Dating back to 1623, Portsmouth has been brewing upon the remnants of the American Revolutions, fishing and shipping traditions to emerge as a hip, locavore-loving destination. What better way to spend a weekend than breathing in that fresh, salty air and dining on the ocean’s bounty? Let’s dive into a Portsmouth weekend getaway from New York City.
The town is centered around Market Square, a collection of brick and clapboard commercial buildings that showcases the beauty of New England coastal life so well. Today locally-owned shops sell anything from jewelry, to toys and even cigars.
A local gem is the Strawbery Banke, a 10-acre outdoor living museum collection of houses, gardens and taverns that go back to the 17th century. Step back in time through the portal here with costumed interpreters and artisans displaying the colonial way of life in Portsmouth through coppering, boat building, pottery and weaving.
The best way to see the town is naturally by boat while heading towards the Isles of Shoals, a collection of small historic islands with a monument to John Smith (of Pocahontas stardom) as well as several 18th century stone buildings. Another boating option is the Heritage Harbor Cruise that lasts just over an hour.
Hungry? Slurp them raw, fried, marinated and even stuffed at The Franklin Oyster House plus plenty of options to suit the oyster-haters. The black truffle salt fries at Lexie’s Joint take casual to upscale without a white tablecloth.