WEEKEND ROAD TRIPPING

Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Is a Treasure of History

Downtown is walkable and charming, with colorful storefronts

The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard can be seen from the World War I Memorial Bridge. Photo by author

Sitting quietly along the Piscataqua River, Portsmouth, N.H., is still a working port where tugboats can be seen escorting ships through the currents of this tidal river.

Portsmouth was settled in 1623, making it New Hampshire’s oldest settlement.

My daughter and I routinely pass by the city on our way to Maine, just a few miles away. This past weekend, it was on our list of “never been there” cities to visit.

There is no shortage of eateries, art galleries, and bookstores in the downtown area. There is a shortage of parking despite a plethora of on-street parking and parking garages. We arrived around 11 and found a space at the Hanover Garage that was reasonable at $2 per hour. When we left two hours later, the garage was full. Despite the cold, blowing winds, many visitors were out for walks or breakfast and lunch.

Gilley’s Diner has been serving hungry customers in Portsmouth since 1912. Photo by author

Adjacent to the Hanover was Gilley’s, which first opened in 1912 and bills itself as Portsmouth’s original diner…