fatbully

I'll be staying at Wentworth by the Sea hotel, New Castle, NH, from 12/18-12/20. I need some recommendations for scenic drive, good restaurants, or just fun interesting places. I don't mind driving at all. I just want to make the good use of my short period of time in New England...first time in New England to be exact.

wanderer

Portsmouth is only a 10 min drive or so, and has lots of restaurants - from really casual to nice upscale, lots of unique shops, etc. Strawberry Banke is an interesting "museum".

Depends what kinds of things you like to do.

fatbully

I'd like seafood...especially lobsters. Also, I want suggestions for coastal scenic drive.

gyppielou

Take a drive up to Kennebunkport and either reverently drive by the Bush compound, or egg it. It's a great little downtown, decorated for the holidays, also heading back to NH stop by Ogunquit with it's 3 miles of sandy walking beach, marginal walk and perkins cove. Take shore road from Perkins Cove to York and visit the lighthouse,,just keep hugging the coast until you're ready to get back on 95. Find yourself a good map! Have fun and please let us know how you liked the hotel!!!

dfrostnh

The Wentworth is on Rt 1B which is a wonderful drive thru Newcastle to Portsmouth. On your way you will cross a causeway that gives you an interesting view of the old Portsmouth Naval Prison. In the other direction you can see the Wentworth. It will bring you right to Strawbery Banke. Downtown Portsmouth is a good walk around city with artsy places near the docks. You could tour the old submarine if you aren't claustraphobic. The coastal route thru Rye will take you past elegant mansions. As you head south you will reach Hampton and then Salisbury then Seabrook.
From Portsmouth you can head north to Maine which is just over the bridge. It would be fun to visit the Kennebunks but for a quieter drive head out to Kittery Point. Kittery is known for outlet shopping on Rt 1 but Kittery Point is a residential area. Very old homes along the river. You should be able to drive out to a small beach area but might not be able to park there. If you continue north to York, you could drive out to the Nubble lighthouse. York has two large sandy beaches which are popular with families.
We haven't been to Odiorne Point near Portsmouth in ages. A family farm was taken over by the military to protect the coast. A marine biology science center is now there plus there's a good paved path along the ocean's edge. It's a popular place for school field trips.
When you go to Newicks on Dover Point you will go over parts of Great Bay. If the weather is good there might be some activity in the park. Great Bay is a very important estuary and a place for migrating birds. You could continue on to Durham which is home to the University of NH.
The coastal landscape south of Portsmouth includes large marsh areas. Both Hampton and Salisbury have large sandy beaches. But north of Portsmouth it seems to get rockier. If you luck out with very mild weather you might want to walk a bit on the Marginal Way in Ogunquit but we just got snow and sleet so that's doubtful. Enjoy the lobster!