traveling to merrimack valley for thanksgiving weekend. What is there to do in the area of Hudson? we may/may not stay with family. they have live in the area for years but have no clue as to what to do in the area. any "charming' towns, shopping, kids "stuff? please help a potential nightmare weekend with the inlaws be a little less painful!

Hudson is not the most scenic area of New Hampshire. However drive west towards Peterborough, and you'll be in some very pretty country. There is a kid's petting zoo in Swanzey, but I don't know if it's open in November. As for shopping, Hudson is very close to some big shopping malls in Nashua, Manchester, and Salem. November is an off time of year, so a lot attractions may be closed. You can try Shaker Village at Canterbury, which is well worth a day trip. You can also head over to the seacoast/Portsmouth area. Portsmouth is a fun town for a day trip.

zootsi's suggestion is a good one. Peterborough is a wonderful town. There are usually a lot of things going on Thanksgiving weekend so you might look for a Christmas parade or similar event. A friend enjoys Charmingfare Farm for hayrides. Concord is about 30 minutes north. There's the Christa McAullife planetarium. Downtown Concord is very pleasant. The new Red River Theater just opened on South Main St. Not sure if they'll have children's movies but they plan to show some indi movies. To the west of Concord is Warner NH where the Kearsarge Indian Museum is located. This is a really nice little town with an independent bookstore (although the one in Peterborough is much bigger and also contains used books). Not sure if it's held Thanksgiving weekend or not but sometimes the horse club does a little parade. The thursday edition of the NH Union Leader will contain a listing of events for a good portion of NH. There's also a free newspaper Hippo found in some grocery stores, around etc that has some interesting things going on in the Manchester/Nashua/Concord area.
Portsmouth is a good suggestion, too, depending on the ages of your children. The malls will undoubtedly be mobbed and contain the usual stores. I wouldn't go near them on that weekend.

Hudson, Mass or Hudson, NH. Merrimack Valley NH or Mass.?

Don't shop the day after Thanksgiving, but do send the in-laws out to shop. You may never see them again - stores are that crowded.

Gail, it's Hudson, NH, in the Merrimack Valley.

Raquelita, you might want to look at Lowell, Massachusetts as well. It's just down the road. There are a few interesting museums about the mill industry of the 1800s. If you want to go to Boston, you can also catch the commuter train into the city from Lowell. I grew up in nearby Londonderry and we used to take the train in all the time. It runs fairly often.

paultsongasarena.com is a small arena in lowell - minor league hockey games will be played there on Wed, Fri, Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend.

Go with inlaws to tag or even cut a Christmas tree at tree farm - turkeyhillfarm.com or smolakfarms.com are in Haverhill and North Andover and that would be a big weekend to do that. Don't know age of kids but Smolak has small petting zoo and free-range geese that are always funny and annoying.

Lowell museums are a good idea.

Lowellsun.com is daily lowell newspaper and should also have some listings.

In the extremely unlikely event it gets real cold, skibradford.com is a local skil hill (tiny) that if your kids are not skiiers is perfect. They do packages that include all rentals, a short lesson and lift pass. If they ski anywhere, this hill is too tiny to be any fun - but close and good for absolute beginners (in haverhill, MA)

Newburyport is a cute town at mouth of Merrimack River (hence the name of the valley). I would imagine they would be all decorated up for Christmas. Nice shops, good restaurants.

When are you arriving and leaving. The biggest nightmare of your trip is not likely to be inlaws but traffic.