Things to do near Portsmouth New Hampshire?

[kkandaj]

If your DH and co-workers need a late night burger or hot dog in downtown Portsmouth, there is this tiny place called Gilley's. Been there for years--has a tiny kitchen with the best greasy hot dogs.

Forgot that we also took our kids to the SeaCoast Science Center. It had a touch tank, some replica lobsters/fishing boat they were able to sit in, lobster cages. They really enjoyed it. In the middle of Missouri, they don't get opportunities to see things like that, so it may be different for your kids. It also has beautiful views outside and a playground.

 

[Diane♥Disney]

Kennebunkport has Christmas Prelude the first two weekends in December. All shops are open and have cookies, hot chocolate hot cider etc... Everything is decorated for Christmas.

 

[anniemae]

The submarine is called the USS Albacore. I think it is open year round, but not sure. It is a neat thing to do.

 

[mamacatnv]

Hey, that's my neck of the woods! I live 15 minutes from Portsmouth.

In Portsmouth itself, the downtown area, you'll find absolutely no shortage of shops and restaurants. Easily a full day or two just exploring those venues.

Your best bet for lobster might just be Newick's seafood, down the road about 8 minutes in Newington. Go around sunset--the view out the windows onto the bay is wonderful! There's Flatbread Pizza in Portsmouth, too. They have some really amazing flatbread-style pizzas (duh!) made with locally sourced, organic ingredients and they are YUMMY! MoJo's BBQ is also in town and offers some of the best BBQ I've ever had in New England. If you're looking for a bar with music, try the Press Room. If you want a bar with a lot of beer, try the Thirsty Moose (over 100 beers on tap! [it's required by state law that you include how many beers are on tap whenever you mention the Thirsty Moose ]). There's the Holy Grail in Epping (just down the road, a 20 minute drive or so) which is a great Irish restaurant/bar set in an old church. Coffee is a controversial topic, but I'm partial to Breaking New Grounds in Market Square.

My Brother in Law was a bartender at the Press Room for years. Funny, the family was here in TX last week for Thanksgiving and we were all talking about Newicks since I said that is where we should be eating!

 

[GrumpySue]

Definately go have breakfast at The Friendly Toast !!!

 

[monkeybug]

Definately go have breakfast at The Friendly Toast !!!

I looked at Tripadvisor before posting here and that was the first place I put down on my list! Breakfast is my favorite meal to eat out! (because it's my least favorite to cook--not a morning person. )

 

[Axel]

My Brother in Law was a bartender at the Press Room for years. Funny, the family was here in TX last week for Thanksgiving and we were all talking about Newicks since I said that is where we should be eating!

LOVE the Press Room! I spend a (not outrageous but generous) amount of time there with friends.

As for whoever just posted about the Friendly Toast... HOW COULD I FORGET THAT?! Ugh. LOVELOVELOVE that place. Mmmmmm, breakfast burrito.

 

[Snoozan]

In York, ME is the 'home' of Stonewall Kitchen, right on Rt. 1. Nice store with all their food products, with lots of samples, as well as lots of kitchen items and gifts. The factory is attached and there are viewing windows so you can see what's being produced that day - the kids might enjoy that. There's also a nice cafe in the store - opens early for yummy breakfasts! Would be a great place if you're shopping for Christmas....

Also, up the road on Rt. 1 heading towards Ogunquit is Wild Willy's Burgers and When Pigs Fly pizzeria. Both especially yummy and family friendly. When Pigs Fly also has a great bakery right beside it.

 

[clori]

In Exeter NH there is the American Independence Museum http://www.independencemuseum.org/

 

[Axel]

There's also the Science and Nature Center at Seabrook Station.

My dad worked at Seabrook for years so I spent a fair amount of time at the Center. The touch pool is so much fun. I could spend hours playing with the animals in it.

 

[Disney Doll]

Hey, that's my neck of the woods! I live 15 minutes from Portsmouth.

Unfortunately, it seems as you'll be hitting our usually wonderful seacoast at it's lowest point in the season. We're between the wonderful fall foliage and the beautiful looks of snow (but maybe some will arrive just before you do!).

That said, there's plenty to do in the Portsmouth area. The Kittery outlets are right across the border, but then you're paying sales tax (ick! I love my sales tax free NH). Keep in mind, though, that where NH lacks in sales tax, we make up for in meals and rooms tax (9% on non-pre-packaged food and drink, so what you buy in a restaurant will have a tax, but what you get in a grocery store will not).

In Portsmouth itself, the downtown area, you'll find absolutely no shortage of shops and restaurants. Easily a full day or two just exploring those venues.

Your best bet for lobster might just be Newick's seafood, down the road about 8 minutes in Newington. Go around sunset--the view out the windows onto the bay is wonderful! There's Flatbread Pizza in Portsmouth, too. They have some really amazing flatbread-style pizzas (duh!) made with locally sourced, organic ingredients and they are YUMMY! MoJo's BBQ is also in town and offers some of the best BBQ I've ever had in New England. If you're looking for a bar with music, try the Press Room. If you want a bar with a lot of beer, try the Thirsty Moose (over 100 beers on tap! [it's required by state law that you include how many beers are on tap whenever you mention the Thirsty Moose ]). There's the Holy Grail in Epping (just down the road, a 20 minute drive or so) which is a great Irish restaurant/bar set in an old church. Coffee is a controversial topic, but I'm partial to Breaking New Grounds in Market Square.

