Find fun and interesting Great Things to Do in Seacoast

Get away from the everyday with a visit to a New Hampshire campground. Stay in a tent, RV, cabin, cottage, lodge – even a yurt! – and enjoy activities from horseshoes and fishing to snowmobiling and snowshoeing. Hike, bike or take a cog railroad up a pine-scented mountain or kayak a pristine pond, river or lake. From your camping site in the woods, near the ocean or in a meadow, check out the Granite State’s historic sites, quintessential New England towns and acres upon acres of natural splendor. Visit our website for a handbook with all the details for individual parks, from whether they are pet-friendly to which ones have cottage rentals, pools, fireplaces, tennis courts, live music – or cable TV.

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.

The Isles of Shoals Steamship Company offers a boat tour of Portsmouth harbor that takes visitors deep into the heart of a working waterfront of tugboats, tankers, forts, and lighthouses. This fascinating tour takes visitors past the oldest naval yard in the country, five forts, two lighthouses, and the Olde Port waterfront. Another tour offered by the company takes visitors seven miles offshore to visit the historic and romantic Star Island, once the home of a grand hotel of the 19th century. "Walkabout" or "Stopover" cruises to Star Island offer a one-to-four-hour stopover, with time to stroll past ancient hotel buildings and a historic garden. Steamship company boats docked at 315 Market Street. 800-441-4620

Get yourself and your family out of electronic isolation and go out to play games. Actually, to play these games, you go out and go back indoors, at Diversions Puzzles & Games at 123 Congress Street in Portsmouth. The store stocks new and classic games and high-quality puzzles for every age and interest. And, it has lots and lots of open game days and nights, like family game times on Sundays, weekly board games on Thursdays, and more. Learn or introduce your family to games like Wits & Wagers, Dixit or Qwirkle. Try Rush Hour or Scrambled States of America. Or stick with the classics, like chess, backgammon, checkers and cribbage. Staff members can teach you how to play one of our many demo games. Open daily.

It’s hard to think of Portsmouth – a bright, cheery historic town on a bustling river – as scary, but the people at New England Curiosities do their best to spook guests on the Haunted Pubs of Portsmouth Tours , which serve up an eerie brew of Portsmouth's fascinating tavern history and ghost stories. The two-hour walking tour includes stories about a mischievous ghosts all varieties, Portsmouth was home to the largest brewery in the United States in the 19th century and the city still retains a vibrant pub atmosphere. Make a reservation! 603-343-7977.

We love strolling the streets of Portsmouth but, let’s face it, sidewalks get hot in summer. Solution: Escape to Peirce Island, a 27-acre island in the Piscataqua River, an easy hop across a bridge from the south side of the city (the island is part of and managed by the city). The island has a glorious public pool, 100 yards longs, 33 yards wide, and 14 inches down to 6 feet in depth. The public is welcome, from end of June through August. Walking trails take you to five waterfront overlooks, of Naval Shipyard, the south end of Portsmouth, and the three Piscataqua bridges. There are public boat launches and a playground. It’s like a summer day in the country next to a great small city.

Test your group’s communication, planning and leadership skills at Portsmouth Escape Rooms in Portsmouth. These scenarios require different types of skills and are suited to cater to all types of personalities. Bring your coworkers, friends or family to this immersive setting to solve word riddles, logic puzzles and scavenger hunts. The only way out is to think outside the box, so get creative! Ages 10 and up, under 15 must be accompanied by an adult. Phone: 603-610-2441

Portsmouth is a delightful riverside city today, with a low-profile downtown, lots of dining and shopping, and a gorgeous park on the Piscataqua River. Its history reaches to Colonial times, when it served as a deep-water port for fishing and shipping timber from inland to the sea. This history is on display through three walking tours of the Portsmouth Harbor Trail. Guided tours are offered from June through October (call 603-610-5518). Three walks take you through or past Market Square, the heart of downtown; Prescott Park on the river; Strawbery Banke, a living history museum encompassing 400 years of the town's story; tug boats at the docks; views of the river; and several historic churches and mansions.