The Short Version: Rent a scooter in Portsmouth. Great way to tour around, see the city, and then some. Easy to learn, don't have to straddle them, and not expensive. Just $25 for 2 hours, $40 for 1/2 day or $75 for full day. (Seasonally open April through October.) The longer, more personal … [Read more...]
Daytrip: The Vermont Country Store and Maybe More
About a 1½ hours' highly scenic drive from Nashua, Manchester and Concord, and only 40 minutes from Keene gets you to one of the most absorbing shopping treasures in New England, and quite near that is also living history museum The Fort at #4. The Vermont Country Store itself has a charming … [Read more...]
Daylily Daytrip #1 – Davis Brook Farm (Hancock)
This family farming enterprise was one of two daylily flower farms that was recommended by our website developer who thought it would make a really nice daytrip for visitors and other locals alike. The other one she suggested is just across the Vermont border. A trip to Davis Brook … [Read more...]
Prescott Park Summer Performances (Portsmouth)
The summer performances at Prescott Park include concerts, theater and art shows by juried artists and craftspeople, and more. Check our Calendar section for more specific events being held as we get them in. Bring a blanket or chairs, and if staying in a hotel, they have them for rent at the park … [Read more...]
Daylily Daytrip #2 (50 min. from Keene, 2 hrs. from Merrimack Valley)
As mentioned in Daylilly Daytrip #1, our website developer Jennifer recommended two excellent daylily flower farms, this one being the larger and the farthest, but she swears no one who likes florals would be disappointed. The drive is certainly scenic because Vermont itself is. Among the things … [Read more...]
Daytrip: Salmon Falls Stoneware (Dover)
This is a fun and time-worthy 1-hour drive daytrip from the Merrimack Valley and only 20 minutes from Portsmouth. Their "craftery" and mega factory store are under the same rustic roof, so you can both see the creative action and shop. They always have factory seconds which are priced at discounts … [Read more...]
Daytrip: The Kittery Trading Post in the Seacoast
For Merrimack Valley visitors, this is another place to add to your list if you are considering making a daytrip to the Seacoast. In addition to bumming around historic Portsmouth, just over the state line is the town of Kittery, ME which is a factory outlet shopping Mecca, and at the southern end … [Read more...]
Prescott Park (Portsmouth)
This is a really lovely 10-acre park in downtown Portsmouth with beautiful flower gardens, walkways, grass areas, and it's right on the Piscataqua River with docking. It's a worthy time out where you can walk the paths, smell the flowers and sit with a good book. Prescott Park is also home to … [Read more...]
Lowell-Dracut-Tyngsboro State Forest (near Nashua)
At the junction where three Mass. towns meet, just over the NH/Mass. state line, this pocket of forest land spans about 1100 acres of walking/hiking paths, granite outcroppings, ponds and wetlands. It was likely the site of a Native American village before colonial settlement. There are 6 miles of … [Read more...]
The Kittery Trading Post (next to Portsmouth)
A big store that's become a landmark, where you can find all sorts of really good outdoor clothing, footwear, travel accessories, gadgets, cooking things, camping or hiking gear and whatever else could fascinate certain people for hours. It's fun to browse through, and usually you find something you … [Read more...]
Luca’s Mediterranean Cafe (Keene)
Very well regarded upscale-but-not-pretentious Italian dining for lunch or dinner. Not a huge place so dinner reservations would be a good idea, particularly on prime dining out nights. Very comfortable, nice atmosphere with excellent food, and they will work around dietary restrictions. Notable … [Read more...]
JimEddie’s Family Restaurant (Keene)
Very popular family-owned casual restaurant with a really good salad bar, gluten free choices and Sunday Breakfast Buffet. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner 7 days with drop-dead reasonable prices and home cooking. Hours: Tues.-Fri. 6am-8pm, Sat. 11:30am-8pm and Sunday 7am-noon. 429 … [Read more...]