Strawberry Banke is open through December and is a pretty cool historic spot. It's a bit like the Mystic Seaport museum in CT--real, authentic buildings and accoutrements dating back 375 years--and offers a really neat look at what life has been like in this same spot over the years. They do candlelight strolls on weekends in December as well so if you don't mind bundling up, that's a ton of fun.

There's the Seacoast Science Center and the Children's Museum of New Hampshire in nearby Dover. Both are hugely entertaining for kids. There's a few other museums in Manchester, which is about 45 minutes away.

If you don't mind a bit of a drive (about 2 hours), take a trip up to the White Mountains (my other home) and check out the outlets (sales tax free!) that are in North Conway as well as some absolutely awesome mountains. You might consider taking a trip up Mount Washington (the tallest mountain in New England, home to one of the world's most popular skiing sites, home of the world's worst weather, the site of the fastest wind speed on Earth ever recorded by man [still bitter about the robot-recorded wind speed in AUS beating us out a few years back] and exclusive training site for the ONLY successful US Everest Expedition) via the SnowCat (the mountain is inaccessible by car from October-May and by foot only by VERY experienced climbers. The Cog does not run in winter except on rare occasions).

Slightly farther north is Santa's Village (a small, simple amusement park) which is open on Weekends. It's pretty cool if you've got younger kids. Though, I usually go about once a year myself!

In Boston, definitely hit up the New England Aquarium. Walk some (but probably not all!) of the Freedom Trail. The MFA is also pretty cool to check out. Faneuil Hall offers some good food and a historic venue. And even though it's winter, the Boston Common is still nice to walk through.

Take a drive up to Freeport and see the home of LL Bean.

There's tons to do!

This is all good advice.
Ogunquit is not far from Portsmouth either. The Marginal Way is there...probably one of the most scenic walking routes in the country, IMHO. Ogunquit is a quaint cute little town, although probably not much is open this time of year....it tends to be seasonal.

I would also "second" going to Freeport to see the LLBean store...if you see nothing else, it's worth it to see that. If you do get there, make sure you get to the LLBean Outlet store which is across Main Street from the Big LLBean store.

You're also not that far from Wolfeboro NH and Lake Winniepesaukee...probably 45-60 minutes if memory serves me correctly. Wolfeboro is another cute town....could be seasonal also, but a lot of those cute seasonal towns up that way do some big "hooha" after Thanksgiving and early in December for the holiday, so they tend to have more things open and more to do. Worth looking into.

 

[dchi]

I'm originally from Portsmouth, NH. My Dad still lives there.

Music city Hall is downtown. I love walking around the streets of downtown Portsmouth, with the old north church right in the center of market square.

Since I read you will be near the Shipyard, I would recommend Warren's Lobster house. Ask for a table on the water, it's really relaxing and prices are reasonable. They have the largest salad bar I have ever been too. Or if you are in the mood for Italian, there is The Rosa downtown. I've been eating there since I was a little girl. They changed hands about a year ago so I am not sure if it is still as good as it used to be but I hear it is!

 

[stargazer2892]

Now I'm homesick, I miss Portsmouth this time of year. I'm 99% positive Newicks is technically in Dover, right over the General Sullivan bridge on 16. So it will be the town up the river from Newington. I would also avoid The Friendly Toast, it is more of a "out at 1 am and kinda tipsy and need food" type of place. Service is mediocre at best sometimes just downright horrible, but the food is different and pretty good. My favorite place to eat a quick lunch is The Rusty Hammer, it is a bar type of place but very family friendly and has really good food and I have never ever gotten bad service (even when I was going once a week). Joe's New York Pizza is also a good grab and go type of place that serves by the slice. Of course you have to stop and eat at Gillys (look up the history it's pretty cool).
Depending on where your staying Prescott park is a nice little park on the water right across from the yard that the kids can run around and burn off energy, parking can be a pain but it is free so that's nice. It will be much colder in Downtown then even at the outlets because of the wind coming off the water. Seacoast Repertory Theater is currently doing A Christmas Story which might be a nice way to spend an afternoon/evening, that's in downtown and has some excellent plays.

Of course a trip to Boston is very much required, what we did (mostly my dad growing up since he worked for John Hancock) is parked in Dover and took the Downeaster into Boston and get around using the T, that way you wont have to deal with parking and traffic and the lovely drivers down there (I really would not recommend ANYONE drive in downtown unless they know it well. My MIL grew up there and still refuses to drive it). Boston could very easily take 2 days to see and still not be able to see everything especially if you want to do the more historical parts and a few museums.

York Maine has a decent little historical area with a small museum which is worth a stop if your heading out to Longsands/Shortsands or Cape Neddick. If you make it to Shortsands there is cute little "touristy" area that most of it will be closed but I'm pretty sure Goldenrod Saltwater Taffy will still be open, it has some of the best taffy all made there where you can watch, its pretty neat.

