We are flying into Portsmouth in mid July for 3 nights with our 9 and 7 year old grandkids. We would be interested in any suggestions for things to do, i.e. best beachs, food, sights of interest. Concord? Portland? We plan one day to go to Boston and try to get tickets for a Redsox game and maybe the Duck tours. Also any comments about the "Port Inn"? Thanks.

Of interest to kids (but perhaps not you) - Water Country is a fairly large water park in Portsmouth. Even though I am not a water park type person, I have enjoyed it, especially the Lazy River where you float in a big circle on big inner tubes and also the wave pool.

Canobie Lake is a smallish amusement park that kids love (again, not my favorite place).


Red Sox tickets are virtually impossible to get unless you get them from a ticket broker - with kids I would not recommend trying to buy them from a street scalper. There is a minor league baseball team in Portland (I forget the name) and the Lowell Spinners are the Short Season A affiliate of the Red Sox - they are great fun and while they also sell out you can always get standing room seats and the ushers can always find you a seat (unlike standing room in other venues, they actually work at finding you a seat).

Hampton Beach in NH is a fairly nice beach, although surroundings are a little honky-tonk. North Hampton Beach is a little quieter. Beware the the ocean is quite cold in NH/Maine - but kids don't seem to mind.

I am sure you will get lots more suggestions - this is just a start.

You might want to take a few hour drive and stay in the North Conway area for a few days. We spend 2 weeks their every summer a tradition started by my dad and passed on....

You can visit Storyland, take a ride on the Conway railroad or ride the Attitash alpine slide (fine for all ages 3-80). Santa's Village (about an hour outside of Conway) is a great hit or on the opposite side of the Kangamangus Highway is Clark's Trading Post (trained bear show, train ride, water bumper boats). All three parks are reasonabaly priced and great fun for 7/9 year olds.

At Attitash there is the Alpine Slide and water slides). Alpine slide is a big hit with the kids. Also a ride up the Mount Washington Auto Ride or the Wildcat chair lift is fun.

There are also lots of easy hikes in the area and swimming areas (Echo Lake & Kangamagus) - you can rent a kayak or canoe on the Saco river (you float downstream and a bus picks you up and returns you to your car).

Across the Kangamangus is also the Polar Caves and Lost River - an hour away is Weirs Beach and Lake Winnepesaki.

We stay in Glen at Nordic Village (great family place - cookouts, pool, stories), the Grand Summit in Bartlett or someplace in Jackson (quaint New England Village). All three are a few minute drive to Storyland, Alpine Slide, Auto road, Wildcat chair lift & Conway Railroad. There is also a "make your own sundae" place & mini-golf....

Here is an article I found:
New Hampshire Attractions for Kids
Story Land, Lost River and Santa’s Village in the White Mountains
© Kara Williams

Mar 7, 2007

Besides simply hiking, biking and otherwise playing in the scenic NH mountains, families on vacation here can enjoy a number of major attractions. Here are six faves.

The White Mountains of New Hampshire provide a glorious backdrop for a summer vacation. Theme parks, scenic drives and nature walks are only a few of the ways families can enjoy the great outdoors here. Consider these options:

Story Land For more than 50 years this charming theme park has been delighting visitors. When it first opened in the 1950s, attractions were as simple as three pigs in a pen (“The Three Little Pigs”) and a horse-drawn pumpkin carriage ride to Cinderella’s Castle (likely before Walt Disney trademarked his). Today, you can take a flume ride (“Bamboo Chutes”), scream on a a roller-coaster and hop on a Ferris wheel. The park has exploded in popularity in recent years, thanks to promotion from New Hampshire tourism folks, and is continually expanding. It’s not unusual to find new rides, shows or play areas each year. Glen, NH.

Polar Caves Park This theme park has been around since 1922! Tour the glacial caves, make your way through a giant boulder maze, sample treats at the Maple Sugar Museum. The grounds are a lovely place to take walks through pine forest and otherwise enjoy nature. Plymouth, NH.

Lost River Gorge Squeeze through boulders, walk along narrow wooden bridges, explore lantern-lit caves, and otherwise follow the mysterious trail through Lost River Gorge. Kids can pan for gold; also check out the cool indoor waterfall--open to the public last year for the first time in two decades. N. Woodstock, NH

Mount Washington There are two ways to journey to New Hampshire’s highest peak. Take your own car along the Mount Washington Auto Road (America’s oldest manmade attraction) and return home with a coveted “This Car Climbed Mt. Washington” bumper sticker. Or ride to the top on the world’s first mountain-climbing railway. Either way, pack appropriate outwear (rain gear or warm fleece), since Mount Washington is known as the home of the “World’s Worst Weather.” The scenic views and feeling of being “on top of the world” are worth a few moments of discomfort (seek refuge in the gift shop or café if the weather is really bad). Gorham/Bretton Woods, NH.

