Seacoast Travel Guide

Go back in time and imagine William Whipple signing the Declaration of Independence or David Thompson, staking honorary claim as founder of the state of New Hampshire, and you'll have a taste of the Seacoast region of New Hampshire. Once known for its fishing, timber, textile and shipbuilding industries, this18 miles of Atlantic ocean coastline now features history, culture, art and beauty. The cobblestone streets of Portsmouth, New Hampshire's oldest town, lead to must-see waterfront dining and downtown shopping. Grab an ice cream cone from nostalgic Annabelle's on your way to a self- guided tour of the Portsmouth Harbor Trail. The area has over 70 points of historic interest including Strawberry Bank, where parts of the original settlement are preserved as a museum, charming historic homes and lovely Prescott Park. Need to escape for the day? Enjoy a short cruise around Portsmouth Harbor's bay, take a ferry ride to the Isle of Shoals, or go deep sea fishing or whale watching. For a nice leisurely drive, head toward popular summer destination Hampton Beach, and continue on the narrow, windy, cliff hugging roads toward Rye Beach. The crashing of the waves on the craggy shoreline will mesmerize you. Interested in a non-coastal diversion? Head inland toward the charming countryside of Dover to view the presence of Colonial and Georgian architecture or peruse Salmon Falls Stoneware and see talented artists at work. Continue to Durham to spot the iconic “Wagon on the Hill” on the 130 acre Wagon Hill farm and then visit enamoring University of New Hampshire, established in 1923. The old world feel of the campus mixed with its progressive academia is alluring. The seacoast region has so much to offer. The clock is ticking, what are you waiting for?