Ways to Take Care of You in Southern NH

Hiking Trails, Restaurants, Spas, Fitness, & More!

By Michelle O'Brien, Assistant Publisher, Macaroni Kid Nashua-Merrimack February 10, 2021

It's Time to Fill Your Bucket!  

Check out our list full of ideas and places where you can take some time for yourself.  We hope you enjoy!

1). Relax, Reset, Rejuvenate

We know what you're up to over there.  Spending your days working hard and fulfilling the needs of all your loved one's.  Don't forget about number one....That's YOU!  Check out these amazing businesses where you can relax, reset, and rejuvenate yourself. 

HC Salon and Day Spa -  Located in Merrimack - Offering a wide variety of hair and spa services!  Are you looking for a salon that offers a complete line of appointments for your personal needs? We have you fully covered.  From a hair cut, blow drying, color, foil, a variety of manicure and pedicure services, wide variety of facial services, as well as a massage or sauna visit. We do it all!  Please call 603-424-5628 or book online at hcsalonanddayspa.com. We look forward to meeting you and servicing your needs.





Fuzion Fitness & Style - Located in Nashua - Fitness, Salon & Spa!  Fuzion is the idea of combining an active lifestyle with beauty, confidence and self love. In a time where people are isolated and not interacting with one another in the ways we used to, our goal is to help recharge your energy, make you smile and feel good about yourself.  We offer a variety of fitness classes including barre, pilates, yoga, cardio dance, HIIT, tabata and circuit training.  We have a full-service hair salon with amazingly talented stylists offering a range of color services, haircuts, extensions, bridal and more. We also have the most experienced nail technicians, skincare professionals and massage therapists. Stop by for a tour of our space and try your first class free. 





The Voice Of Clay - Holistic Therapies - Located in Brookline - The Voice of Clay houses services, treatments, and classes that fuel the spirit and feed the soul. We promise that when you leave here, you will feel a renewed sense of creativity and connection to life. We believe your life has a purpose and we promise to help you tap into the joy and fulfillment. We offer a wide range of holistic therapies including Holistic Wellness Coaching, Hypnosis, Somatic Breathwork, Past Life Regression, and more.  Our services, classes, and purpose are all centered on the idea of slowing down, taking the time to be present, and transmuting what is no longer needed The Voice of Clay offers a safe, relaxing place to just be you. All Holistic Therapies take place online or in the centering room, a quiet place situation above the pottery studio.  Contact us today to discuss your personalized holistic healing journey.  





Versatile Yoga - •Versatile Yoga• was created with love and passion by Lacy. The goal of VY is to help people of ALL varieties to find their own love and passion of yoga while experiencing the mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional benefits that yoga has to offer.






2). Let Someone Else Do The Cooking

I don't know about you, but even the thought about cooking dinner every single night can be exhausting in and of itself.  Give yourself a break and let someone else do the cooking for you.  Whether you dine in (perhaps on a date night-gasp!)  or takeout, these restaurants are ready to serve you up something delicious!

Takumi Sushi & Hibachi -  Located in Nashua - Offering genuine Japanese cuisine such as Sushi, Tempura, Teppan-yaki (Hibachi), Ramen, and more. The key to our success is simple: providing quality consistent food that taste great every single time. We pride ourselves on serving our customers delicious genuine dishes like: Sushi, Japanese, Seafood.  We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your continued support.





Grill 603 - Located in Milford -  A family friendly casual dining restaurant. Established in 2016, Grill603 not only has a great selection of seafood, steaks, burgers and salads, but they also have an extensive selection of  gluten and dairy free as well as keto friendly options on the menu. Don't forget the kids! Kids eat free Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday (dine in and carry out) with the purchase of any adult entree. Dine in, Carry out, Curbside. Grill603, the place to be.





CJ’s Great West Grill - Located in Manchester - CJ's Great West Grill celebrates America's vast, regional cuisine! We serve up mouthwatering Texas BBQ, House Specialties like our famous Crispy Haddock Tacos, made-from-scratch Mexican dishes, all-American seafood, Butcher cut steaks and many more unique plates that are sure to please the whole family's palate.





