The Button Factory Studios are a collection of artist studios about 1/2 mile from downtown…read morePortsmouth. It's not the only mill building to be converted into artist's studios, but I think they've done the best job. More than any other similar building, when I'm walking through the halls of this place I just want to chuck it all and pretend that I can paint. Or draw. Or make furniture. Or maybe jewelry. You get the idea. Just being around all of the creativity in this building (actually several buildings) is habit forming and I want to be a part of it. Every year they have a weekend called Open Studios. Many of the artists open their studios to the public and other artists rent space in the hallways, and they'd all be happy to sell you whatever they've made. Since this is during the holidays and it's in a fairly artsy community, it's popular. Parking is horrible, it's hot inside, and you won't get anywhere in a hurry because of the crowds, but the stuff you'll see is amazing. I have no idea what the day to day issues of working in this space are. I don't know if the owner keeps on top of things, I don't know who pays the heat or picks up the trash. All I know is that this space is one of the coolest and most creative spots in a very cool and creative city, and there's a waiting list to get in so having a studio here is probably a terrific thing.

Nothing brings me more joy than being able to see what other loyal art laborers have for exhibit…read more The old button factory has since been converted into a labyrinth of artist studios (inspiration, color, and life around each corner). Once a year, the artists open their studios and exhibit their work to the public... ~~OPEN STUDIOS is usually the first weekend of December (2011: DECEMBER 3 and 4, 2011 OPEN STUDIOS! 11-5pm!!!) admission fee 0$~~ *Several of the artists offer classes (painting, sculpting, quilting, etc). *My favorite studios to visit: Emma Ashby (an increeedible wax artist - her work breaths life and brightness), Erin A. Ellis (an aspiring childrens book illustrator who has created this adorable creature: the chubbikin), Jen Murray (wonderfully talented photographer - - - great to keep in mind for wedding planning couples, or collectors of unique prints), Sarah Minor (painter of canvas floor cloths), and Roger Goldenberg (crazy awesome, 3-dimensional paintings!). *For SALE??!!! Yes, some works are a bit...costly, but these are pieces which will last a lifetime (and then another...and another). Spread the love, invest in art! Just when the holidays are shifting into fourth gear, it's a wonderful way to spend an early-December morning. Great (brilliant!) people, a unique space, and (of course) enough artistic eye candy to light your own wee inspiration candle.

Cool place with a popcorn maker and lots of beer, NA beers and THC drinks depending on your…read morepreference. Cozy spot with friendly staff. Enjoyed the beer and loved that they have sample sizes available

It has been quite a few years since I have been here and it was my wife's first time visiting. We…read morehave both had quite a few beers from them though and enjoyed them. I actually would go as far as saying they are underrated in talks of all the breweries in Maine. They have always been a brewery with a vast amount of variety in their styles they brew. Such as IPAs, fruited sours, porters, stouts, lagers, and so many more. Enough variety you could visit and all your party could find their style. They also deserve a lot of credit for being one of the first if not the first in the state to jump on the non-alcoholic train for beers. This has expanded to basically be as varied in style as their usual beers now. I actually enjoyed their NA Mexican Lager and it was delicious and would be a great option for those looking for NA beers. My wife grabbed their NA seltzer and enjoyed it as well. Since that expansion they have also moved into adaptogen beverages as well as CBD/THC drinks too. They keep expanding their portfolio while also doing what they already do so well! Also for non beer drinkers they did have some bourbon and other spirits available as well. Really great options for all who show up! They don't offer food themselves besides some free popcorn, which was seasoned perfectly! Although if feeling like more food swing in next door to Weathervine and grab some food before to pair with your drink. The bartender was very friendly and apologized when my first choice kicked and from his interactions with other patrons it is clear Woodland Farms cares about their customers! A spot my wife and I will make sure to return to sooner rather than later. You should check it out as well!

Great visit. Every employee was a pleasure to talk to. The gift shop has a nice selection. The…read morelittle cafe on site has snacks and cold beverages. This was an actual neighborhood saved from demolititon. Each home is set up for a specific period in time up to the 1950's. I really enjoyed the WWII grocery store. The docent there had lots of very interesting information about grocery shopping during wartime. All together a good experience we would repeat. We left midway through to have lunch nearby and returned to complete the circuit. One of the houses is in an unrestored condition. A blacksmith was on hand during our visit too in his workshop. Private dirt parking lot, clean public restrooms in two locations. Most buildings are not ADA accessible if I remember correctly due to their age, but some are ground level entrance. Pathways throughout are wide, compact dirt or gravel.

