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Seacoast Region
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.
Top 10
Explore the top 10 things to do in the Seacoast region!News & Happenings
MAKE SURE IT'S ME Opens at West End Studio Theatre
READER COMMENTS: 0Artists' Collaborative Theatre Of New England (ACT ONE) presents the world premiere production of Kate Wenner's MAKE SURE IT'S...
Location Change for N.H. Fish and Game Commission Meeting June 12
READER COMMENTS: 0CONCORD, N.H. -- The New Hampshire Fish and Game Commission will hold its next monthly meeting on Wednesday, June 12, 2013, at...
Help Combat Invasive Plants; Loaner Tools & Statewide Web Resource
READER COMMENTS: 0GREENLAND, N.H. -- Groups working to combat invasive plants on the Seacoast can now borrow some tough "Weed Wrenching" tools to...
29th Annual Chowder Fest Kicks-Off Summer on June 1st
READER COMMENTS: 0On Saturday June 1st, Prescott Park Arts Festival will host their widely anticipated summer kick-off event: the 29th Annual WOKQ...
Seven Earn N.H. Fish and Game Commission Awards of Excellence
READER COMMENTS: 0CONCORD, N.H. -- Seven New Hampshire citizens and organizations were recently recognized by the New Hampshire Fish and Game...
Fine Art Fundraising Auction at Museum of Art, UNH
READER COMMENTS: 0DURHAM, NH – Original drawings, prints and paintings by selected well-known northern New England artists will be up for bid...
Alternative commuters celebrate end of Bike/Walk to Work Week
READER COMMENTS: 0Bikers descended on breakfasts around the Seacoast on Friday morning at the conclusion of Bike/Walk to Work Week in New Hampshire.
Micro-distilleries are bringing 'boutique' spirits to New Hampshire
READER COMMENTS: 0Micro-distilleries are bringing "boutique" spirits to New Hampshire.
Win tickets to see the Steve Miller Band!
READER COMMENTS: 0Win a pair of tickets to see the Steve Miller Band on July 26, 2013 at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom!
Win tickets to see the Doobie Brothers!
READER COMMENTS: 0Enter to win a pair of tickets to see the Doobie Brothers at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on July 16, 2013.
Waterfalls
Although there is plenty of water, there are no waterfalls in the Seacoast Region!Attractions by Region
Browse By Region: Click on a region of interest on the map or from the dropdown menu below.
State Parks
Rye Harbor State Park
READER COMMENTS: 0Rye Harbor State Park affords scenic views of the Atlantic Ocean and Rye Harbor, also called Ragged Neck. Favorite activities...
Odiorne Point State Park
READER COMMENTS: 0Odiorne Point is open daily year-round. Picnickers can enjoy sweeping views of the ocean and rocky shore, and explorers can...
Kingston State Park
READER COMMENTS: 0Kingston State Park is only 14 miles from the New Hampshire seacoast and is close to many attractions such as Canobie Lake Park,...
Covered Bridges
Covered Bridges - Cochecho River Footbridge
READER COMMENTS: 0Built in 1996, this relatively new bridge allows hikers to cross the Cochecho River on their way around the Cochecho River Walk...
Historic Markers
NH Historical Markers - Dr. Jeremy Belknap
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 51
NH Historical Markers - Civil War Riot of 1861
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 170
NH Historical Markers - Charles Cogswell Doe
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 88
NH Historical Markers - Brigadier General Enoch Poor
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 131
NH Historical Markers - Breakfast Hill
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 62
NH Historical Markers - Bound Rock
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 120
NH Historical Markers - Atlantic Cable Station and Sunken Forest
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 63
NH Historic Sites - Fort Constitution
READER COMMENTS: 0Fort Constitution State Historic Site is located on a peninsula on the northeast corner of New Castle Island.
NH Historic Sites - Fort Stark
READER COMMENTS: 0Fort Stark State Historic Site is located on a peninsula historically called Jerry's Point on the southeast corner of New Castle...
NH Historical Markers - Exeter Town House
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 97
NH Historical Markers - First Public School in NH
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 28
NH Historical Markers - George Washington's Visit
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 57
NH Historical Markers - Hilton's Point
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 92
NH Historical Markers - John Brown Family - Gunsmiths
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 156
NH Historical Markers - John Langdon
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 127
NH Historical Markers - Josiah Bartlett
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 46
NH Historical Markers - Major General John Sullivan
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 89
NH Historical Markers - Mast Tree Riot of 1734
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 142
NH Historical Markers - Meeting House and Hearse House
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 167
NH Historical Markers - Newington
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 151
NH Historical Markers - North Cemetery
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 114
NH Historical Markers - Odiorne Point
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 78
NH Historical Markers - Old Landing Road
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 119
NH Historical Markers - Old Meeting House
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 26
NH Historical Markers - Oyster River Massacre
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 50
NH Historical Markers - Portsmouth Plains
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 75
NH Historical Markers - Revolutionary Capital
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 32
NH Historical Markers - Shapley Line
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 103
NH Historical Markers - Spaulding & Frost Cooperage
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 157
NH Historical Markers - The Spaulding Brothers
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 42
NH Historical Markers - Weeks House
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 113
NH Historical Markers - William and Mary Raids
READER COMMENTS: 0Marker Number: 4
Attractions
NH Attractions - Blue Ocean Society Touch Tank
READER COMMENTS: 0The mission of the Blue Ocean Society is to inspire passion in people to conserve the marine environment, through education and...
