Calef’s Country Store, at routes 9 and 125 in the Seacoast town of Barrington, has been dispensing welcome, hospitality, and good food since the horse-and-buggy days. Stop in for a deli sandwich during your explorations of the area, and, if you can, pick up some great food gifts to charm the people you left back home. These include Caleb’s Snappy Old Cheese, maple foods, jams, jellies, butter, pickles, relishes, olives, chutney, salsa and pretzel dips, soup mixes, and more. Caleb’s also carries beautiful artwork by the New Hampshire Pewter Company. Open daily. 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Phone: 800-462-2118

Artistic Workmanship on Display
in Downtown Rochester

See Map

The Main Street of downtown Rochester, New Hampshire’s “Lilac City,” swarms with interesting galleries and shops. A stroll through these places of artistry and imagination should include a stop at Strafford Stained Glass(603-332-1619), with beautiful glass artwork that will practically take your breath away. The Jenny Wren Gallery (603-335-3577), represents the original work of nearly 100 of New England's finest craftspeople, with new items arriving all the time. New work includes colorful crocheted pins and freshwater pearls jewelry. Look for refurbishing cigar boxes into tea boxes and jewelry boxes -- a fun gift for someone who has everything. Browse for fun and browse for gifts – you won’t be disappointed.

Beaux Arts Glory

See Map

Visitors to the wonderful Colonial city of Portsmouth who also appreciate great architecture should sign on for a behind-the-scenes tour of The Music Hall, including its stunning Beaux Arts style lobby. The tour paints a picture of the history of the hall, including the tales of sailors who rigged the theater in the late 19th century, its flashy and famous owners, and stars who appeared there since the curtain first rose in 1878.
First stop on the tour is the new Beaux Arts lobby which has been heralded in the regional and national press as “jaw-dropping.” The tour continues into the theater’s auditorium and up to its magnificent horseshoe balcony. Finally, visitors are invited backstage to view antique riggings still operating today. In April, May, and June the doors will open twice monthly for the 90-minute tours, alternating mid-day and early-evenings tour times. In July and August, the tours will run weekly on Thursdays, again alternating lunch and early evening tour times. Call for details. Phone: 603-433-3100.

Birds in Winter

Headquartered in Concord with other locations in Auburn, Laconia, Manchester, Moultonborough, Hebron, and Temple, the society is dedicated to the statewide conservation of birds and their habitats. The Audubon Society of New Hampshire offers Coastal Birding Trips: Eagles and Owls throughout February at Hampton Beach State Park. Visitors can spend a day sighting birds from the comfort of a car. The Audubon Society also hosts a variety of programs such as a guided, family-oriented Winter Wildlife Nature Hike at Silk Farm Sanctuary in Concord, and Birds in Winter, where you can learn which birds stay in the area and how they adapt to the cold weather (in February). For information, call 603-224-9909.

Brewery Hounds Alert

See Map

People who appreciate the fruit of the beer maker’s art should be advised to visit two local breweries in the Portsmouth area: the large Portsmouth Brewery & Cataqua Public House on Corporate Drive at Pease International Tradeport, (603-430-8600) which offers tours, samples, and a restaurant, and the Portsmouth Brewery on Market Street in downtown Portsmouth (603-431-1115). You won’t be disappointed.

Dover Mill Is a Monument <br>to Region's Industrial History Dover Mill Is a Monument
to Region's Industrial History

See Map

The Cocheco Falls Millworks on 100 Main Street in Dover is a 19th-century mill complex that has been elegantly restored and now serves as home to professional offices, the Blue Latitudes Bar and Grill, and an outdoor courtyard where live concerts are held in the warm weather. The history of the mill – told in detail on its website – follows the story of many vast and once-prosperous mills that dotted the region in the 19th century. A wall mural in the complex traces the history of the town with images of the Cochecho River; a gundalow, a type of shallow-bottom river boat; a B&M locomotive; industrial leather belting and loom machinery; the beautiful calico that was produced in the mill; Cochecho Falls, the source of power for the original mill; and Dover City Hall. Enjoy the lovingly preserved mill and then stop in, if you wish, at the Blue Latitudes for a little local food and hospitality as you ponder this former giant of the American Industrial Age.

Fall for Beautiful Stoneware

See Map

Simple, elegant stoneware says “New England” better than anything else you can use to dress your table (Ok, maybe pewter, too). Salmon Falls Stoneware on Oak Street in Dover is one of the nation's most popular makers of traditional New England salt-glazed pottery. Each pot is handmade and decorated in the Oak Street Engine House in Dover. The production studio and factory store are among New England's most popular tourist destinations. Phone: 800- 621-2030.

Four Centuries of Daily Life

See Map

Strawbery Banke Museum on Hancock Street in Portsmouth is a community composed of restored and furnished houses, exhibits, historic landscapes and gardens, and costumed role players. Together, these elements bring to life the daily activities of New England people from European settlement in the 17th century to the mid-20th century. In addition to ongoing exhibits, lots of special events take place during warm weather. Phone: 603-433-1100.

Stop to Shop

See Map

The Seacoast region has wonderful shopping for beautiful and unusual items. The Fox Run Mall in Newington is a place to start for national names, followed by a trip to Boardwalk Strip at Hampton Beach. The cream of the shopping experience has to be Portsmouth's Market Street , crammed with art, toys, home decorations, clothing, hardware, jewelry, flowers, and more. Voted one of New England's Best Shopping Streets by Travel and Leisure Magazine.