visiting seacoast in the summer (Concord, Portsmouth: rental, buy, income)

[GregW]

lisa g - good as any & better than most.

[lisa g]

Thank you, Greg.

[buck naked]

Originally Posted by lisa g

Considering coastal S. ME for a beach trip - what is the Kittery Point area like? If one is staying beachside, is there enough nearby to keep a family relaxed yet entertained? It seems that way. Are there any negatives to the area to be aware of?

Kittery Pt. beaches have the same problem as the Plum Island beaches. There are nasty green-head flies that BITE. Adults may be able to take the pain and the welts that result, but children will be begging to leave within an hour.

[lisa g]

I have heard this -is there any coastal area free of these nasties?
My favorite NH beach is Jenness, but I went off season and there were no flies.

[fishnfool]

I don't notice greenheads in any of the NH beaches. Ususally there is enough wind and the marshes in the area have traps that mostly keep them at bay. They can get pretty bad at PI though.

[maestramommy]

Glad to know about the flies. We moved here just after black fly season ended, and I'm not looking forward to the kids getting welts this summer

[maestramommy]

Originally Posted by lisa g

congrats!

Thanks Lisa! We're excited, but still looking forward to getting out of the house, esp. on weekends! Last summer we were too busy moving in and getting settled, but this year we wanna go exploring!

[threenineteen]

Originally Posted by steveusaf

I believe it's all the Mass people from places like Lynn, Saugus, Salisbury, and Revere that are causing the trouble. Probably not fair to point out those towns, but you know what I mean. Just the vibe I got from growing up right between the two beaches....

The majority of the unfavorable people who go to Hampton and Salisbury Beaches are from the Haverhill/Lawrence/Methuen/Lowell area. I have lived in Salisbury all of my life and when I rarely go to Hampton Beach, I never see anyone I know. Most of the people around here try to avoid the beaches especially during the summer. I am much more likely to see people I know in Newburyport than I am in Salisbury or Hampton Beach. Comparing Salisbury to places like Saugus, Revere and Lynn is like comparing Concord, NH to Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York.

[wharf]

When I lived in the area (back in the 80's, early 90's ), I took my young boys to Kingston Park ( a lake ), Salisbury State Park ( digging in the purple sand was fun ), North Hampton, & York ( good snow cones & salt-water taffy for young 'uns ). In the off-season, kite flying was especially fun. Don't know how some of these areas are now.

[wharf]

I was racking my brains about the boardwalk part of your query, as I vaguely remembered a nature hike on a boardwalk. It is at Seabrook Station ( the nuke plant ). They have a Science & Nature Center with the Owasoag Nature Trail. It has a mile long boardwalk that goes thru marshes & dunes, if I remember correctly. Don't know if it's still there, as I haven't been there in over 15 years. After the hike , you can go to Browns for lunch .