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    Wallis Sands State Beach

    4.4 (23 reviews)

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    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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    Great Island Common - Sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean from Great Island Common

    Great Island Common

    (16 reviews)

    The way to Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse was closed for renovation so we ended up just checking…read moreGreat Island Common. It's actually a large enough place with plenty of parking and had some good amount of spots for gatherings/picnics/BBQ. I didnt feel like it was the most beautiful place although the view of the harbor was. I enjoyed the little painter decor that they have and that wide open feel of just standing by the waters. However i felt like the place needed some TLC. Idk. The gentleman by the entrance was very kind and sweet though and allowed us to just check the area for some quick pics for free as we didnt stay too long for this visit.

    I'll tell you it was almost surreal. It was a litle like…read morebeing the only person in the world, just staring out at the wild ocean at sunset. Especially in january when there wasn't another soul in this tiny park, at the edge of this picturesque town of Portsmouth. I was of course struck by the wild beauity that makes up the NH/Maine Coastline and the crashing of the waves but the place itself was absolutely adorable. I could see the vibrant scenes of warmer months even though my face and lips were equally chapped in the brisk wind. Very clean, very organized and well layed out little park. There is a long walk on the rocks out to the sea and some sandy beach area for walking but I can't imagine it would be a fun place to swim with all those rocks and rocky shallow areas. I'd love to do a day trip or 3 day weekend up here just so I can bring my dogs here to enjoy this relaxed little area. There is a sweet little bench beneath a tree straight ahead when you pull in, and it would be probably the cutest place to get a kiss, enjoy a quiet moment or even a proposal. Le sigh. Can I live here and build a little hut beside the large sprawling waterfront mansions? I promise I won't be a bother. The trees in bloom here must be a sight in the fall,but no matter what season it was so worth stumbling upon.

    Fort McClary - History

    Fort McClary

    (21 reviews)

    A nice outing. The structures are still in good shape, lots of history here…read more Especially loved the map that shows where things are in front of you. Views of Constitution Light (NH) and Whaleback Light, which is actually just a short 10 minute drive away and we went to visit that after! Sign said they officially open Memorial day but the picnic area across the street was open.

    Working through my Maine State Parks pass, we revisited Fort McClary around Memorial Day weekend…read more There were a couple of families using the picnic tables, some folks walking their dogs, but we were able to once again explore the grounds at our own pace (probably helped that it was kind of a cool and misty day)!  As I mentioned in my first review: they really did a wonderful job preserving the area. There's sweeping ocean (and, of course, lighthouse) views, spacious green lawns, a small hiking trail behind the parking lot (I think part of it might accidentally lead into someone's backyard!; one part brings you all the way to the entrance), and all the fun things kids/kids-at-heart can climb all over. From the canons to the bunker (you can go down inside it; be careful, it's wet!), the powder house to the enormous unfinished walls on the perimeter of the property, I'm impressed that people can still pretty much touch and be a part of everything! Lots of forts I grew up going to now have gates and fences and barriers up to prevent the public from walking on/too close to things for preservation purposes. Which, as I mentioned in my first review, I totally understand and respect, but I think there's something pretty cool about being able to immerse yourself in a site like this when you can get so close! We *still* weren't able to go inside the Blockhouse though! Next time!

    Rye Motor Inn - Bungalow House 1BR Apartment

    Rye Motor Inn

    (4 reviews)

    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.

    Thank you so much for restoring this classic. Amazing location. My family lived right down the…read morestreet in this little slice of heaven for decades. Directly across the street from the ocean. Amazing night star sky, you can hear the ocean if you open your window, fog horn from the light house if you are lucky. After 9pm this part of town goes dark and is VERY quiet. Odiorne to the left, Wallis Sands to the right. Mermaids come out at night and build rock cairns down at the tide pools. Clean air, relaxing and NH crusty. Stayed for 3 nights recently. Room is clean, spacious, well appointed and provisioned. Great local vibe. Doug has done an amazing job, this was not easy to get to this point.

    Seacoast Science Center - Pilot whale skeleton

    Seacoast Science Center

    (60 reviews)

    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.

    Fort McClary Picnic Area - water views

    Fort McClary Picnic Area

    (3 reviews)

    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.

    SellMyTimeshareNow - Ka'anapali Beach

    SellMyTimeshareNow

    (221 reviews)

    We had an excellent experience working with SellMyTimeShareNow. When we initially reached out…read moreregarding pricing and timeframe for the Westin Kierland properties in Scottsdale, AZ--where we have visited, stayed, and greatly enjoyed--their response was quick, clear, and professional. After attending several timeshare presentations over the years to better understand the programs, brands, and owner benefits, we ultimately decided that going through SellMyTimeShareNow was the right path for us. The team was extremely responsive throughout the entire process, promptly confirmed when the owner accepted our offer, and seamlessly kicked off the paperwork via email and DocuSign. Communication was consistent and timely. They provided regular updates, answered all of our questions, and followed up to ensure documentation was completed efficiently. We also appreciated their assistance in making sure the deed was titled properly so it could align with our estate plan--this level of attention to detail made a meaningful difference. If you are looking to get into a timeshare opportunity, the value, experience, and price point made far more sense for us going this route. We are excited to use our timeshare going forward and have already started keeping an eye out for additional opportunities. We would absolutely use SellMyTimeShareNow again in the future and highly recommend them.

    Smooth, professional, and highly effective -- would recommend…read more I couldn't be happier with my experience using Sell My Timeshare. The website is incredibly user-friendly -- the listing process was straightforward, the forms were clear, and it was easy to upload all the necessary documents. What impressed me most was the team's responsiveness and transparency: they explained fees and timelines up front, provided regular progress updates, and answered every question patiently and professionally. Their marketing and buyer-network approach clearly works -- the sale moved through without the usual headaches and the closing was handled cleanly with attentive support through each step. I also appreciated the practical, no-pressure guidance on pricing and paperwork, which made a stressful process feel manageable. If you're looking to sell a timeshare and want a trustworthy, efficient service that keeps you informed and handles the details, I highly recommend Sell My Timeshare. Sell My Timeshare made the whole process easy and stress-free -- clear website, great communication, and a smooth closing. Highly recommend! I'm already looking to buy another one.

    Wallis Sands State Beach - beaches - Updated May 2026

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