This review is for the Thanksgiving-specific tour they give in November which I'm sure is quite…read moredifferent than their in-season tour, but it was fantastic. It was 90 minutes and covered 4 of the houses ranging from a Revolutionary-era tavern serving a local Thanksgiving to a WWII era general store operating on rations gretted by an in character store owner. Despite the bitter cold outside, the houses were decently warm. Our tour guide was fantastic. He answered all questions thoroughly, and we were able to look through the available rooms at our own pace. The tour covered both Thanksgivings through time and also a bit on the history of the museum, how it came to be, and who the people were who lived there. It was well worth visiting again when I can go on a regular tour, but they also have a Christmas light stroll that sounds intriguing. There is a decent-sized parking lot, but it is shared with other businesses, so I recommend coming to an earlier tour to ensure availability. The visitor's center is pretty big with restrooms, snacks for purchase, and a small gift shop. Right now, there is also an ice-skating rink adjacent to the center if you have time. The tour had a few kids on it, and they seemed pretty interested in the presentation. If you love historical sites and even just unique experiences, this is a cool museum to visit.

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!

Located in Rye Nh at a state park on the ocean with a view of the harbor and you can walk along the…read morewalkway there's also a park for the kids to play in climbing, and swings the park is a good size and then you can walk over to the science center and enjoy there fun activities like learning about nature and the New England coast sharks whales and other wildlife species it's not that big but it's really nice to explore they have a old fort that you can climb on. The state park has a lot of trails and other fun stuff to explore worth a trip to go to but make sure that the weather is nice.

They're super rude if you want to go "off book" and not use a stencil. I love what I made (even…read morethough the wood quality isn't great), but not the running commentary and side-eye I got from the staff while I made it.

Crystal was sooo helpful! Made this task of a sign/tray/piece of art truly perfect and fun! We went…read morewith a group of 5, had our own table and felt super comfortable even while being covid conscious! Loved how everything came out and had so much fun dancing around with the amazing sound track and BYOB!

Players Ring is an intimate local theater between Prescott Park and historic Strawberry Banke in…read morePortsmouth NH, providing high level performances of some "old favorites" and many newer productions with creative stagecraft. All is good.

Just saw a play (The Wasp) here last night and was blown away! The production was absolutely as…read moresolid as plays I've seen at Lincoln Center; The Huntington; ART, etc. The actors were both excellent--it seemed like they really were the 2 characters/roles they were playing! My goodness, what a powerful, thought-provoking piece. My mom and I were still talking about and analyzing the play hours later. Meanwhile, the 2 theater staff people who checked us in were beyond friendly and accommodating. My mom uses a cane and has unsteady gait, and they assured us they'd find us easily accessible seats and they did (we were nervous going in because it was open seating and we arrived just 5 mins before curtain went up--we didn't realize was open seating until looking at the ticket reservation while driving over). I suppose places have to be accommodating because of ADA law, but there's no law requiring them to be warm & kind about it

A fun and interesting way to spend some time in Portsmouth. I visited town during off-season and…read morethis was one of the few tourist attractions still open. Touring the actual sub can be done in 20-30 min. If you're claustrophobic, the first couple areas are tight but it soon opens up. If you have mobility issues, it'll be tough to maneuver. This doesn't take away from my experience but something to consider for others. The attached museum/gift shop is nice and packs in a lot. It's a one time visit for me but glad I went.

This was an amazing experience!! We went on a whim and as someone who knows nothing about…read moresubmarines, I learned so much and it was super engaging. The self guided tour has little speakers with buttons along the way that tells you all about how the ship works and amazing stories from the crew! The inside museum was really cool as well!! There's a periscope inside that you can move around and look all around the area surrounding the building! A documentary about the ship plays on loop inside as well. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful, and they were excited to talk about the submarine! The prices are 1000% worth it and I would totally do this again if I was in the area. They have tons of memorabilia to look at and gifts to buy as well! We will be back!!

What an awesome little studio! There's a ton of unique and interesting pottery, really friendly…read morepeople, and a really friendly little dog who like to have her back scratched. You can't help but feel like you're home when you're here.

I love this little studio. I love that you can see the workspace as well as the gallery space. I…read morelove that there's NPR playing in the background when I go in, and I love that the owner recognized me from one visit to the next a couple months later. I'm always able to find a unique, original piece to give as a housewarming gift or other small present for someone. Plus, the resident dog is small and cute and makes me happy. Hooray for local businesses.