Copper Door - Located in Bedford -  Guests at the Copper Door enjoy a wide ranging, exciting and inventive combination of tastes featuring local sources, New England seafood, classic yet inspired stone oven creations, hand-cut Reserve Premium Steaks, unique salads, and House specialties that personify Copper Door's passion & respect of fine food and classic culinary technique.





Ksone's Thai Dining & Lounge - Located in Nashua - Delight your taste buds with the flavorful, traditional dishes from our Thai restaurant. We are open for lunch and dinner, and we work hard to accommodate every special request. Dine-in and phone or online takeout are available. We take pride in the authenticity of each of our menu items and the exceptional customer service we provide. Only the freshest ingredients are used in our cooking, and our dishes are unique and bursting with flavor.






3). Get Outside!

Nothing is better for the soul than getting outside and taking time to think.  Treat yourself to some soul refreshing solitude in the forest or grab a friend and go have an adventure.  

Horse Hill Nature Preserve - Located in Merrimack - Old logging roads form the basis of what is today a trail network used by hikers, bikers, hunters, snowmobilers, horse back riders, etc. The 563± acre property consists of gently rolling to fairly steep terrain and two hills approximately 400' elevation. Click here for a Trail Map. (information and description by merrimackoutdoors.org)


Photo Credit: Local Subscriber, Melina T.


Monson Center - Located in Milford with parking/trail access in Hollis - Monson Center is considered by leading archeologists to be one of the most significant archeological sites in New England. Visiting Monson Center, a historic gem, is literally a breath of fresh air, and a step back in time. After parking in the small lot, you walk a few hundred yards down a forest lined dirt road. Each step carries you away from the busyness of every day life. Recreational opportunities include - hiking, cross-country skiing, bird watching, biking, and more.  (information and description by forestsociety.org)


Photo Credit: Local Subscriber, Carla S.


Mt Uncanoonuc - Located in Goffstown - The Uncanoonuc Mountain Hiking Trails provide hikers with beautiful scenic views of Goffstown and the Merrimack Valley. There are multiple trails with various difficulty levels available, perfect for all ages. A map highlighting the various paths hikers can take is available here. (information and description by goffstown.com)





Dorrs Pond Loop - Located in Manchester - A quick and easy 1.1 mile loop around Doors Pond. Trail that circles Dorr’s Pond where you can fish in the warmer seasons and ice skate in the winter months.



Photo Credit: Local Subscriber, Kate T.



Musquash Pond - Located in Hudson - Musquash Pond Trail is a 6.9 mile moderately trafficked loop featuring beautiful wild flowers and scenery. The trail offers a number of activity options including Hiking, mountain biking, walking, bird watching, running, snowshoeing, views.  Leashed dogs welcomed. (information and description by hudsonnh.gov)



Photo Credit: Petra Dollet Photography


For other local trail ideas visit www.alltrails.com.  You can search, hikes nearest to you, difficulty levels, views, and reiews from other hikers!  It also provides precise directions to each trail head and navigation through the trail should you need it. 

Recommended Gear 

  • Micro Spikes for icy trails 
  • Snow shoes if fresh snow
  • Layer up for warmth! 

Some local libraries offer snow shoe rentals such as Merrimack Public Library.



4). Get Creative!

Take some time for yourself and get those creative juices flowing. Whether you want to try something new or spark up an old passion, these businesses are here to help!

Board and Brush - Located in Amherst - Are you looking for a night out with friends? Is your inner DIY itching for a fun new project without having to buy all your own supplies and make a mess at your house? Then BOOK A WORKSHOP at Board & Brush Creative Studio in Amherst.  Our instructor led DIY wood sign workshops allow you to combine your creativity and willingness to learn new skills. We provide you with the instruction, materials and design for you to distress, sand, stain, paint, and customize your personalized piece of art!  Amherst Board and Brush is a BYOB facility.  