Santa’s Village Enjoy Christmas in July at Santa’s Village, another attraction that boasts a long history in New Hampshire, dating back to the 1950s. Visit with Santa, feed his reindeer and see the 3-D film, A Tinkerdoodle Christmas. More than a dozen rides—bumper cars, coasters and Santa’s Express Train—also delight kids of all ages. Jefferson, NH.

Attitash
Route 302
P.O. Box 308
Bartlett, NH 03812
Toll Free: 800-223-SNOW
Ph: 603-374-2368

Located in the Mount Washington Valley just outside of North Conway, this four season resort offers activities to captivate all interests.

In the summer, guests can ride down the resort's mile-long Alpine Slides - the longest in North America, test out the new four-person Eurobungy Trampoline, conquer the 23' climbing wall, or explore New Hampshire's most extensive on-and off-slope mountain biking trails. Guests looking for a little slower pace can take a guided horseback ride along the Saco River, cool off on one of four waterslides or in Buddy Bear's Playpool, or relax on the Scenic Sky Ride to the summit of Attitash.

Clark's Trading Post
Route 3
North Woodstock, NH 03251
Ph: 603-745-8913

You're invited to visit one of the White Mountain's most outstanding attractions featuring trained North American Black Bears, antique Americana, steam trains and a whole lot more. The Clarks have been providing quality family entertainment for over 70 years. An admission ticket will provide fun for any age as you step back in time. Exhibits include a replica of a hook and ladder house, Tuttle's Rustic House and Merlin's Mystical Mansion, which will turn your whole world upside down. A ride on the White Mountain Central Railroad will take you across the Pemigewasset River and the bumper boats in Old Mill Pond are sure to cool you off!

Open Memorial Day weekend thru June weekends only. Grounds open daily June 19 through Labor Day, weekends only Labor Day thru mid-October. Bear Shows start Memorial Day Weekend. Purchase tickets after 4 and return next day for more.

Website: www.clarkstradingpost.com



Lots of family affordable food and lodging.

Thank you. Both posts are very helpful. Any additional suggestions by other readers?

If you do go to Boston, I recommend the Duck tours. Our whole family really enjoyed the tour. I've heard good things about the Boston Children's Museum but haven't been there myself.

Are you staying in Portsmouth and taking day trips out?

For a 7 and 9 year old I agree with Water Country and Canobie Lake Park.

If you'd like something educational, definitely go to Strawberry Banke right in Portsmouth. They also perform musicals in Prescott Park a couple nights a week. You'll have to check the schedules.

Also educational is the Seacoast Science Center at Odiorne State Park in Rye. A small hands-on inside display of small tidepool life, and a great big natural display of coastal tidepools to explore. There is also a nice path to "hike" (more like walk) along the the coast.

If the kids have sealegs, I'd definitely book a harbor cruise or deep sea fishing excursion.

The state beach in Rye is called Wallis Sands. It's the only one with a snack bar, life guard, and facilities in the area, but it does get crowded.

You can cross the border in to Maine and visit funky Ogunquit. Make sure you get all the way to scenic Perkins Cove, though. There is a Cliff Walk called the Margin Way that will take you from "downtown" to Perkins Cove, or you can drive in. THere is also a nice beach in Ogunquit and lots of interesting shops. You'd have to leave early in the morning, though; the traffic gets horrific.

I would not drive to either Concord or Portland. Portland is very much like Portsmouth, and Concord... unless they want to visit the state capital, not much to do...

There are tons of great restaurants in Portsmouth. Kids love the Gaslight Company for burgers or pizza (but you have to decide ahead - seating in different locations! ), adults love Jumpin Jay's Fish Cafe, the Library, and Dunnaways. Muddy River SMokehouse and Blue Island Mermaid Grill have been getting some good press, but I haven't been to either.

Have fun!

There's plenty to do in Portsmouth. Instead of the Red Sox maybe consider going to Concord for a Quarry Dogs game and Christa McAuliffe Planetarium. Our favorite drive in restaurant between Portsmouth and the beaches is The Ice House on Rt 1B. Another historic site in Portsmouth is a visit to the Albacore submarine (skip if you're claustrophobic). The hotel is located in a high traffic area but it's a handy location.