Travelers to New Hampshire's seacoast can enjoy surfing and sandy beaches along the coast, or visit working ports and offshore islands. The coastline on the Atlantic Ocean also features towns and villages dating back nearly 400 years. Family-oriented attractions include nature centers and annual festivals, as well as working farms and historical sites.
Established in 1976 and overlooking the Sagamore Creek near Portsmouth, the Urban Forestry Center teaches visitors about New Hampshire's woodlands and natural resources. The 182-acre property is used as a tree farm to demonstrate proper forest management. It also features a bird and wildlife sanctuary, a garden and landscape demonstration site, and trails for hiking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. The center also offers education programs on community forestry planning, forest management, ecology, tree and plant identification, and wildlife stewardship.
Applecrest Farm Orchards in Hampton Falls is open from May to December. Families can pick their own strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, peaches, pumpkins and apples at the working farm. Since 1974, the farm also hosts annual harvest festivals with family activities, including apple and pumpkin picking, corn roast, hayrides and a petting zoo, and live Bluegrass music. Parking and admission to the farm is free.
With views of the Isles of Shoals, families can enjoy oceanfront swimming at Wallis Sands State Beach. The park features a pristine, sandy beach, a store with food, drinks and other items, a large bathhouse with showers, and picnic tables. Other coastal beaches include Hampton Beach State Park, Jenness Beach State Park, North Beach and North Hampton State Beach. In 2010, New Hampshire's beaches were ranked first in terms of beach water quality in the U.S. by the Natural Resources Defense Council.
The Seacoast Science Center in Rye is a popular aquarium and educational center for families and students. Visitors can learn about the coast's environmental history through hands-on, interactive exhibits and learning programs for people of all ages. The museum is located on the 135-acre Odiorne Point State Park, where families can enjoy a picnic in a wooded grove and several miles of walking trails through seven distinct habitats.
