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    Wallis Sands State Beach

    4.5 (25 reviews)

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    Me and the sun
    Amanda G.

    Reporting live from 2025!! I love this little beach. It's right down the road from my fave seafood shack and for years on my jaunts to NH I've passed it right on by. Welp not this year. I got my fried scallop plate and caught a brilliant sunset from a bench right at the sand's edge. I went around 730pm in early June so there were only like 4 cars and no parking fees. Your mileage is sure to vary now that summer is officially underway. The water looked beautiful and inviting but as you know Ms. Mands does not like walking on sand without a really good reason. And considering it was cool enough to wear a wool hat, there were no good reasons. There's a huge bathhouse in the lot as well as a relatively short distance from sand to water. I bet this place is a real hit during the peak of summer. I legit only came to sit, eat, listen to the waves, and watch the sunset - beyond that can't say much. But my 45 minutes or so here were 5-star all the way!

    Emily W.

    Went in the month of July and even as a Southerner was able to do a bit of swimming in the cool water! Nice and clear water, decent amount of space on the beach, clean and well-maintained, plenty of room if you cross over the short rock wall. Gets busy some days but if you walk down a bit further you can find a good spot still.

    Early afternoon light, November 2020
    Jennifer O.

    "It's in Rye." You say this in your very best lockjaw out of the side of your mouth. You can practically hear the ice cubes plunking into crystal glasses in the homes dotted along the (cue lockjaw) "roadway." It's a small beach, divided between public and private. It's the Atlantic so the water's brisk. Close to the bridge to the state of Maine, you can see from the shore the Isles of Shoals that are allegedly haunted.

    Heather F.

    Happy New Year! We were blessed with a 50 degree day today here in New Hampshire on 1/1/23 and decided to take advantage before winter rears its ugly head! In all my years of living in NH, I had never been to Wallis Sands, it's incredibly small and is always packed with out of staters in the summer time, you also have to pay to park/use the beach. Today it was obviously quite busy, it's not often we have 50 degree weather in January, so we all have spring fever and winter hasn't even really started! The parking lot was littered with massive clumps of seaweed, and debris (plastic, wood, etc.) Not a good look for a state park, but, it's off season, so I guess it doesn't matter. The beach itself was nice, clean, but again, very small. There's a large rock wall that separates the public beach from the private beach where all the million dollar homes sit, today the private side was accessible due to low tide, but at high tide you'd have to do some climbing or some swimming to get over there. We met some great dogs, and saw some very brave people plunging into the frigid waters, all in all a decent visit to Wallis sands.

    Lynn R.

    This was our first time at Wallis Sands. Arriving at exactly 9:30 a.m. (after our horrific 2 1/2 -hour drive from central Massachusetts due to a tie-up on Rte. 495 N), parking was easy (we secured the first handicapped spot with convenient beach access) and free to us (to other, non-handicapped vehicles, a $15 parking fee is imposed). The beach lot is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Get there early as it fills up quickly, even on a week day. Our space was also relatively close to the building that contains bathrooms, showers, changing rooms and a small shop that offers food and beach goods. There is also a grassy area at the front of the lot with picnic tables. We situated ourselves on the narrow beach not far from the sea wall and lot because it was almost high tide (9:55 a.m.). At that point, the beach was sparsely populated, but by 11 a.m., it was wall-to-wall beachgoers with their gear in tow (everything from simple quilts and blankets laid out to extravagant cabanas that looked ready to house parties). It was a perfect beach day (90 degrees with clear skies). Life guards came on duty at 10 a.m. We were surprised that the water was so clear and nearly free of rocks and seaweed, although it was cold (65 degrees). Most were riding the moderate surf on boogie boards; I think we would have had a more enjoyable time in the water had we ourselves brought boards. We'll be back again next summer (with the boards).

    Elizabeth F.

    The best beach I love this beach $15 parking but it's worth it the bathrooms are so so perfectly sanitized clean. The most thing that I love is the hard packed sand, easy to place your umbrella and chair.

    The water is so clear
    Amber B.

    I'm giving 4.5 stars. This is a smaller beach, like other reviews say. There is a rock wall that separates the public beach from the private side, but many people climb the rocks and explore the other side. I went yesterday with a friend and it was really nice outside, however the water was FREEZING. The beach was really nice and there is some seaweed on the sand from where the tides come in at night (if the seaweed was cleaned up then I would've gave it 5 stars). We got there at 11:30am and left around 3:30. We saw several people moving their seats due to the tides coming in. It was cool. I would definitely come again.

    Beautiful sea life and the beach is bordered by rocks that are fun to explore.

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    Great beach. Not too busy. Easily accessible and has everything you need there - bathrooms, showers, food, shops etc.

