I absolutely looooooove this park! Having formerly lived a stone's throw from here on Mechanic…read moreStreet, I would frequent this park on the daily back in the day. It is a staple in Strawbery Banke and Portsmouth. It is always so super clean, there are bathrooms available, there is street parking nearby, and it is actually quite large and has a lot to offer. In the summertime they offer plays on their stage that are free to the public, as well as other shows for a small fee. Several musicians play here too (Ani DiFranco, anyone?!), and people usually bring their chairs or blankets and camp out on the grass to watch the entertainment. There is plenty of green space, but there are also walkways, and benches scattered throughout. Toward the front end of the park, there is a wildflower garden with a fountain that operates during the summer months. There is a vegetable and herb garden that is within the center of the park as well that members of the park can pay into if they wish to do so. There is also a composting station toward the back end of the park too. This park is very green friendly, no pun intended! My favorite part of the park though are the docks that jut out into the Piscataqua River. There are three if I'm not mistaken, and there are benches on each for your sitting and viewing pleasure. It is a very tranquil, relaxing, and quiet park off the beaten path right on the outskirts of the downtown area heading into Strawbery Banke. River boats also depart from here, and you can buy your tickets on the Prescott Park website. Overall, this is one of my favorite parks, not only for what it offers, but for what it symbolizes for me, which is pure happiness and nostalgia. I come here every time I'm down town, and it really never gets old. Keep up the good work, Portsmouth :)

It's romantic. Lots to see and happy kids. It's got a great view and I always find it enjoyable to…read moretake a stroll on through and people-watch.

This review is intended for loud tourists from MA that don't know how to park their Abrams…read moretank-sized car. DO NOT GO THERE. If someone has told you that this is a beautiful beach park with fabulous views, they were dead wrong. If you think it might be a great place to fire up a grill and relax, you are sorely mistaken. If you got the crazy idea in your head that this would be the perfect way to spend a summer day, I say, no way, Jose. This place is not for you. Keep on trucking in your monstrous SUV. The fried dough at Old Orchard Beach is calling out to you.

Parking, $25, very close to the beach, or strangely, $25 per person, to park outside the gate and…read morewalk in. Big picture: Quiet remote secluded beach front, with wooded winding gravel walkways along its coast, and interior park pavilion for hosting larger parties. Details: You're going to have to scramble down boulders and rocks, to get down to the water. Most of the shore beyond the boulders and rocks is river stone, with scant areas of sand. Relatively convenient restrooms. Never jammed with people, like the wide sandy NH and MA beaches. Bring your own food and drink, there's nothing nearby, but does have picnic tables. Constant breeze, quite cool as of late afternoon.

Totally love this seacoast museum. My grandchildren love the hands on touch tanks, the pretend…read morefishing boat, the live seahorses and the sand play area. We also enjoy the huge playground and tide pools. We bring a picnic lunch and make a day of the experiences. We love it there so much we became members! I highly recommend!

Odiorne Point State Park is a public recreation area that opened in Rye, New Hampshire in July…read more1972. It is administered by the New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation. The park is located along the Atlantic seacoast in Rye, not far from Portsmouth. The area is the site of the Pannaway Plantation: the first European settlement in New Hampshire. Settled in 1622, the plantation was completely abandoned by the 1630s when the settlers moved to nearby Strawberry Banke. The land was settled in the mid-1660s by the Odiorne Family, whom the park is now named after. From 1942 to 1947, the park was the home of Fort Dearborn. The ruins of the deactivated World War II-era fort can still be seen today. Today the park is home to hiking trails, bike paths, a playground, picnic areas, pavilions, and a Seacoast Science Center which opened in 1992. My family and I visited Odiorne Point State Park this summer while we were heading to Maine for a summer getaway. We had some time to kill before we could check in to our AirBnb, so we decided to stop at the park. We had fun exploring the grounds and my two sons especially enjoyed playing on the nautical-themed playground. The highlight of the park is the Seacoast Science Center. There are all sorts of exhibits devoted to the conservation of marine and coastal environments. My two sons loved learning about whales, local shellfish populations, the local fishing industry, the fight against ocean pollution, and underwater exploration. There was even a cool gift shop where we picked up a few things. Whether you live in the area or you're just passing through like us, Odiorne Point State Park is a fun place for the whole family!

Parking is affordable and just a short, very short walk to the beach. Bathrooms are close and very…read moreclean for beach bathrooms. Little beach shop/store is usually open in the summer for some yummy treats.

It is a great beach very clean nice restrooms a little store and also showers we love it can walk a…read moredistance and view all the waterfront homes and if you are aNH resident and a senior do not need to pay and plenty of parking.

Four tree island is a peaceful and quiet park with several picnic and BBQ areas, well-maintained…read morewalking paths, and public restrooms. A parking lot is right off Peirce Island Rd, which is convenient for every visitor. It is delightful to come around sunset time during the summer. The breathtaking skyline view of the Memorial Bridge and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard worth a couple of hours wandering with families and friends. The piece of the island is small but so relaxed for a walk after a busy day.

