Skip to main content

New Hampshire Sunrise Seacoast Bike Ride

Map My Ride Route


Who: Experienced bikers for entire route. All others for portions of the route.
What: Scenic Bike Ride
When: Sunrise or early morning.
Where: New Hampshire's short, but beautiful, seacoast
Why: Fun, Beauty, Exercise, Adventure!

Picture from Odiorne State Park Website
New Hampshire has a small, but beautiful, seacoast.  In fact, the seacoast ride equals about 20 miles one way--a great length for a wonderful round trip bike adventure.  If you want a shorter ride, you may choose a section of the route for your adventure.

If you're taking the ride during the very busy summer season, I suggest that you start as soon as the sun rises to avoid traffic.  Once the traffic begins, the ride becomes more difficult as you have to navigate countless cars (and car doors) which can be challenging if you're not an experienced biker. Off season, it will probably be fine to start a little later.

We began our ride a bit late at Hampton State Park which opens at 8am. It costs $15. to park for the day.  You can park about a half mile up the road earlier for a cost of $12. for six hours (the fee starts at 8am even though you can park earlier).  The first leg of the journey brings you by Hampton's tourist hotspots, then you pass a number of local beaches as you ride through North Hampton and Rye which is a bit less busy and a bit more hilly. After that you pass Odiorne State Park, a large grassy park with picnic spots, a public bathroom, seascoast science center, and many trails. Odiorne has a short paved bike path that would be great for a bike ride with young children. After Odiorne you travel away from the shore for a short while until you take a right down to the historic hotel, Wentworth by the Sea (a great place to stay) and onto Castle Island. Take a right to visit Castle's Island's beautiful seacoast park. Then as you get closer to Portsmouth wind down the side roads to get off the main path and see many beautiful little seacoast homes and vistas. Once you arrive at Portsmouth's downtown, you can choose from numerous wonderful eateries for breakfast.  We chose one of our favorites, Popovers.

Dotted throughout the ride there are small shops, restaurants, beaches, lookouts, and bathrooms so you don't have to worry too much about packing a lot, or places to rest.  We just brought water and sunscreen with us.  If your companions ride at different speeds, share the map and create meet-up spots along the way.

Finally, end your journey by jumping into Hampton's cold, and sometimes powerful, wavy waters, and then enjoy an end-of-the day dinner at one of the many wonderful seafood restaurants in the area. One that we've enjoyed is the Tuna Striker Pub.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Summer Themes: Healthy Living!

One way to route your summer is to have a theme.

I've read about lots of different themes that families, friends, and couples embark on.

A common theme is climbing the 4,000-footers in New Hampshire's White Mountains. Another theme is to ride all the local bike trails. Then of course there was the colleague whose sweet theme was to visit all the local ice cream shops.

I like a theme because it routes your time in ways that add up to new learning, friendships, and enjoyment of life.

This summer, my husband and I are embarking on a summer theme of healthy living in conjunction with Stearns Farm CSA in Framingham. As the educational coordinators for Stearns Farm CSA we've organized a large number of events that will direct us and others in the path of healthy living in our local community. As part of the Farm we'll learn about herbs, flowers, how to cook and prepare all those wonderful vegetables, the history of the farm, and how to sustainably garden ourselves. We'l…
Post a Comment
Read more

The Gift of a Getaway

This weekend I enjoyed the gift of a getaway. My family found an incredible deal at the 4-star Renaissance Hotel in Boston's seaport district. We celebrated a couple of family birthdays with a night at the hotel, dinner at Mother Anna's, a wonderful North End restaurant, a tour of the Contemporary Art Museum, walk along the Harborwalk, and a saunter through the myriad of holiday music/art events, food court, and shops in and around Faneuil Hall.

This was a terrific way to celebrate the birthdays, begin the holiday festivities, and clear the mind. A great holiday gift for any family member or group is a getaway where people can enjoy a local city, nature spot, or activity. In many ways, it's a lot better than any material object you might purchase.
Post a Comment
Read more

Ogunquit: A Maine Treasure

Who: People of all ages
What: Beach, dining, theater, walking. . . .
Where: Ogunquit, Maine
Why: Perfect getaway in a location that has wonderful walkability
When: Anytime of year, but best in spring, summer, and fall
How: An easy drive from any northeast location or from Logan Airport

When spring arrives, I always get a case of Maine fever--the state calls me. One great place to stay and experience Maine is Ogunquit, Maine which has something for everyone. First and foremost it's a quaint, walkable vacation spot. You can reserve a room on the main stretch of this vacation hub, park your car, and spend your time walking to and along the beach and beautiful Marginal Way, dining at a myriad of restaurants and take-out shops, shopping, visiting art galleries, and spending time with loved ones and other travelers.

There's a movie theater and a musical theater nearby too, and if you want to drive a bit, there's so much more to see and do such as visiting Kennebunkport, enjoying lobs…
Post a Comment
Read more