The inland town of Exeter is classic, small-town New England. It has a small bandstand around which all the local traffic circles; Revolutionary War history; a mix of longtime locals and recent blow-ins; and varied commercial architecture in a compact but vibrant downtown. There's also wonderful residential architecture on the shady side streets. Bisected by the historic Squamscott River, which once provided power to flanking mills, Exeter now boasts a fine, browsable selection of boutiques and shops. It's also home to one of the nation's most prestigious college preparatory schools, which is architecturally (if not yet culturally) integrated into the town. In short, Exeter is a good stop for a quick taste of old New England.
