Visiting Portsmouth, NH Oct 16-19.. Looking for ideas (Manchester, Rye: renting, motels)

[lillybit0229]

Hi all,

I'm going to be in Portsmouth, NH for a short visit Oct 16-19. My main purpose of the trip is for leaf peeping, sightseeing, good food (not expensive) and maybe antiquing. I don't like large cities or big crowds all that much. Can anyone give me some advice of what I should/shoudn't do on this trip? I've never been to New England before, so am very open to suggestions.

Also, I've just found out that the NH Film Festival is this very weekend in Portsmouth with approx 6,000 people in attendance. I'm a bit worried about this... Maybe I should consider staying somewhere else? We're (my husband and I) flying into Boston, renting a car and driving up. I would have preferred flying into Manchester, but I could only get space to Boston. I'm trying to do this trip on a budget of course...

Any feedback is greatly appreciated!!

[CometVoyager]

Originally Posted by lillybit0229

Hi all,

I'm going to be in Portsmouth, NH for a short visit Oct 16-19. My main purpose of the trip is for leaf peeping, sightseeing, good food (not expensive) and maybe antiquing. I don't like large cities or big crowds all that much. Can anyone give me some advice of what I should/shoudn't do on this trip? I've never been to New England before, so am very open to suggestions.

Also, I've just found out that the NH Film Festival is this very weekend in Portsmouth with approx 6,000 people in attendance. I'm a bit worried about this... Maybe I should consider staying somewhere else? We're (my husband and I) flying into Boston, renting a car and driving up. I would have preferred flying into Manchester, but I could only get space to Boston. I'm trying to do this trip on a budget of course...

Any feedback is greatly appreciated!!

If you like history, which I certainly do I strongly recommend seeing The Moffatt-Ladd House which is right in the center of town with great restaurants within walking distance.

It is a museum and garden with history dating back to the 1600's! Spend no less than a few hours there and then go out for dinner near by!

[fishnfool]

If you want good but cheaper food eat at the Friendly toast. Don't get the normal standard breakfast...the menu is full of all sorts of crazy combinations-get one, its all amazing.

Other than that, drive 1A and 1B up and down the coast and around new castle, eat some lobster (or two) at Petey's or Sanders (less than 4 bucks a pound right now), grab a beer sampler at the Brewery, walk through Prescott Park.

[moving2NHsoon]

I am a frequent visitor to Portsmouth and will be moving to the area in a month or two. We hit the Friendly Toast every time we go, without fail. Awesome breakfast! Their pumpkin pancakes are outrageous - I had them two weeks ago!

There is a BBQ place on Congress St that I've heard is great. Can't remember the name. Muddy Waters? Haven't tried it yet but heard great things.

Downtown Brickoven Pizza on Market St has some really great gourmet pizzas. I'm a NYer - where the pizza is famous - and this pizza was really good.

Portsmouth Brewery is right next door. Good beer, can't go wrong with that.

There are some good lobster places in Kittery and near by too - I had dinner at Fox's Lobster House in York Beach in July - the view is great and the food was great. I have heard that Warren's is good too, in Kittery, but I haven't been there myself.

Portsmouth is a great town - spend some time walking around and have fun!

[sgthoskins]

The Friendly Toast is a must for a good meal...

[mdamien]

The Prescott Park area down town is very nice. I'd also take a drive down to the beach in Rye. Odiorne Point park is on the way, with nice scenery and some cool WWII bunkers.

For food, if you haven't had New England seafood you should get a nice fish and chips someplace, even though the season's about over. Maybe Heberts on Route 1. The Japanese restaurant in town is quite good. For really good pizza and a cool atmosphere, try Bratskellars (you drive around the building and park in the rear).

[fishnfool]

Oh, Flatbread is super good too and not too pricey with a great atmosphere....it's sort of a pizza place but not really (they literally serve flatbreads with all sorts of toppings, but it's still not really pizza). Get the maple sausage one if you go there.

Other good restaurants: Jump'n Jays, Green Monkey, 4's, and Agave (awesome margaritas), but they tend to be pricier.

[ss20ts]

Strawberry Banke is a fabulous historic site. It's rather interesting seeing how homes have changed over the centuries.

One of my fav shops it the Stonewall Kitchen store. Wonderful gourmet food! You'll save yourself shipping heavy jars home. One of my other favs is Maine-ly New Hampshire. Cute things from both NH and ME in there. There's lots of fabulous shops that are owned by locals downtown. No big box stores which is a fabulous thing.

If you have a few minutes, just sit on a bench in front of the huge white church. You can't miss it. It's fabulous just sitting there and watching the city. Believe it or not, it's a very peaceful thing to do. Portsmouth isn't a crazy, big, busy city. It's quaint and elegant.

[Newdaawn]

If you would be interested in a lovely community not far north of Portsmouth on the coast of Maine, check out Ogunquit, especially Perkins Cove there. (I recommend "Barnicle Billy's " for great seafood.)
Lots of nice shops and great places to eat and now that it is past Labor Day the motels and Inns are about 40% cheaper than in the summer. I have lived in Maine for decades and really just discovered Ogunquit. It also has a lovely beach.

[Newdaawn]

I forgot to mention for a place to stay right in Portsmouth, that is a real treat, the Sise Inn. You can leave your car right there and walk all over Portsmouth and down to Strawberry Bank. Walk over to "The Library" restaurant for drinks in their lounge or have dinner there.