Portsmouth Off The Beaten Path

A walking tour through downtown Portsmouth and along State and Congress streets, featuring 18th and 19th century homes. You can purcahse a map at the visitor information booth on Market Street or take one of the guided tours offered a couple times a day.

Submarines have been a part of Portsmouth's history for many decades and many legendary subs were built here. So, a visit to the Portsmouth Maritime Museum and a tour of the USS Albacore is a must.

The Albacore was built at the Portsmouth Naval Yard and launched in August, 1953. After a lifetime of service, the Albacore was brought home to Portsmouth, given a permanent dry berth near downtown and later opened to the public in October 1985.

Albacore Park and the Maritime Museum are located at 600 Market Street, between I-95 and downtown Portsmouth. Check out my travelogues for pictures taken during my last visit to the Albacore.

If it is summer fall or spring go to Ordiorne State Park. Beautiful walks along the ocean, history as this was a fortified area and there are huge bunkers that look like natural hills, a great science center ='http://www.seacentr.org/' target='_blank'>The Seacoast Science Center with historical and natural exhibits including a sealife petting zoo for kids and at the far north end a secluded beach you can reach via trail.

Take the road to New Castle from downtown. New Castle is a very quaint colonial village at the mouth of the harbor. Great town beach (entry fee). Continue on until you meet 1A. You will go past Ordiorne State Park, see my other tip. Go South along the NH coast for 10 miles, spectacular sandy beaches, rocky points, and marshes

The Seacoast
Science Center is a little out of town so you can easily miss it. It is a
great site to learn about nature and the seacoast habitat with exceptional exhibitions
and guides.

3 more images

SArah Orne Jewett was a writer and steeped in hsitory from this area. Built in 1774 for s sea captain. Jewet bought in 1819, and still had likved here to early 1900's-she was OLD then.

4 more images

The area has many older structures that are reminescent of the old times when this was a thriving community.

Not really off the beaten path is Prescott Park, near Strawbery Banke and the waterfront of Portsmouth. It's just a nice green space with some manicured gardens.