we were thinking of spending a few days in hampton beach on our way to maine in late september, staying at brownies hotel. can anyone give me information about this town and whether it is worth visiting. We like quiet towns, nice shops, good food, scenery.

Sorry. Hampton Beach does not sound like a good choice for you. It has a "strip" with arcades, fast food restaurants and definitely is not quiet. I recommend you keep going to Rye, NH or better yet Kennebunkport.

Late Sept may find Hampton Beach quieter, but it sure doesn't fit "quiet towns, nice shops, good food, scenery"

that was the feeling I was getting from the reading i did. It sounds a little like a circus there. Never heard of Rye.

There are nicer beaches just a little further north over the Maine border. Where will you be when in NH? No need to miss out on NH altogether.

Portsmouth is a wonderful place, Hampton Beach is not.

OK. tell me more. does anyone know of a nice pet friendly hotel in Portsmouth and would we be near ocean?

The beach itself at Hampton is nice but that's it. The strip behind it is very honky-tonk at best, shops are low end with arcades, fried dough and pizza and it gets mobbed on weekends, even it late Sept. Portsmouth is more urban, nice architecture, hisorical Strawberry Banke and is on a river. Kennebunkport is a lovely town on the ocean with nice shops and scenery as is Ogunquit which is south of Kennebunkport. ME is not known for it's beaches but has lovely rocky scenery. The thing is, in late Sept you probably won't want to sit on a beach anyway. Chances are it will be chilly and the water will be very cold. ME is only a few minutes north of Hampton so just keep going. I think you'd be happy in either Kennebunkport or Ogunquit. I'm not familiar with loding options in either but many others will be.

After you locate pet-friendly hotel, check beaches in the area for their pet-friendliness as well - each town and sometimes each beach has its own regulations and while they ease up after Labor Day, not all beaches allow pets. wish I could help on specifics but my cats do not like the beach

I think the Sheraton Portsmouth Harborside might be pet friendly, you'd have to check. It's a great location downtown on the harbor.

Portsmouth has a great off leash dog area next to Prescott Park called Pierce Island. There's a little beach and lots of trails and areas to explore, I often take my dogs there when I'm in the area.

Pirate's Cove Beach in Rye (next to the Rye Surf Club) allows dogs on the beach before 8am and after 7pm. Those hours might be extended after Labor Day, not sure.

ok. WE know about Maine, been there twice. Love to sit and watcht he water and lobster boats, no need to swim.

Hampton Beach is great,

if you feel like getting a tatoo, eating greasy french fries and gloppy chowder, dressing up as a saloon whore and getting an olde tyme picture taken or having a charicature picture of you surfing the strip in a bikini done. That is unless it has been gentrified in the past 20 years???

Very informative and helpful post, Little. Also, clever.

You know, I am having a dose of nostalgia. I spent lots of summers at Hampton Beach as a young child in the 1950's. Back then, it was a lovely place - very family oriented with everyone well behaved, quiet, safe, I rode my bike all over by myself, no dives bcs it was dry, great beach, nice band concerts every evening, big bands playing at the Casino Ballroom, very civilized. Many happy memories. Now, I won't go there. Sometimes progress isn't or maybe I'm just an old curmudgeon.

isy

I truly know that feeling, irish.

I'm there, too, irish.

There ARE some nice beaches in New Hampshire, unfortunately Hampton gets all the negative press. Just a few miles away from Hampton is Wallis Sands, a nice family oriented state beach. Actually the far end of Hampton Beach away from the honkey tonk, is quite nice. Realize that Portsmouth is a seaport town, there is no beach there. However it's a great little city, and a short drive to some nice beaches.

Know of any pet friendly hotels on the water in portsmouth?

maribeth, did you read my post? I gave you ideas.

The Sheraton is the closest to being "on the water" in Portsmouth. Portsmouth is on a harbor, not a beach.

You could check out the Wentworth Marriott in nearby New Castle, it's on the water, next to a beach (Great Island Common) but I have no idea if it's pet friendly or not.

sorry, wyatt. sometimes I read too fast or forget. I appreciate your help. would portsmouth be a nice 2 day stop on our way to maine? in your opinion?