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    Ask the Community - Wallis Sands State Beach

    Review Highlights - Wallis Sands State Beach

    The beach is sandy and at low tide there is a long, gradual, smooth slope to the water.

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    Fort McClary - RV/Bus turn around

    Fort McClary

    4.4(23 reviews)
    3.9 mi

    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.

    Photos
    Fort McClary - Views

    Views

    Fort McClary - History

    History

    Fort McClary - Car parking

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    Car parking

    Rye Motor Inn - Bungalow House 1BR Apartment

    Rye Motor Inn

    4.2(5 reviews)
    0.8 mi

    We stayed 3 nights in June 2026. We absolutely loved everything about Rye Motor Inn. The room…read moredecor was retro chic. Super quiet. Clean. The pool was fantastic. Loved that we had a parking spot assigned to us so we know whenever we returned, we were right in front of our room. Joelle is a fantastic GM. Everyone was so friendly.

    I booked a semi-minute trip for my family & dog Aug 25th as I had previously stayed at Doug's…read moreDowntown Portsmouth apartment/hotel, and it was exceptional. I failed to see that Doug had sold the place when I initially booked the stay. That being said, the new owner and "manager" need to brush up on their customer service skills pertaining to travel and basic human interpersonal skills. Prior to arrival, I double-checked to make sure my early check-in which I paid a fee for was OK as the receipt is auto generated and showed a check in time of 4pm. The manager replied yes they could do that for me, I mean I paid for it they weren't doing me a favor. I also asked for 2 extra blankets because the area can be cold at night. Those blankets were not in the room as requested (even though staff were in the room when we arrived to make sure everything was perfect) and confirmed they would be. Next, the guests next door who arrived mid-week had 2 dogs (think the hotels policy is 1 dog for that unit but hey I'm not the manager) and he had them off leash running around the property with one charging right up to my dog each time he was near, my dog is currently ill and was not feeling this unwanted behavior. The owner was chatting with this guest upon arrival as he walked the property with the dogs running freely. I'm a huge dog lover & even volunteer with a rescue in NY but this was unsafe for the 2 dogs as much as guests. There was a sign at the pool to be safe by closing the umbrellas when you leave. Let's just say no one cared & I was thankful it wasn't windy. Also, the deck to the unit had a huge overgrown plant with tons of bees so if you are allergic, pack your epi-pen. Lastly, the night before we were to leave my mom was walking through the dimly lit kitchen and fell on the 1 stair leading to the living room, she was in so much pain we had to call EMS at 1030pm. They arrived along with a firetruck, and long story short, she was admitted to the hospital in the wee hours and had surgery the next day then transferred to acute rehab Labor Day through the next week. The following morning I informed the manager of the incident (as no one seemed aware there was an emergency situation on their property) who was distracted and half listening to me until I mentioned I was looking to stay longer but the site is wanting me to book as new guest and asked if she can extend my reservation. She seemed pleased to tell me it would cost the holiday rate which was about $2000 for Sat-Mon but due to this unexpected emergency, I had limited options due to the holiday weekend already started, needing housing that allows dogs & being 4.5hrs from home. When we left Monday, we had some down time waiting for my mom to discharge so I sent an email to the property to let them know we relocated to another hotel but it was shocking that no one checked to see how my mother was doing. She is a healthy woman who fell on their property requiring urgent surgery the next day. The responses were so lacking. The manager seemed to be full of excuses, covering herself, condescending as I have a hugh emotional intelligence and still not one inquiry about my mothers well-being. I work in healthcare and always joke "I have seen it all" well after this stay I truly have! I do hope the staff accept my recommendation to take some customer service classes and to ensure that the property rules are followed. Do yourself a favor, stay elsewhere to enjoy Rye & the surrounding areas.

    Photos
    Rye Motor Inn - Malin + Goetz amenities in every room

    Malin + Goetz amenities in every room

    Rye Motor Inn - Bungalow House 1BR Apartment

    Bungalow House 1BR Apartment

    Rye Motor Inn - Bungalow House 1BR Apartment

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    Bungalow House 1BR Apartment

    Seacoast Science Center - Pilot whale skeleton

    Seacoast Science Center

    4.3(61 reviews)
    1.4 mi

    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!

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    Seacoast Science Center
    Seacoast Science Center
    Seacoast Science Center

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    Fort McClary Picnic Area - water views

    Fort McClary Picnic Area

    4.3(3 reviews)
    4.0 mi

    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.

    Photos
    Fort McClary Picnic Area
    Fort McClary Picnic Area - Barter's Creek

    Barter's Creek

    Fort McClary Picnic Area - I actually don't recall of this is at this Fort or Vaughan woods. Hmmm

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    I actually don't recall of this is at this Fort or Vaughan woods. Hmmm

    Wallis Sands State Beach - beaches - Updated August 2026

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