NH Attractions - Seacoast African American Cultural Center
READER COMMENTS: 0The Seacoast African American Cultural Center celebrates the lives and achievements of black people emphasizing the unique story...
NH Attractions - U.S.S. Albacore
READER COMMENTS: 0Albacore Park is the site of a world-famous submarine, the Portsmouth-built USS Albacore, and of a memorial garden honoring those...
NH Attractions - Fuller Gardens
READER COMMENTS: 0An estate garden of the early 20th century featuring over 2,000 rosebushes, a Japanese Garden, a conservatory, perennial borders...
NH Attractions - Gundalow Company
READER COMMENTS: 0A gundalow is a shallow drafted type of cargo ship, once common in the Gulf of Maine's rivers and estuaries, that reached it's...
NH Attractions - Portsmouth Harbor Trail
READER COMMENTS: 0Buy the map and take a self-guided tour of historic Portsmouth.
NH Attractions - Children's Museum of New Hampshire
READER COMMENTS: 0Explore the fascinating phenomena of reflection and symmetry in the museum's one-of-a-kind Kaleidoscopic exhibit.
NH Attractions - American Independence Museum
READER COMMENTS: 0Learn about New Hampshire's role in the American Revolution.
NH Attractions - Isle of Shoals
READER COMMENTS: 0Come aboard the Heritage for an intimate and unparalleled look at the seacoast's most picturesque waterways.
NH Attractions - New Hampshire Farm Museum
READER COMMENTS: 0Tour the historic Jones farmhouse and learn about three centuries of rural life in New Hampshire.
NH Attractions - Granite State Whale Watch
READER COMMENTS: 0The ship serves as a research, touring and whale watch vessel.
NH Attractions - Seacoast Science Center at Odiorne Point
READER COMMENTS: 0On the last undeveloped stretch of New Hampshire coastline.
NH Attractions - Portsmouth Harbor Cruises
READER COMMENTS: 0Come aboard the Heritage for an intimate and unparalleled look at the seacoast's most picturesque waterways.
NH Attractions - Portsmouth Museum of Art
READER COMMENTS: 0The Portsmouth Museum of Art is a community-centered museum presenting the work of emerging and established artists - local,...
NH Attractions - Prescott Park
READER COMMENTS: 0Located along the Piscataqua River and across from the Strawbery Banke Museum, Prescott Park is a popular waterfront park...
NH Attractions - Redhook Brewery
READER COMMENTS: 0In 1996, Redhook commissioned its third brewery in Portsmouth.
NH Attractions - Sandy Point Discovery Center
READER COMMENTS: 0Self-guided nature trail provides an opportunity to walk through the salt marsh, view exhibits about Great Bay, its history and...
NH Attractions - Strawbery Banke Museum
READER COMMENTS: 0Strawbery Banke Museum provides visitors with the opportunity to experience and imagine how people lived throughout four...
NH Attractions - Tuck Museum
READER COMMENTS: 0This summer, explore Hampton's history at Tuck Museum, located on Historical Meeting House Green (founded in 1638), 40 Park...
NH Attractions - Tug Alley Too
READER COMMENTS: 0Join TUG ALLEY TOO, its Captain and crew for a customized tour of the Piscataqua River. Now, you and your friends and colleagues...
NH Attractions - Urban Forestry Center
READER COMMENTS: 0A forestry education facility open to the general public. Has an extensive trail system, tree identification, salt marsh habitat...
NH Attractions - Water Country
READER COMMENTS: 0Water Country is the largest waterpark in New England.
NH Attractions - Wentworth by the Sea
READER COMMENTS: 0Poised high atop a bluff overlooking the ocean and river below, the historic Wentworth by the Sea hotel once again offers its...
NH Attractions - The Woodman Institute Museum and the William Damm Garrison
READER COMMENTS: 0Dedicated to the preservation of natural science, art/furniture and local history, the Woodman is often called a "museum's...
Forests
Seacoast Region
READER COMMENTS: 0These forests are a short drive from several state parks, beaches and the Great Bay estuary, nearby are the University of New...
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Scene Setters for May 20, 2013
Scene Setters for May 20, 2013.
Photo Galleries
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NCAA Div. II Baseball Regional, Pace vs, FPU, May 18
College Sports
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Photos of the Week, May 12-18
Photo Galleries
Seacoast
- Pelham High nurse named School Nurse of the Year - 0
- MAKE SURE IT'S ME Opens at West End Studio Theatre - 0
- Harmonica Master James Cotton forced to postpone May 25 Londonderry Performance - 0
- Our Gourmet: A touch of mystery, flavors of the Orient at Soho in Hudson - 0
- Group continues effort to expand Cotton Valley Trail in Broofield - 0
- For Bedford girl, exploring the world in geography bee a ‘great thing to do’ - 0
- Loon Mountain Resort Unleashes New Obstacles for July 13 Monster Mud Run - 0
- Location Change for N.H. Fish and Game Commission Meeting June 12 - 0
- Jim Beauregard's Tasting Notes: Samuel Adams makes its can debut - 0
