Winter Daytrip to Portsmouth, NH
Looking for things to do in Portsmouth, NH? Check out a day trip to the dog-friendly town with ideas on what to do and where to eat.
By Mel Allen|Jan 04 2019|
Bustling Congress Street on a sunny Sunday in Portsmouth. | Things To Do In Portsmouth, NH
Credit: Annie GravesBustling Congress Street on a sunny Sunday in Portsmouth. | Things To Do In Portsmouth, NH
Credit: Annie GravesCredit: Annie Graves We had no agenda: just poke about, soak up sunshine, inhale the sea, and stroll streets packed with attractive shops, restaurants, and historic homes. At times I didn’t know if we were following the clouds drifting across the blue sky, or if the clouds were following us. For the proper amount of strolling sustenance, our first stop was at one of the most famous breakfast eateries in the land: The Friendly Toast right smack on Congress Street. Good Morning America dubbed it one of the four best breakfast stops in America, and here at Yankee, we named their New Hampshire’s Finest Scramble (pictured below) one of “New England’s Best Breakfasts.” The décor features neon walls, adorned with a kitschy collection of 2oth century memorabilia, or what would result if a restaurant mated with a flea market. Our waiter, Tony, like nearly all the wait staff, was efficient, friendly, wool capped, and adorned with tattoos. It’s all part of the experience, and why people say there’s no place like it.
The Friendly Toast
Credit: Aimee TuckerCredit: Aimee Tucker We downed slabs of exotic flavored toast as thick as a hand, and hearty delicious dishes like Omar’s Homefries: red potatoes, broccoli, corn, onions, parmesan, artichoke hearts, a dash of soy sauce. Need I say more? My son, who has never met a platter he couldn’t finish, vanquished a heaping amount of eggs, cheddar, avocado, black beans and salsa. For dessert we had the beguiling city beneath our feet. I know of few places where moving about is more rewarding. We were carried along by a steady stream of walkers and window shoppers, (and one fine horse and buggy) as we ambled up and down the myriad of side streets that were too inviting not to explore. It is as though the city has passed an ordinance that no street, no house could be boring or undistinguished. For a few minutes we stroked our inner child at G.Willikers! right off Market Square. Just as all bookstores sell books, but only special ones stir the desire to plunk right down with a book, so too GWillikers! makes you want to be seven again. And if so, if the urge rises to play, you can. They want to see kids (and parents) play. Then we headed to Strawbery Banke Museum and the waterfront. Seagulls circled over the stillness of the famously restored historical site.
Museum Grounds
Credit: Aimee TuckerCredit: Aimee Tucker This, of course, was off-season, so nothing was open, except our imaginations, as we walked past buildings and gardens filled with the echoes of centuries past. And to think that only 50 years ago, the impulse to raze so much of historic New England, to make way for “urban development”, shopping centers, apartment buildings and the like, nearly claimed the structures that today are the heart of Portsmouth’s seafaring legacy.
Looking north over the river toward Portsmouth’s next-door neighbor, Maine.
Credit: Bethany Bourgault
And now I want to get a dog and take a trip to Portsmouth this weekend. Nice photos, Annie!
Nice snapshot of home. There’s nothing quite like Portsmouth and the Seacoast of NH. It’s rarely far from my thoughts, even after more than a decade in LA.
Thanks Dean. Nothing makes us more pleased than when a native who has moved away is able to return, even if only for a few minutes by following us as we trek around the region.
Thanks for sharing, I do not get to visit my wonderful old town very often, so seeing it via internet is great. I wonder how many people really realize what an important place it was in the early colonial days. Again, thanks so much for sharing.
Portsmouth is a beautiful unique New England Coastal Town. We have ventured there with our family member, Hoover. Yet we found dining options to be limited. Often times, if a place has an outside deck, we can sit near the edge and Hoov can join us. not true in Portsmouth. we encountered many No Dogs Allowed places. Made for a difficult journey.
Several Hotels are pet friendly, the Downtown Sheraton being one of them. Nice location and views.
Perhaps things have changed since a few years ago…guess it’s time for a road trip to find out!
I love The Friendly Toast so much! I can’t wait to return and feast on their delicious food sometime soon. Thanks for sharing!
Great article….Portsmouth is such a great place no matter what the season.
Brings back “cold” memories of visiting Portsmouth back in my college days. Hmmm. I’m thinking of retiring there now! Thanks Yankee!
Portsmouth is one of my favorite places. It has something for everyone to enjoy. They have great restaurants, shops and the people are amazing. Because my son and his family live there I enjoy it often.
Portsmouth is my all time favorite place to go to! There is always something to do,from visiting the wonderful shops to all the historic sites around town. River run bookstore is a wonderful place to spend an afternoon and of course no visit back to Portsmouth is complete without a stop at my favorite beach Wallis Sands. Having grown up with a father in the military I’ve been to a number of different places but,Portsmouth has always been my favorite place.
Portsmouth is a great place to spend some time. At one time I believe it had more restaurants per capita than San Francisco. I worked at UNH in the 80s and lived in Kittery, but enjoyed all of my visits to Portsmouth. For those who come to the area, Portsmouth makes a good central location for visits to Rye, New Castle, Kittery and York which are all close by.
Remember getting fried clams !!! Sooo good !!!!!
loved your article-we had beautiful trips to New England some years back-please keep your beautiful old architecture and dog friendly areas-in Canada we are losing some of ours to development and need a nice place to visit