Travel & Tourism » Seacoast Region

Isles of Shoals Steamship Company - Portsmouth, NH

Bordering the Atlantic Ocean with a mere 18 miles, the Seacoast region makes up for its shortage of coastline tenfold with its richness of history, culture, art and utter beauty. For those who love the water, the ocean tickles the sands at Hampton Beach and Rye.

Take a ferry ride to the Isles of Shoals, a group of nine small islands a few miles off the coast of New Hampshire; charter a boat for deep-sea fishing or take a whale-watching cruise from several locations along the shore. Bike along paths, take a ride through a countryside populated by historic homes and farmlands, or simply slip your toes in the sand and bask in the sunshine. The New Hampshire seacoast has it all.

The area was home to many native cultures, predominantly Abenaki, who lived and worked the land long before the European settlers arrived in the 1600's. These settlers nearly eradicated the native people with the diseases they brought. A man by the name of David Thompson holds the honor of founder of the state of New Hampshire and he chose the seacoast area as his stomping ground.

Thompson was sent to the coastal area to develop a fishing colony. He settled on the land that is now known as Odiorne Point in Rye. Early on, the primary industry in the seacoast was fishing, but trading would become an anchor to the region and eventually timber and textile mills, and especially shipbuilding, would dominate the area.

The town of Portsmouth is home to an assortment of historic sites, which are showcased along the Portsmouth Harbor Trail. The eating and drinking establishments attract visitors to downtown shops, allowing artists to flourish in the community. And the beauty of Portsmouth, from Prescott Park to the cobblestone sidewalks to the picturesque harbor, is nearly unparalleled.

The town of Dover, New Hampshire's first permanent settlement, is a place seasoned with Colonial and Georgian architecture. Nearby Durham is home to the University of New Hampshire. The town of Seabrook is best known for its Nuclear Power Plant. Much of the surrounding inland area is abundant farmland and charming countryside. As with the rest of the state, many old structures still stand as meetinghouses, covered bridges and town halls that make up a character that is uniquely New England.

Outdoors

Dick Pinney's Guide Lines: Underappreciated pollock deserve a second look
Example blog post alt Roadside History: Only 1 of Weare's 22 Piscataquog River Mills remains
Example blog post alt Time for trout fishing
Example blog post alt Brenda Charpentier's Forest Journal: The school of goats, bees and trees brings kids closer to the farm
Example blog post alt Stacey Cole's Nature Talks: Breeding bird surveys date back to 1966 in NH
Example blog post alt Interior secretary visits state, presents millions for NH Fish and Game programs

Click for Top 10 activities!

Covered Bridges

Example blog post alt Cochecho River Footbridge

Attractions

Example blog post alt Explore the Ocean World, LLC
Example blog post alt Children's Museum of New Hampshire
Example blog post alt Blue Ocean Discovery Center
Example blog post alt Blue Ocean Society Touch Tank
Example blog post alt American Independence Museum
Example blog post alt Isle of Shoals
Example blog post alt New Hampshire Farm Museum
Example blog post alt Portsmouth Harbor Cruises
Example blog post alt Portsmouth Museum of Art
Example blog post alt Prescott Park
Example blog post alt Redhook Brewery
Example blog post alt Great Bay Discovery Center
Seacoast African American Cultural Center
Example blog post alt Seacoast Science Center at Odiorne Point
Example blog post alt Strawbery Banke Museum
Example blog post alt The Woodman Institute Museum and the William Damm Garrison
Example blog post alt Tuck Museum
Example blog post alt Tug Alley Too
Example blog post alt Urban Forestry Center
Example blog post alt Water Country
Example blog post alt Wentworth by the Sea
Example blog post alt Portsmouth Harbor Trail
Example blog post alt Gundalow Company
Example blog post alt Fuller Gardens
Example blog post alt U.S.S. Albacore
Example blog post alt Granite State Whale Watch

State Parks and Beaches

Example blog post alt North Hampton State Beach
Example blog post alt North Beach
Example blog post alt Hampton State Beach
Example blog post alt Rye Harbor State Park
Example blog post alt Odiorne Point State Park
Example blog post alt Kingston State Park

Historic Markers

Example blog post alt John Langdon
Example blog post alt Major General John Sullivan
Example blog post alt Newington
Example blog post alt North Cemetery
Example blog post alt Odiorne Point
Example blog post alt George Washington's Visit
Example blog post alt Dr. Jeremy Belknap
Example blog post alt Old Meeting House
Example blog post alt Brigadier General Enoch Poor
Example blog post alt The Spaulding Brothers
Example blog post alt Weeks House
Example blog post alt William and Mary Raids
Example blog post alt Atlantic Cable Station and Sunken Forest
Example blog post alt Fort Stark
Example blog post alt Fort Constitution
Example blog post alt First Public School in NH
Example blog post alt Exeter Town House
Example blog post alt Josiah Bartlett
John Brown Family - Gunsmiths
Mast Tree Riot of 1734
Meeting House and Hearse House
Civil War Riot of 1861
Old Landing Road
Oyster River Massacre
Portsmouth Plains
Charles Cogswell Doe
Breakfast Hill
Bound Rock
Shapley Line
Spaulding & Frost Cooperage
Hilton's Point
Revolutionary Capital

Waterfalls

Forests

Seacoast Region

NH Travel Guide


Explore regions

• Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee
• Great North Woods
• Lakes Region
• Merrimack Valley
• Monadnock Region
• Seacoast
• White Mountain Region
• 101+ things to do

20 things to do

First Connecticut Lake • Dartmouth-Sunapee Region
• Great North Woods
• Lakes Region
• Merrimack Valley
• Monadnock Region
• Seacoast Region
• White Mountain Region

State parks

Hampton Beach • State Beaches
• NH Forests
• White Mountain National Forest
• Covered Bridges
• Historical Markers
• Free Guides & Maps

Outdoors

Biking in NH • Biking
• Hiking & Climbing
• Boating
• Hunting & Fishing
• Race Tracks


Attractions

Cog Railway • Full List
• Magnificent Main Streets
• Top 10 Free Attractions
• Top 10 Kid-Friendly Attractions

Winter Fun

Winter in NH • All Winter
• Alpine Skiing
• Nordic Skiing
• Snowboard Parks

More Outdoors

Waterfalls in Franconia Notch • Farmers' Markets
• Skate Parks
• Waterfalls
• White Mountain National Forest
• Wildflower Viewing