Seacoast Region (New Hampshire) facts for kids
The Seacoast Region is a special area in the southeastern part of New Hampshire, a state in the United States. It's mostly centered around the city of Portsmouth. This region includes the eastern part of Rockingham County and the southern part of Strafford County.
The Seacoast Region stretches about 13 miles (21 km) along the Atlantic Ocean. It goes from New Hampshire's border with Salisbury, Massachusetts, all the way to the Piscataqua River and the border with Kittery, Maine. The coastline here has both rocky areas and sandy beaches. Some beaches, especially in Rye and Hampton, have structures called jetties or groins to protect the sand.
Many people also include inland towns in the Seacoast Region. These include cities like Dover and Rochester near Great Bay. The college town of Durham and areas as far west as Epping are also often part of it. Sometimes, even parts of York County, Maine are included because they share a similar culture with the Portsmouth area.
Portsmouth is the main center for culture and business in the region. It has many historic places and fun attractions. These include Strawbery Banke, the Moffatt-Ladd House, and the John Paul Jones House. Dover is the largest city by population in the region. It is also the oldest permanent settlement in New Hampshire, first settled by Europeans in the early 1600s. Dover is home to the Children's Museum of New Hampshire and the famous Woodman Institute Museum.
Just off the coast, between New Hampshire and Maine, are the Isles of Shoals. These islands include White, Seavey, Lunging, and Star Islands. You can take a short ferry ride from Portsmouth to visit them in the Gulf of Maine.
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Coastal Towns and Cities in the Seacoast Region
The Seacoast Region has several towns and cities right along the ocean. Here they are, listed from south to north:
Other Towns and Cities in the Seacoast Region
Many other towns and cities are considered part of the Seacoast Region, even if they are not directly on the ocean.
Fun Places to Visit in the Seacoast Region
The Seacoast Region is full of exciting places to visit and things to do!
- The Children's Museum of New Hampshire in Dover is a great place for kids to learn and play.
- Great Bay estuary is a beautiful natural area with many spots to explore.
- Hampton Beach is a very popular sandy beach, perfect for swimming and sunbathing.
- The Music Hall in Portsmouth is the oldest theater in New Hampshire. You can watch plays and concerts there.
- Odiorne Point State Park is a lovely park with the Seacoast Science Center, where you can learn about ocean life.
- Prescott Park in Portsmouth is a waterfront park with pretty flower gardens, fountains, and summer shows.
- Star Island is a unique island 7 miles (11 km) out to sea. It has a seasonal conference center and hotel.
- Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth is an outdoor history museum. You can see old buildings and learn what life was like long ago.
- The USS Albacore in Portsmouth is a museum ship. It's a real submarine you can explore!
- Water Country is New England's largest water park, full of slides and pools for a fun day.
- The Wentworth by the Sea is a grand old hotel that has been beautifully restored.
- The Whittemore Center in Durham is a large arena. It's home to the University of New Hampshire ice hockey teams and hosts many events.
- The Woodman Institute Museum in Dover has interesting exhibits on local history and nature.
- If you like fast cars, there's auto racing at:
- Lee USA Speedway in Lee
- New England Dragway in Epping
- Star Speedway in Epping
Getting Around the Seacoast Region
The Seacoast Region has several important roads that help people travel.
- New Hampshire Route 1A runs right along the ocean shore.
- U.S. Route 1 runs a bit further inland, parallel to the coast. These roads can get busy with tourists during the summer.
- Interstate 95 (also called the Blue Star Turnpike) is a major highway. It carries most of the traffic traveling between Maine and Massachusetts.
- NH Route 101 is an east-west highway. It connects the Seacoast Region with other parts of New Hampshire.
- The Spaulding Turnpike (NH 16) starts in Portsmouth and goes north through Dover and Rochester. It connects the Seacoast with New Hampshire's Lakes Region and White Mountains Region.
You can also travel by train!
- Amtrak's Downeaster train stops in Dover, Durham, and Exeter. You can take this train to Boston's North Station or to Portland and other places further north. It also stops nearby in Wells, Maine.
For air and sea travel, the Pease International Tradeport is important. It includes:
- The Port of New Hampshire, which is a shipping port for goods.
- The Portsmouth International Airport at Pease, which handles both cargo and passenger flights.
