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    Prescott Park

    4.3 (40 reviews)

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    Gajtana S.

    Gorgeous park. My second time here. Didn't stay long as there are few parking spots- all were taken. Serene park with gorgeous waterfront views. Come early in the a.m. to snag a parking spot. Metered street parking also available: $2/hour for up to three hours. More per hour after that.

    Heather L.

    I absolutely looooooove this park! Having formerly lived a stone's throw from here on Mechanic Street, I would frequent this park on the daily back in the day. It is a staple in Strawbery Banke and Portsmouth. It is always so super clean, there are bathrooms available, there is street parking nearby, and it is actually quite large and has a lot to offer. In the summertime they offer plays on their stage that are free to the public, as well as other shows for a small fee. Several musicians play here too (Ani DiFranco, anyone?!), and people usually bring their chairs or blankets and camp out on the grass to watch the entertainment. There is plenty of green space, but there are also walkways, and benches scattered throughout. Toward the front end of the park, there is a wildflower garden with a fountain that operates during the summer months. There is a vegetable and herb garden that is within the center of the park as well that members of the park can pay into if they wish to do so. There is also a composting station toward the back end of the park too. This park is very green friendly, no pun intended! My favorite part of the park though are the docks that jut out into the Piscataqua River. There are three if I'm not mistaken, and there are benches on each for your sitting and viewing pleasure. It is a very tranquil, relaxing, and quiet park off the beaten path right on the outskirts of the downtown area heading into Strawbery Banke. River boats also depart from here, and you can buy your tickets on the Prescott Park website. Overall, this is one of my favorite parks, not only for what it offers, but for what it symbolizes for me, which is pure happiness and nostalgia. I come here every time I'm down town, and it really never gets old. Keep up the good work, Portsmouth :)

    Marc B.

    Prescott Park is a beautiful location just outside of in-town Portsmouth. With Portsmouth's historic buildings and the hustle and bustle of people walking around, Prescott Park serves as a sort of sanctuary to escape the crowds of people. The park has a variety of walking paths, all with a view of the harbor. Not only that, but the park has a variety of gardens and fountains that instantly make you feel at ease. When I came on a Saturday afternoon, there were even wedding going on, and I can imagine how amazing the pictures will come out due to the cleanliness and beauty of the park. There was also a stage, which, after reading some other reviews, I found that they provide free plays in the summertime! My favorite park of the park are the wooden docks that jet out into the harbor, which gives fantastic views of the water, boats, the shipyard, etc. The docks are accentuated with black lampposts. These docks with the lampposts remind me of that scene in the movie La La Land where Ryan Gosling is singing "City of Stars" and approaches the married couple...ahhhh. I digress... Prescott Park really is a nicely maintained park with a lot to offer people during the nicer weather months. Definitely some place to check out when you are in the Portsmouth area!

    Memorial bridge  Wonderful walk across nice breeze and can look at the boats  The bridge itself is amazing

    Nice park to get some lunch and go sit Very shaded Beautiful trees Looking over the bay The memorial bridge was clean Has nice bathrooms beautiful garden to walk through A good place to go if you are in that area

    Frank W.

    I enjoyed walking around this 10 acre municipal park, situated on the banks of the Piscataqua River, that includes lawns, gardens, walkways and docks.

    Z Z.

    I really love visiting Prescott Park, especially the small garden area. For one thing, how cool are the old gnarled trees? I remember photographing them quite often in college, they look super cool in black and white. It is just a nice, relaxing place to visit and spend time while in Portsmouth. I was excited to go back there last week and show it off to my husband. It was just as cool as I remember, although I didn't realize how much of the park does not have trees...parts of the park were quite warm with the sun brightly shining down on it. People didn't seem to mind though, there were families, students, couples, and other folks just happily spread throughout the area. There are plenty of places to set up a nice picnic and there are a few sculptures worth checking out. Oh, and of course...take a walk out onto the the docks near the water which is fun too. I highly recommend visiting it. It isn't huge, you can easily walk around the grounds of the park in an hour or so. But, take some extra time to walk around the gardens, it is worth the trip. Quite lovely! I uploaded a few photos. Enjoy!

    Plenty of beautiful gardens to walk through and enjoy while at the park!
    Jackson S.

    A beautiful free park with free parking! What a wonderful stop in Portsmouth. We loved the piers, gardens, and plethora of historical plaques with rich history of the area and surrounding ports. Stop here and enjoy!

    Will P.

