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The
Portsmouth Harbor Inn and Spa is a short
stroll from historic Portsmouth, NH, with
its many shops, restaurants and historic sites.
The renowned Warren's Lobster House is only
yards away, and Kittery's breathtaking ocean
parks with their forts, hiking trails and
unspoiled beaches are just down the road.
Following
is a sampling of some of the wonderful activities
this area provides. There is something for
every taste. Enjoy!
Historic
Portsmouth, NH: A colonial seaport known for
its many unique shops, wide array of restaurants
and historic sites. Enjoy a walk along its
waterfront streets, take a carriage ride,
or picnic in Prescott Park. Visit Strawbery
Banke, a recreation of Portsmouth's
early settlement that takes you on a journey
through several time periods. Portsmouth is
a wonderful place to spend the day, or for
an evening out.
Kittery's Oceanfront Parks: Fort Foster, Fort McClary,
Seapoint Beach, follow Route 103 and discover
them all. Kittery's famous parks are perfect
for picnicking, hiking, or just a day by the
shore. All the parks are rich in history and
nature lore and offer a unique seaside experience.
Cruise
the Seacoast: Portsmouth offers several cruises to the historic Isles
of Shoals, including sunset sails, early bird
cruises and afternoon jaunts. Whale watching
trips are also available. Numerous local communities
offer deep-sea fishing charters, boat rentals,
and kayaking.
Antiques
and Restaurants: The entire Seacoast Region,
from southern New Hampshire to up along the
Maine coast, offers an abundance of antique
shops and wonderful places to eat. Whether
you seek a formal dinner, a lobster bake on
the rocks, fish and chips on the pier, or
a gourmet picnic to go, you can find it along
the Seacoast. Dining guides are available
at any visitor centers or local Chambers of
Commerce. Antique guides are also available,
and antique shops are also found along all
the coastal routes.
Hiking:
In addition to the wonderful trails at Kittery's
parks, the area offers many other beautiful
trails, including those at Odiorne
Point State Park in Rye, NH; Wagon Hill Farm in Durham, NH;
The Urban Forestry Center in Portsmouth, NH; Laudholm
Farm in Wells, ME; the Rachel
Carson Reserve in Kennebunk, ME; and the Marginal
Way in Ogunquit, ME. Local visitor centers
and Chambers of Commerce have complete trail
information. Hiking: In addition to the wonderful
trails at Kittery's parks, the area offers
many other beautiful trails, including those
at Odiorne Point State Park in Rye, NH; Wagon
Hill Farm in Durham, NH; The Urban Forestry
Center in Portsmouth, NH; Laudholm Farm in
Wells, ME; the Rachel Carson Reserve in Kennebunk,
ME; and the Marginal Way in Ogunquit, ME.
Local visitor centers and Chambers of Commerce
have complete trail information.
Theatre:
The Seacoast is a wonderful area for the art
and good theatre can be found any time of
year. In the summer, outdoor productions of
popular musicals and comedies make Prescott
Park in Portsmouth, NH a destination. Year-round theatre
is available at Portsmouth's
Seacoast Repertory Theatre and The
Players' Ring. In the winter
months, also look for top-notch local community
theatre and outstanding productions at the
University of New Hampshire's Johnson Theatre. Portsmouth's
The Music Hall offers a wide
range of live shows, covering dance, opera,
musicals, acrobats, and showcases artists
from around the country and the world.
Kittery
Outlet Malls: More than 120 outlet
stores line Kittery's Route 1, one of the
most shopped areas in America. One of the
flagship stores is the Kittery Trading Post,
southern Maine's answer to L.L. Bean.
The charming
boutiques on Government Street in downtown
Kittery, far from the madding crowds, are
a well-kept secret. Turning Left at the intersection
of Route 1 southbound and Government Street,
you first encounter Cacao, the ultimate chocolate
shop on planet Earth. The chocolates made
and sold here are "to die for",
all pure, natural ingredients, no waxes or
preservatives, and all hand-made by the owner
and the other shop personnel;the owner doesn't
advertise except with a single line ad in
the white pages and word of mouth, but she
will ship. Cacao is definitely worth a visit
at any time of year (except August, when Cacao
is closed), but at holiday time, don't miss
out on the various types of marzipan and,
especially, the burst-in-your-mouth bourbon
cherries. If you remember the Diner Scene
in the movie When Harry Met Sally, you'll
understand why I'm saying that you mustn't
miss out on Cacao.
After your
visit there, you should plan to spend a while
at the punnily-named artists co-op Just Us
Chickens Artisans Coop, just a short walk
farther down Government Street. There are
yarns from a local alpaca farm, exceptionally
cool one-of-a-kind jewelry, beautifully dyed
and fascinatingly-shaped paper baskets, wire
words wall sculptures, and sculptures made
from melted and pulled CDs, among other remarkable
artisan-made crafts? This is not ticky-tacky,
but not ludicrously priced, either, and the
shop is operated by the artisans themselves,
so they ca tell you about their work.
Beyond Just
Us Chickens is Papers Ink, a
very enjoyable card and stationery store,
with wrapping paper and an ever-changing stock
of nice stationery, uncommon (some naughty,
some nice) cards, and little gifties.
After all this walking, you might be in the
mood for a snack or some lunch, try the Crooked
Lane Café, just a few steps beyond
Papers Ink - soups and sandwiches are excellent.
On the other hand, if it's getting on towards
dinner time, we can strongly recommend Anneke
Jans, which you walked past if you strolled
from Just Us Chickens to Papers Ink. Despite
its northern European-sounding name, Anneke
Jans is a classic French bistro,
with the best pommes frites (French fries)
in the Kittery/Portsmouth area.
One of the great things about the Kittery/Portsmouth
area is that you need not be uncomfortable
walking around by yourself, either during
the day or at night, whether you are an unaccompanied
woman or otherwise. The local people mind
their own business, respecting your privacy,
but if you are in difficulties, people will
help you out, for nothing more than a thank
you.
The Inn is at the end of what is known as
Gourmet Alley, starring, in addition to Cacao,
the Enoteca Italiana, Terrac Cotta Pasta, Beach
Pea Bakery, Golden Harvest produce etc.
store, and Carl's Meat Market. Up on the Kittery
traffic circle, there is the Rising Tide Natural
Foods health food store, and even a drive-through
grocery store. While most of these are not
reasonably walkable from the Inn, as they
are on Route 1, and there are no sidewalks
to speak of, they are all easily accessible
by bike or car - besides, you'll need something
to bring back all your cheeses (Enoteca, Terracotta,
and Golden Harvest), imported and domestic
salumi, wines/beers (Enoteca, Golden Harvest),
breads (Beach Pea, Enoteca, Golden Harvest),
prepared salads (Terracotta), fruit (Golden
Harvest), gelato/granita (Terracotta), and
chocolates (Cacao). You have a wonderful picnic
in your immediate future - why not drive out
Route 103 to Seapoint Beach, in Kittery Point? |
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