Fun Maritime Activities in Portsmouth

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Is it even a successful trip to the coast if you don’t have the quintessential on-the-water experience? In true Portsmouth fashion, the best way to get out and experience our coast and the beautiful Piscataqua River is by jumping onto an actual boat to see and experience the history through various local outings.

Isles of Shoals Cruise Tours

If you have a bit more time, spend a day out on the Isles of Shoals Cruise and take advantage of the Star Island Walking Tour to pay homage to our beloved Celia Thaxter! In the 1800's, Celia Thaxter’s father built his resort hotel on Appledore Island which became a gathering place for literary and artistic greats of New England such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne and many more. Celia’s renowned Appledore Garden is the most well known plot on the island, where beautiful flowers served as a cutting garden for the family's resort and muse for her acclaimed book, An Island Garden. So much of Portsmouth’s fun and interesting history lives on through the present day operation where you can see the Oceanic Hotel (which rivaled the grandest hotels of the time and is still in operation today), fishing outposts from the 1600’s, old grave sites and much more - a highly recommended way to really immerse yourself in the history of this area.

USS Albacore Museum

Portsmouth’s USS Albacore is a research submarine designed by the U.S. Navy to test experimental features used in modern submarines. At one point, The Navy tested highly confidential features that eventually became the high-speed & silent operation used on modern U.S. submarines. Today, visitors can go on self-guided tours to explore this remarkable submarine including the control room and engineering spaces the periscope, bunkrooms and more. As you walk through the ship, a series of audio stations highlight Albacore's unique features and the daily life of the former crew aboard the sub.

Gundalow

Join the folks at The Gundalow on their mission “to protect the Piscataqua Region’s maritime heritage and environment through education and action.” These sails offer more than just a relaxing outing on Portsmouth’s historic harbor - you’ll sail past historic forts, lighthouses, the Naval Shipyard and prison. During our last sail we were delighted by a family of Bald Eagles looking for nesting grounds, so bring your camera! Grab a light jacket and head out for a picnic on the water while you learn about the cultural and natural history of the region from the best vantage point the city has to offer.

Portsmouth Harbor Cruises - Sunset Cruise

Catch sunset’s golden hour with the beautiful Piscataqua River backdrop on a Sunset Cruise by Portsmouth Harbor Cruises. During the 1.5 hour tour, the captain will share facts about each site with narration of this areas rich maritime history for guests to enjoy and ask questions. While it is always nice to enjoy a drink and just take it all in, the cruise allows for an immersive look at what makes Portsmouth Harbor what it is today with an opportunity to see the Naval Shipyard happenings and US Navy Submarines being worked onUS Navy Brigs, lighthouses, historic forts and much more!

If you don’t want to commit to an excursion, it is always worth checking out the Boatshop at Strawbery Banke. The Boatshop combines maritime skills, experiences and traditions with hands-on boat building, workshops, lectures and other activities. - check them out and reconnect to this region’s rich maritime history!