    The best thing about the park is that every performance is by donation only... In the heart of gentrified Portsmouth, it is really the City of the open door....if you are willing to walk from Pierce Island you can even find free parking. That is a deal that very few places in North America or Europe can offer. If you can afford to ,make a serious donation because you are allowing less fortunate families to enjoy live theatre and entertainment that they would otherwise not be able to experience .

    Prescott Park
    Krys G.

    We stopped here to go for a walk and stretch our legs. The park itself is full of colorful plants and trees. I can only imagine how beautiful it is when all the flowers are in bloom. There are some great picture ops by fountains and breathtaking plants. The park is located along the water with a great view of the Naval shipyard. We had a hard time finding a place to park that was the only drawback. There are restaurants and museums and shops within walking distance. Nice little park!

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    Serene spot to appreciate where we are in New England! Perfect if you love nature and seeing the history of our geography in action!

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    Loved this place! We went to see a play in the park and it was amazing, even with the rain and technical difficulties.

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    13 years ago

    The park is cute. It's right on the waterfront, though it's a little industrial and there isn't much to look at.

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    Beautiful spot! Right on the water and so many beautiful flowers and plants. I could spend hours walking around here. Its so pretty.

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    What's not to like about Prescott Park. On the harbor, great water views, tranquil oasis adjoining downtown, and it's FREE!

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    Review Highlights - Prescott Park

    In the summertime they offer plays on their stage that are free to the public, as well as other shows for a small fee.

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    Great Island Common

    Great Island Common

    4.1
    (16 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    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.

    Photos
    Photo op
    Photo op
    Very rocky
    Very rocky
    The painter and the subject lol

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    The painter and the subject lol
    Odiorne Point State Park

    Odiorne Point State Park

    4.5
    (29 reviews)
    5.9 mi

    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!

    I feel the need to preface all of my nature reviews with this: being 90% forested and having around…read more3500 miles of coastline, Maine (and NH) has a tremendous amount of spaces, walkways, paths, and trails of all kinds and of all levels. There's something for everyone. What I'm reviewing is how a spot compares to similar outdoor spots in my personal opinion. Being in nature - and remembering to carry in, carry out - is always five stars! :) Parking? Yes. Loop trail? Yes. Well marked signs? Yes. Element of surprise? Yes. I was looking for state parks in New Hampshire and this one caught my eye because of the name, if we're being honest. It sounded magical! So was the way it was advertised: "picnickers can enjoy sweeping views of the ocean and rocky shore, and explorers can uncover evidence of past military occupation. An extensive network of trails wind through the dense vegetation and traverse the park. [t]he property is also renowned for its... seven distinct habitats that can be visited within an hour's walk. Although the spectacular rocky shore is the one of the most notable, the woodlands, uplands, salt marsh, freshwater and salt ponds, and sandy beach (non-swimming) combine to create one of the region's most diverse nature walks." I like a little bit of everything, and this sounded like it had just that! The first time I came I bought a pass online; when we arrived it was a freak snowstorm and we were the only ones there. So we had a literal winter wonderland to play around it. The views from the coast were lovely and offer plenty of picnic tables to sit and enjoy yourself at, but exploring the woods that day was even more amazing - we spent a lot of time with a big buck who kept finding himself lazily meandering on the same trail as us. Thank goodness for binoculars! And the element of surprise! There was also some tremendously graffitied old batteries, a breakwater (that becomes nearly inaccessible when the tide is high; reversely when the tide is low that same area exposes a Sandy beach), there's an area called Pirate's Cove, an old cemetery, and Dolphin Fountain (which looks like it belongs in France, not NH). This became an immediate favorite! I can't wait to come back and see it in Spring and Summer! (SIDE NOTE: There's also the Seacoast Science Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit, that provides educational exhibits related to the seacoast area for a separate fee; but, I haven't been able to check that out yet!)

    Photos
    As the sun sets on a crisp winter day
    As the sun sets on a crisp winter day
    The calm water at sunset
    The calm water at sunset
    Interior of the Seacoast Science Center

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    Interior of the Seacoast Science Center
    Fort McClary Picnic Area

    Fort McClary Picnic Area

    4.3
    (3 reviews)
    2.4 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
    Barter's Creek
    Barter's Creek
    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
    Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge

    Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge

    4.0
    (5 reviews)
    4.5 mi

    Awesome little hidden gem of a wildlife refuge!! There are two hiking trails here - I did the…read morelonger of the two - the William Furber Ferry Way Trail. It has a very unique starting point - next to an abandoned weapons storage facility for an old military base!! But once you get past this, you find yourself wandering through lovely, peaceful New Hampshire woodland with a huge meadow along the way to the Great Bay viewing area! The trail is very well maintained but can definitely get muddy. We had storms the night before my hike and there were some very muddy spots that got a tad slippery - even with my excellent hiking shoes - but there were enough fallen leaves on the ground to provide plenty of pathways to avoid the super muddy and wet areas. And while this trail is wide and well maintained, it's not paved and I wouldn't consider it handicap accessible- although it might be doable if you have some pretty serious trail tires on a wheelchair! Because the trail is mostly flat and not rocky at all. One thing I really enjoyed on this trail were all the adorable American Red Squirrels, the Black Capped Chickadees, and all the fall colors - even in November! The forest was also just full of these absolutely beautiful, ghostly white and pink trees too that were very dramatic! I have no idea what they are, but they are just gorgeous!! I actually came here in search of Wild Turkeys but had no luck this day. It's a very peaceful trail - it was a weekday and I pretty much had it to myself - I only saw two other hikers pass by. The trail maps say it's 2 miles but I ended up with 2.5 miles on my AllTrails tracker for this trail. There's very minimal elevation gain. The halfway point on this loop takes you to a viewing platform of Great Bay with those binoculars on a stand that let you see across the water! There's benches there to rest, as well as benches spaced out along the trail too - just lovely! Another thing that makes this trail fun is that is has "numbered stops" along the way - and the FWS has an info pdf you can view on their website that gives you history and cool info about each stop. The guide to these numbered stops can be found here: https://www.fws.gov/uploadedFiles/Furber_Trail_Guide_FINAL_Aug2014(1).pdf The smaller trail is called the Peverly Pond Trail and is about 1/2 mile long with the trailhead right off the parking lot- but I didn't do this one so can't speak to it. There's plenty of parking in a paved lot and there are decent bathrooms at the parking lot as well - very clean and well stocked! No pets are allowed on these trails - but they do provide an extensive list of pet friendly trails nearby at the information kiosk in the parking lot.

    I enjoyed my walk around the lake. There are 2 hiking trails. One is very short but well maintained…read moreand picturesque. The other one is about 2 miles. We saw wild turkey and muskrat. It was mostly in the shade.

    Photos
    Feisty American Red Squirrels all along the trail
    Feisty American Red Squirrels all along the trail
    Black Capped Chickadee along the trail
    Black Capped Chickadee along the trail
    The longer trail starting point is across the street from the parking lot (the William Furber Ferry Way Trail)

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    The longer trail starting point is across the street from the parking lot (the William Furber Ferry Way Trail)
    Wallis Sands State Beach

    Wallis Sands State Beach

    4.5
    (24 reviews)
    3.6 mi

    Parking is affordable and just a short, very short walk to the beach. Bathrooms are close and very…read moreclean for beach bathrooms. Little beach shop/store is usually open in the summer for some yummy treats.

    Do you like relaxation -- maybe with a lil sand snuggled between ur toesy-wozies? If yes, grab your…read morecrockpot + maracas, lather ur bod in dat SPF protectant, and get over to Wallis Sands State Beach for a little R&R&RT (rest & relaxation & rad times). Yes, yes -- get to dat beach + plop ur dump truck down in that flimsy Walgreens beach chair that has been rotting in your garage for, like, 9+ months now. Breathe it in: yes, yes dat fresh salt air. Salt! Mmm, yes... Also politely ask that person on the beach blanket next to you to crank up "Daisies" by Justin Bieber from their portable JBL speaker just a smidge louder. That's right -- set the mood for ur ultimate New Hampshiran beach day. Smack a beachball, David. Slurp a wine cooler, Darlene. Hold a hermit crab captive (they don't have feelings, silly). And go on and say things like "ew, seaweed!" and "wow, look at that kite!" and "Ed Sheeran is one of my favorite artists!" Yay! Enjoy your day, Freddie + Barbara -- hopefully you trekked to Wallis Sands State Beach without the kids...ya know? They are, like, so annoying. Brutal. R&R&RT is best without juice boxes and bad attitudes. Children belong in front of YouTube. You belong in front of the Atlantic -- alone + unbothered -- left to simply worry about ur sun exposure. It's cute. Soak up the sun, Sheryl Crow! Enjoy da beach + ur yacht rock playlist, also. Cheers! Seashells! Toes! Crockpots!

    Photos
    Me and the sun
    Me and the sun
    Wallis Sands State Beach
    Wallis Sands State Beach

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    Prescott Park - parks - Updated June 2026

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