Express It Art - Located in Hudson - Always wanted to try painting, or want to re-connect with your love for it? Relax with your favorite beverage and friends, old and new. Let an expert instructor lead you through the steps to make a beautiful painting. In addition to painting you can also learn basic drawing techniques working from still life setups and photographs. Or work on small sculptures out of clay. You can also make a mosaic or a wood sign if you wish.  Adult classes are BYOB if desired.  






5). Hire Some Help

Let's face it, we are being pulled in a million and one different directions leaving little time for ourselves.  Why not take some of the stuff off your plate and free up some personal time.  These businesses are here to help.   

Call The Cleaner - Serving Southern NH - Providing Mobile Car Detailing & Carpet/Upholstery Cleaning Services.  We love to clean, and it shows. Tell us about your cleaning needs, and we’ll send you an estimate. Call The Cleaner was born from the years of maintaining our own commercial spaces. We know what it takes to make your space shine and feel clean. And with a young family at home, we know how important it is to use products that are safe and earth conscious. We stand behind our service and products and deliver a clean you can trust.






Vanessa Regnery Cleaning Service - Serving Southern NH & MA. Areas. -  Voted best cleaning service company in the greater Nashua area two years in a row.  Providing Residential and Commercial Cleaning Services.  We specialize in deep cleaning, seasonal, and personalized maintenance cleanings.  Our professional staff are very experienced in office and commercial cleanings including post construction as well as move in/out cleaning. We pay high attention to detail and always work hard to ensure the client is 100% satisfied. We offer flexibility in scheduling and provide all the supplies needed for your cleaning and we are pet friendly. Contact us today for your Free Estimate.  





Naturally Organized, LLC - Naturally Organized is a personal organizing service that can get you organized and teach you the skills you need to stay organized.  The way a home is organized is very personal. We take time to listen to our clients’ unique situation. We want to understand your personal organizing dilemmas and learn about what you hope to achieve when you hire Naturally Organized. Together we’ll create sustainable, custom solutions that will work for the entire family. Lorraine and her team take pride in their attention to detail and their supportive, encouraging, non-judgmental approach. Call or text 603-821-0736 for a free phone consultation with Lorraine today.





A&E Errand Services - Serving Southern NH - Parenting was hard enough before the days of remote schooling and social distancing! We aim to make your life a little less hectic by taking care of some of the items on your ENDLESS to-do list. Need someone to pick up stuff at Home Depot, Costco, etc? We got you! Want someone to pick out and mail/ deliver the perfect gift to your mother-in-law? Give us a call! We'll even mask up and come in to do your laundry if you're comfortable with that. No job is too small - We do it all! Call or text at (603) 321-3652 or visit us online at aeerrandservices.com or on Facebook.






6). Savor A Few Minutes Of Solitude

Spending time alone is good for the soul. Let your partner know you need some alone time and head off to relax -- read a book, take a bath or even just take a walk around the neighborhood. Don't feel like you always have to be doing something "productive."  Below are some great options to help you to savor those precious moments alone.  

Book recommendation for you





Bruja Botanicals Co. - Sold Online and in Manchester -  Bruja Botanicals Co, a Veteran owned company, was founded with these main goals in mind: provide a variety of fun, high-quality, eco/bio-friendly bath and body products at affordable prices. We believe that self care is one of the most important things to do for yourself because it helps maintain physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Our passion for excellence has driven us from the beginning, and continues to drive us into the future. Allow us to cater to your self care needs! You can shop with us online at www.BrujaBotanicalsCo.com and/or in person at the Manchester Craft Market Store, located in the Mall of NH.






7). Make Life Easier and Check the Macaroni Kid Nashua-Merrimack Website!

Check our Macaroni Kid Nashua-Merrimack page for the latest ideas on family fun in Southern New Hampshire. You'll find ideas there on how to find your family fun -- even during the pandemic.