artjoanne

Am planning a week of painting in New Hampshire from Oct. 5-11. I have been inland in the fall and it was wonderful. I may be traveling alone so chose Hampton Beach - a place not isolated. The house I have an option to rent is near the beach but evidently off on a side street. It looks cute and owners sounded nice. Is this town a decent location? Can I travel nearby to see fall color? Thank you.

irishswampyankee

IMO, Hampton Beach is very honky-tonk. That time of year, many shops and things will be closed for the season but that might be a good thing. If you want to stay on the coast, I would recommend a bit farther north - Rye, Newcastle, Portsmouth. You would have to travel NW towards the mts to see fall colors, just a couple of hrs.

artjoanne

Thank you for the information. I had a feeling it was not what I hoped for. If I want to see leaves, paint but be in a community because I will possibly be alone, where would you suggest.? i have a house reserved in s. Vermont the second week and will have a companion then. I was in East Madison painting 2 yrs. Ago and loved the area but it is too isolated for a single person. If you can help, thank you, artjoanne

dfrostnh

Some artists prefer not to see others work so they don't get influenced by someone else. Warner NH has quite a few artists and crafts people (i.e. David Carol, Year of the Turtle). The town has a big foliage festival on Columbus Day weekend. It's close to Concord (check out Red River Theater, an independent theater) which you might need since Warner only has a pizza place for dinner.

Closer to Portsmouth would be ideal and inland, you should see some good color that week. University of NH is nearby in Durham. Several lovely towns in the area and many choices for good eating if you don't want to cook.

You should be able to find some rentals in the Lake Winnipesaukee area and that's quite close to the mountains. Color should be fabulous. Meredith, Moultonboro, Center Harbor, Wolfboro are the nicer areas. Anything on Rt 3 or Weirs Beach will be honky tonk/congested.

gail

While always difficult to predict time of fall colors, coastal areas tend to be later - and early October might be a bit early for coast of NH.

However, the beach at Hampton - and even more so North Hampton (just up the road - a separate town) has enough rocks and topography that it might prove to be a good landscape. There is a seawall and also some picturesque little cottages. While not a fishing port, there should also be some boats around if that is your thing. October also can bring some nice NorEaster storms which also might be good to paint.

And yes Hampton is honytonk during the summer - think fried dough, pizza and crowds. But by October much of that is gone. You are 15 miles from Portsmouth, NH - very beautiful and a bit more to southern Maine beach areas.

As long as you will have a car and do not plan to walk to everything and go into this aware with information, I would not rule it out. At this time of the year some of the houses will be vacant for the season, but there are still plenty of people who live year-round at Hampton Beach, especially in the houses somewhat off the beach strip.

gail

Just check calendar listings for October - the weekend you will be there is a "Harvest Moon Festival" on the road running along the ocean - booths, vendors, plus fireworks at night. This could effect your decision one way or the other to stay there that weekend.

Ackislander

Look at New Castle, NH. It is a quaint New England seaside village that just happens to be connected by causeway to Portsmouth, NH, which isn't far from Dover and isn't far from the White Mountains. Or the outlets of Kittery. Or the scenic Yorks.

It is one of those rare places that I would consider living if I hadn't found Nantucket first.