Newcastle Island by kiwi78
A nice way to explore the Portsmouth area is to drive (or ride - its about a 6-8 mile loop) along route 1B which connects to route 1 in Portsmouth and Sagamore Ave (1A) south of town and takes you on a nice loop through the historic island of New Castle with some lovely views. There is some great kayaking within the bay here, loads of little islands to explore. If you turn off at the Coast Guard Station you can have a walk around Fort Constitution, which has great views across the Piscataqua River mouth to Maine and has had some form of military installation since 1632. There is also a nice little beach right near the coast guard station at the Great Island Common where there is a park perfect for picnicing with the family. A little further along is the ritzy hotel 'Wentworth by the Sea' which is now owned by Marriot. BG's Boat House and the Ice House are options for getting some food along the way. BG's is a pleasant spot right on the water and serves mostly seafood ranging from nicer dishes to fried cheaper meals. The Ice House is an extremely popular spot to get an ice-cream during the summer as well as fried seafood meals. Check out www.seacoasteats.com for local area restuarants and menus.