If your family is interested it is a little early so there will only be a few trails open but the mountains aren't that far for a day trip of skiing.

I envy you being able to do things up there, we go up and all we have time to do is visit family. DH and I went in October and we where able to get to Portsmouth once and inhale lunch at The Rusty Hammer and grab a cup of coffee at Breaking New Grounds (a few stores down) on the way back to the car. Enjoy!

 

[sapdaddy2]

I looked at Tripadvisor before posting here and that was the first place I put down on my list! Breakfast is my favorite meal to eat out! (because it's my least favorite to cook--not a morning person. )

First welcome to my neighborhood!!

Another great place for breakfast is the "Wooden Spoon" in Somersworth, NH
This is a nice hole in the wall family restaurant. You take route 16 north to exit #9 go to the right and keep going to the Market Basket plaza. I have to warn you it is a cash only business, no checks either.

Another place my teen age kids love for breakfast is old time buffet at the Maine mall in S. Portland Maine. They only serve breakfast on the weekends.

There is a nice children's museum in Portland, Maine

I suggest you stop at the welcome centers on I-95 in both NH and ME

 

[marcyinPA]

My Brother in Law was a bartender at the Press Room for years. Funny, the family was here in TX last week for Thanksgiving and we were all talking about Newicks since I said that is where we should be eating!

So funny- my cousin is a drummer and has played the Press Room many times.

And Newick's FOR SURE. I haven't eaten there in many years, but we used to eat there once or twice a year when I was a kid. A real treat!!!

 

[Kinziepoohsmom]

Newburyport is a great place to spend a day. It is about 20 minutes south of Portsmouth. There a lots of restaurants (some have a water view of the Merrimac River) and many little shops to browse in. The Tannery is a short walk (couple of minutes at most) from the central downtown area and they have more shops, etc. On Friday night 12/13 the Chamber of Commerce hosts an Invitation Night. All the shops are open and most all serve punch, cookies, etc. Its very festive and quite pretty with all the lights, etc. Just be aware that parking is not free but it is only a minimal cost. Great for an afternoon or evening out.

 

[Alicenwonderment]

Portsmouth NH is the next town over from me. Many of the suggestions I agree with. There is so much to do. Strawberry Bank Candle light stroll is really fun. That is across from Prescott Park. I found a list of events so hopefully they will let me link it in my post.(fingers crossed) Portsmouth is doing their Christmas parade I think tomorrow. Usually Somersworth has their parade this weekend too. The Dover Children's Museum has activities for kidos about 18 mo to 10 ish. I was just there last week. The Polar Express seems to be growing the one in North Conway is expensive and tickets are picked from lottery in Sept. I would try the Portland Polar Express. If you decide to travel to Boston you can take the train in from Exeter or Dover. There is lots to do in Boston. Science Museum, children's museum and aqurium. Have your friends check out their library for discounted tickets for different places. I agree with Newicks.

Have fun! Gap Outlet had a done of sales last week.

 

[Alicenwonderment]

well they won't let me link the Portsmouth calendar with all the Christmas Parades. Portsmouth is Sat. Also there are many Christmas fairs. If you look up When time is Portsmouth NH Parade. Hope you have fun.

 

[monkeybug]

Thank you everyone for all the great suggestions and ideas! I've added them all to my (long) list! It sounds like our biggest challenge is going to be trying to squeeze as much in as we can. (which is a great problem to have!)
I called my friend last night and she said they want to go to the Christmas Prelude and to the Strawberry Banke stroll with us, so I know for sure those two are happening!
And Newicks is a sure thing too! No way am I leaving without a lobster fix. (but my friend said I needed to go to the lobster place in Kittery too, so I guess I'll eat lobster twice, poor me!)
Now to go fit all those warm clothes in our suitcases! Traveling in the winter comes with some challenges.

 

[leebee]

Thank you everyone for all the great suggestions and ideas! I've added them all to my (long) list! It sounds like our biggest challenge is going to be trying to squeeze as much in as we can. (which is a great problem to have!)
I called my friend last night and she said they want to go to the Christmas Prelude and to the Strawberry Banke stroll with us, so I know for sure those two are happening!
And Newicks is a sure thing too! No way am I leaving without a lobster fix. (but my friend said I needed to go to the lobster place in Kittery too, so I guess I'll eat lobster twice, poor me!)
Now to go fit all those warm clothes in our suitcases! Traveling in the winter comes with some challenges.

That would probably be The Weathervane. Hmmm. They USED to be very good but they seem to go downhill a tad every year, IMO. The food isn't bad, but if I were looking for seafood in that section of Kittery, I'd recommend going across the street to Bob's Clam Hut, or a teensy bit north (go over the inlet) to Robert's (which is owned by the Clam Hut). We have been eating at Bob's Clam Hut for decades, and the seafood is MUCH better than Weathervane's. I haven't been to Robert's yet, but everyone is raving about it. The Clam Hut is definitely a jeans&tee shirt kind of place, where you place the order for your food and take it to the table when your number is called; Robert's is a true restaurant.