Very small, but very pretty. It was really smelly when i visited, but that might have something to…read moredo with the tide at the time. There is a small but entertaining playground by the parking lot, but midway through my children's play, my husband spotted a used condom on the ramp bridging the ground to the playground equipment ‍ Other than that, very pretty location.

If you're in southern Maine in the summer or fall and want to get away from the heavily trafficked…read morebeach hotspots, then grab your picnic stuff and come here. There's decent parking, and a handicapped spot nearest the picnic pavilion (this covered structure can be rented for large groups). And rest rooms. Speaking of potties--because Ms. Tiny Bladder knows there are people who care about this info--there's one typical park open-air bathroom. It's large and you could fit a wheelchair in, but there are no grab bars. There's a small building, closer to the woods, with a handicapped sign, so there is a designated bathroom for those of us with mobility issues. (I wasn't needing my cane nor wheelchair on this occasion.) There are picnic tables grouped to the right side of the grassy area, and a covered pavilion that can be rented for groups (though we ate in there one cloudy day & the whole place was empty). There are more picnic tables scattered about the other sides of the property, and a playground to the far left. Back at the entrance/exit, there is a small pond covered in water lilies and cattails. There's a little deck/overlook (seems a little sloped and close to the water, but it felt solid) and there's a bench nearby. No sitting on the bench or standing around this summer ('21), as there were fire ants living somewhere near the bench. A sign warned visitors ahead of time. Back on the picnic area side, there are many trails leading to Barters Creek, a picturesque spot with several places to stop and enjoy the water scene. There's one spot that's almost a little island (except it's probably by definition a peninsula? Maybe?). I've seen people swimming around there--teens to grammas--and it's just nice to also sit there and look out at the flora and fauna. We love this picnic area and always return every trip to York. Go check it out!

this is a nice spot overall. some water views down a short trail. would recommend stopping by…read moreespecially if at the fort across the street.

During our visit in early May there were few people here making for a quiet visit. There are…read moreseveral picnic tables and a few benches scattered around the property with beautiful views of the water. This fort was active through many wars and then decommissioned while building a protective wall around the property. Huge slabs of quarried stone, partually carved blocks and lots of stone 'chips' are scattered about. There are a few information signs detailing the history of Fort McClary and some buildings have signs that state the building purpose. Foundations of some buildings is all that remains. They have a few cannons on display. Check out their website for information on events and when the fort is manned. There is a seperate picnic grove up the road about 50 yards across the street. A dirt parking lot holds around a dozen vehicles or so and there is an 'RV turn around' area, but no parking for RV's or busses here. One outhouse is located past the end of the parking lot. There is a wooded trail at the back corner.

they have been shooting off loud cannons all weekend. we live right across the harbor in new…read morecastle, nh and the cannon noise goes on until after 9 pm at night scaring our small children and dogs. it is unnecessary and when we called dalton richardson the park manager at 207-357-3642 we got nothing but blather and defensiveness. this is an incredibly poorly managed park with no oversite to the people shooting off the revolutionary war cannons and no interest in what the public cares about.

A beautiful and calming place to go for a leisure Walk or sit. Plenty of parking and peaceful.read more

This is a nice little park to have a picnic lunch or just walk/bike along the trails. There is a…read morenice section along the salt marsh. Kids have an opportunity to learn about the trees in the park and little bit about the eco system. It is not far from the Seacoast Science Center which makes for a great day trip. Plus this park is free so that is tough to beat.

Fort Constitution is a historic fort with an identity crisis. While the Fort is a New Hampshire…read moreState Park it is within an active area of a US Coast Guard base. As a result, visiting the fort is hit or miss. After making the three hour drive, I was only able to see the part of the fort through a rusty fence or from across the Piscataqua River. The Fort was established pre-Revolutionary War (1631) to protect the Colonies and harbor. The Fort was taken by Patriots during the Revolutionary War. There are several structures on the grounds including the Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, the fort itself, Battery Farnsworth (built 1899) and the ruins of Walbach Tower (built 1814). The drive across New Castle island to the fort is lovely with old New England homes. There is a small parking lot at the entrance to the park. I've since learned that there is a way to drive over to the fort, perhaps the best way is to ask when you arrive. There is designated parking outside the fence where you can view the old battery and read about the history of the Walbach Tower. The Tower was built during the War of 1812 and has since collapsed. The Farnsworth Battery became decommissioned in 1917 when the guns were moved to Europe during WWI. There's a lot of interesting history at the site. Call the Park before coming to learn how to get in.

sitting beside the local coast guard installation fort constitution, like the nearby portsmouth…read moreharbor lighthouse, remains inaccessible to the general public for several years now (according to government representatives "it's for your own good, trust us.") the remains of Walbach tower dominate the site currently a mass of stone and concrete well on its way to becoming a pile of rubble; inferior materials and poor construction techniques contributed to the fort's early deterioration with the local hoodlummery and idlers apparently doing their best to hasten the collapse despite the addition of barbed wire and fencing some years ago. this structure is in a sorry state of disrepair but with a little motivation and a small bucket of cash the fort could either be rehabilitated or obliterated entirely in short order. meanwhile there's some goats for hire doing their best to keep the vegetation in check. call ahead for grazing times and dates. +3 stars for the goats and their keepers!!