The Ultimate Seacoast Summer Bucket List

Aug 01, 2023

10 Fun Things To Do in Portsmouth, NH this Summer

 

We at team Stout Heart love where we live and decided to share our Ultimate Summer Bucket List as a kind of open love letter to the Seacoast (with honorable mentions to the Portland, Maine area courtesy of Jared). Unsurprisingly, quite a few of our suggestions revolve around food but don’t let that fool you, there’s something on our list for everyone.

 

  1. Eat a lobster roll at Buoy Shack. Three ounces of fresh Maine lobster packed into a toasted brioche roll with an unbeatable view of the Piscataqua. Enough said.
  2. Grab a pint and enjoy a game of cornhole in Loaded Question’s biergarten. Loaded Question’s rotating tap list changes according to the season. Right now, we’re reaching for Delicaat, a Belgian-style table beer that’s perfect for crushing on a hot day.
  3. Pack a picnic dinner for Wallis Sands beach. There’s no way around it, our beaches get PACKED during the summer. An evening visit complete with a picnic spread is the perfect way to enjoy the beach without the bustle of crowds.
  4. Go blueberry picking at Blue Job. This short, family-friendly hike (2.1 mile loop) brings you to a picturesque summit overrun with wild blueberry bushes in mid July. Pro-tip: search “Blue Job Mountain Parking Area” in Google maps to be directed to trailhead parking.
  5. Enjoy a concert, musical theatre performance, or a movie in Prescott Park. The Prescott Park Arts Festival is one major perk of living in the Seacoast, and a highlight of every summer.
  6. Order a basket of fried scallops at Old Ferry Landing. It wouldn’t be a summer on the Seacoast with a glass of Jimmy Juice, fresh local seafood, and a great view of the tugboats.
  7. Take a cruise of the Piscataqua. If you’re looking for drinks and dancing with a view, grab a ticket for the M/V Thomas Laighton from the Isles of Shoals Steamship Company. For a guided tour of the waterfront, check our Portsmouth Harbor Cruises for a fully narrated tour that takes you through nearly 400 years of local and American history.
  8. Daytrip to hike a 4,000 footer. New Hampshire has 48 mountains that are over 4,000 feet in elevation, and at any point in time, thousands of hikers are working towards a goal of climbing them all. We’re not that ambitious. Pick one and do it for bragging rights.
  9. Savor a scoop at Lago’s Ice Cream. Arguably the best ice cream shop on the Seacoast, Lago’s is a seasonal long-running local favorite with far more unique flavors (and names) than your typical ice cream joint.
  10. Have you ever wanted to: devour a duck fat fried corndog, watch competitive lumberjack sports, listen to live local bands, and pet an alpaca all in one day? Of course you do! The Kittery Block Party celebrates the finest of the Seacoast, including “restaurants, artists, artisans, local farmers, non-profits, bands, entertainers and some darn good people watching.”

    Bonus Round: Jared’s Picks for the Portland, Maine Area

  11. Explore Peaks Island by bike. The perfect day trip if you’re in the Portland area, Peaks Island is accessible by ferry and became a popular vacation destination in the late 19th century.
  12. Take in a Sea Dogs game, preferably with a beer and hot dog.