Attractions

Portsmouth's 18th-century prosperity is evident in the Georgian-style homes that dot the city. Strawbery Banke occupies the core of the historic area and is well worth visiting. If you don't have the budget, time, or inclination to spend half a day at Strawbery Banke, a walking tour takes you past many other significant homes, some of which are maintained by various historical or colonial societies and are open to the public. A helpful map and brochure, The Portsmouth Trail: An Historic Walking Tour, is available free at information centers.

Tired from touring? Take a break at Prescott Park, between Strawbery Banke and the water. It's one of the best municipal parks in New England. The water views, lemonade vendors, benches, grass, lovely gardens, and full card of festivals make it worth a visit. There's a full calendar of events at the park festival website, www.prescottpark.org.

Around the Wentworth-Gardner House -- Most travelers tend to visit just Strawbery Banke, do a little shopping at the downtown boutiques, grab a bite, and hustle onward to Maine. To get a fuller sense of historic Portsmouth, though, take the time to stroll a bit off the beaten track. The neighborhood around the Wentworth-Gardner House is a great area to snoop around in -- with twisting roads, lanes too narrow for SUVs, and wooden houses, both restored and original. It's a real taste of the early 19th century.

Boat Tours

Portsmouth is especially attractive when seen from the water. A small fleet of tour boats ties up at Portsmouth, taking scenic tours of the Piscataqua River and the historic Isle of Shoals throughout the summer and fall.

The Isles of Shoals Steamship Co. (tel. 800/441-4620 or 603/431-5500; www.islesofshoals.com) sails from Barker Wharf on Market Street and is the most established of the city's tour companies. The firm takes a variety of tours on the 90-foot, three-deck M/V Thomas Laighton (a modern replica of a late-19th-c. steamship). Most popular are the excursions to the Isle of Shoals, at which passengers can disembark and wander about Star Island, a dramatic, rocky landmass that's part of an island cluster far out in the offshore swells. Reservations are strongly encouraged. Other popular trips include a sunset lighthouse cruise. Fares for the tips to the Isles of Shoals in 2007 ranged from $10 to $25 per adult, depending on the length of the cruise; dinner cruises cost extra. Parking is an additional charge, as well.

Portsmouth Harbor Cruises (tel. 800/776-0915 or 603/436-8084; www.portsmouthharbor.com) specializes in tours of the historic Piscataqua River aboard the Heritage, a 60-foot, 49-passenger cruise ship with plenty of open deck space. It leaves from the Ceres Street docks, beside the tugboats. Cruise past five old forts or enjoy the picturesque tidal estuary of inland Great Bay, a scenic trip upriver from Portsmouth. Trips run daily; reservations are suggested. Fares are $12 to $20 for adults, $10 to $18 for seniors, and $8 to $13 for children ages 2 to 12.