sastha

We are arriving at Manchester on labor day weekend with two small kids for a three day visit. We would like to spend time in Portsmouth, York and may be Portland. Should we be staying in portsmouth and make day trips or should we stay in York? We are thinking of Wentworth by the sea at Portsmouth. We are at a loss to find some good place in York. {We prefer to make York as our base} What do you suggest?

tbelgian

Portland is only an hour north of Portsmouth, and I've heard good things about Wentworth by the Sea. You might want to just stay there if your most north destination is Portland. You are right accross the river from a big outlet shopping area too, (Kittery,) and York is just a short way from there. Find out how to check the traffic leaving Maine on Labor Day weekend though, because that last toll booth on 95 South, in York, can be really backed up sometimes. You would probably want to avoid that. Look at a map and make an alternative plan for heading back to Portsmouth. I think that northbound traffic will be fine.

South Portland has all of the usual hotel chains and there is the Regency in the old port area of Portland that people like. I don't know of any water front hotels in that area though.

I hope this helped. Good luck and have fun!

dfrostnh

For a three day visit with small children I would choose to stay in one hotel/motel. York is a great family area for relaxing and just enjoying the beach. Sorry, we've only stayed at cottages but the Anchorage in York looks like a great location right across from the beach. The Wentworth by the Sea is a fabulous looking hotel but it's not in the middle of things. In fact, it's in a quiet area but not a long drive from beaches. Portsmouth has the advantage of a children's museum, Prescott Park and lots of restaurant choices.
The Mapquest suggested route to the coast from MHT is Rt 101 West. This is an interstate with not many options besides chain restaurants at the exits until you get to Portsmouth. It's a boring highway IMHO. If you arrive around meal time, eat in Manchester or wait until you get to Portsmouth. If you do decide to stay at the Wentworth, there's a small drive-in restaurant not too far on Rt 1B called the Ice House. It would be a good alternative for the kids as I imagine Wentworth dining is pricey. (When our son was young he would be too tired for restaurant dinners that involved long waits.)

bennnie

We've stayed at the Wentworth by the Sea three times with our children and have enjoyed each trip. They have a nice indoor pool as well as an outdoor pool. They are very close to Ordione State park which is great for the little science museum, playground and hiking paths. Also just a 5 minute drive away is the Portsmouth Children's Museum which my kids particularly grew up in. And just up the road in New Castle (1 minute from the hotel) there is a nice park tucked behind a municiple building. The park is one the water, has a nice playground and lots of open space for the kids to run around.

York is about a 30 minute drive so I personally would not change hotels. In York Harbor there is the Stage Neck Inn. Not sure about it as a place for a family.

If you do go up to Portland, check out the Portland Head Light on Cape Elizabeth. Great place to fly kites. Or if the Seadogs are still playing, its great to see a minor league ball game. Lots of entertainment for the kids.

missypie

You might want to split the difference and stay in Ogunquit. We stayed at the Pink Blossom. At York and Ogunquit, it is possible to park you car and walk to the beach, restaurants, shops, etc. Portland is a "city", so a bit of the charm might be lost.

Pay attention to the warning about traffic. When we were leaving the area at about 3 pm on a Saturday afternoon, the traffic going north on 95 was SO backed up; I'm told that's normal.

abqdeb

missypie.... I'm curious to know how you liked the Pink Blossom. Which building were you in?

Deb

missypie

We were in the part of the Pink Blossom that has the outdoor pool (I think there is the resort, the inn and the family suites; I get them all confused). Our building had just been completed last winter, so everything was new. You walked in and there was the bathroom (small, but at least the sink was out side, so two people could get ready at once) and a large bedroom with a large closet, two queens, desk and TV. Upstairs was a door to a small balcony, a table and chairs, sofa sleeper, flatsreened TV and Kitchen. The kitchen had a full sized fridge, microwave, sink and I believe a stove top. The kitchen was fully stocked with dishes, glasses and pots & pans.

The pool area was charming and the landscaping was beautiful.

I will say that, going during the "high season" (mid July), our suite was just as expensive as the places we stayed in New York City and Boston.