My Favorite UNH Campus Locations
Touring the University of New Hampshire (UNH) campus is the best way to experience student life and envision yourself here. While our tours highlight the key areas of campus, there's so much more to explore beyond what we can cover during the visit. Welcome to our My Favorite Places on Campus blog series, where UNH students walk you through some of the coolest and most unexpected locations where they spend time on campus.
Meghan Herlihy '26
Today, Meghan Herlihy '26, a bioengineering major, talks about the best places to spend time on and near campus, including her favorite art gallery in Portsmouth and the place where she fell in love with aerial dance!
Me and some friends at open skate night!
1. The Whittemore Center Arena
I am a big hockey fan, and I love going to the Whittemore Center Arena (the Whitt) to watch our men's and women's teams play! The White out the Whitt games and dollar dog nights are always some of my personal favorite themed hockey nights. The Whitt does have more than just hockey, though. I love going to open skate time if I am looking for something to do with my friends. SCOPE UNH, the Student Committee on Popular Entertainment, also hosts concerts in the Whittemore Center Arena each semester which are a super cool experience.
This is a picture from our end of semester showcase for aerial dance.
2. The Newman Dance Studio
I had never taken a dance class in my life, but during my sophomore year I learned that UNH offers aerial dance classes, so I thought it would be fun to try one out. I immediately fell in love with it. I have always been a super active person and this class allowed me to explore a new way to stay active. This spring semester is my third time taking aerial dance and I continue to learn so much in each class. There is also a showcase at the end of each semester which allows students to show off what they have learned.
This is me and my friends hanging out in the Fishbowl in the spring.
3. The Fishbowl Lawn
On warmer days, I love to spend my time outside and the Fishbowl (the lawn in front of Scott Residence Hall) is a great place for many of my favorite activities. There is a tree that is perfect for climbing or hanging my hammock in. I can lay out a blanket and get some work done, or I can get a couple of friends and play catch. Campus Activities Board (CAB) has also hosted some outdoor live music events in the Fishbowl which have been a ton of fun!
Meghan Herlihy '26
4. The Hamel Recreation Center
As I mentioned, I am a big fan of staying active! I made it my goal for the semester to try out one of the workout classes that Hamel Recreation Center (Hamel Rec) offers. So many of my friends have gone to Zumba and said they had a lot of fun. I usually use the weight rooms, but if I am looking to switch it up, I love to borrow shoes and use the bouldering wall. There are so many different ways to stay active and keep it interesting, which is why I love Hamel Rec so much.
This is a picture of one of the walls of art at Nahcotta.
5. In the Neighborhood: Nahcotta, Portsmouth, NH
I am a big fan of visiting galleries and looking at art. Downtown Portsmouth has so many fun places to explore, and it is easy to get there using Wildcat Transit. I currently work at Nahcotta which is an art gallery that also sells many gifts and goods. It is a woman-owned small business, and I have loved to stop in since I discovered it my freshman year. I really enjoy visiting when there is a first Friday event happening downtown. Many of the galleries will be open late during these events and you can look at all the cool art and enjoy some free cheese and crackers, as well!
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