SUMMER IN HAMPTON
When we finally turn that invisible weather corner to summer the Seacoast explodes with activity! Many times we wonder if we will ever get there. The spring fog, drizzle and cold doesn't leave until the ocean becomes closer in temperature to the air. This usually takes place in June. Now get ready for fun! This weather is why most of us live in the northeast and endure all the snow and cold. We enjoy average daily temps in the 70's and low eighties. Occasional heat waves will bog us down but not for long. I used my air conditioning twice last summer. So open the windows, fire up the grills and have fun. Hampton Beach is in full swing. Although Memorial day weekend is the official summer kick off, it's the 4th of July holiday that gets everything going strong. You can expect the beach to be packed daily from then until Labor day. If your looking for the best summer week to stay at the beach my suggestion would be the week after Labor day. The kids are back in school, the beach is less crowded and everything is still open because the Seafood Festival takes place the following weekend.
NEWBURYPORT MA
Let's head south from Hampton to Newburyport Ma. You can either head down route one or take I-95. If the traffic isn't too bad I prefer the route one approach. It's only about 15 miles (about twenty minutes). Once you get there you'll find many different things to do. The downtown area is a sea of tiny shops selling everything from art work to incense. If you arrive on a weekend in the summer you will usually find some kind of activity taking place anything from the week long Yankee Homecoming Week to other smaller festivals. Newburyport is also well known for it's many fine restaurants. The firehouse theatre which has plays year round is right downtown. You'll also find live entertainment in the park on Friday and Saturday nights. The boardwalk area is fantastic!
Newburyport is the birth place of the U.S. Coast guard and was an active shipping port in days of old.
There are many whale watch and deep sea fishing excursions you can take the family on.
Like Portsmouth NH, Newburyport saw it's renaissance back in the late 60's. Before that it was as if these communities were of no interest to anyone. I remember as kid driving with my family out too Plum Island and going through downtown Newburyport on the way. There was nothing there! Just dirty old buildings and no people. Things have certainly change since then.
So spend the day, enjoy the ongoing activities and good food! Remember there is a sales tax in MA. Also, parking is quite limited so if your going on a weekend get there before 11am.
SPRING ON THE SEACOAST
Spring time on the Seacoast is probably the most frustrating season. Winter just does not want to let go! I think the last real spring we had was back in 1993. That year the temperature was at 65-70 from April first right through May. The last few years however we have gone from winter right into the monsoon season with endless rain and raw cold days. I remember one year I believe it was 1981 when we had seven inches of wet heavy snow on April 27th. The day before I was sitting on the beach. If your planning on spending Memorial Day weekend at Hampton Beach bring plenty of sweat shirts and rain gear. Although this is the official start to the summer season at the beach the weather does not very often cooperate. Because of the seabreeze we get right through June it can be seventy and sunny in Manchester NH and in the fifties at the beach. When we do have a good spring it's really spectacular with everything beginning to grow. Let's hope that this year we will have a real spring!
NOR'EASTER
Nor'easters or Northeasters are fairly common weather systems that we experience on the Seacoast of New Hampshire. As a matter of fact as I am writing this we are right smack in the middle of one! They usually occur when a low pressure system moving up the coast runs into either another system moving east to west or a Canadian cold front moving south into the warmer air. In winter they produce high winds from the northeast and heavy snow do to the fact the storm is picking moisture from the ocean. This one has gusts up to fifty miles per hour and produced snow fall at a rate of three inches an hour. If tides happen to be astronomically high, meaning the moons phase is producing it's strongest monthly gravitational pull, we can expect moderate coastal flooding along with some beach erosion. Not to say things will be under water, this usually means waves splashing over the seawalls and a few inches of water in low areas.
Many people who don't know any better can't resist the urge to head to the beach and see what's going on. Which is fine if you use common sense and stay on high ground. The innocent looking puddles are filled with salt water which is just great for your car. The splash over from the seawalls can engulf your car and they are filled with good size rocks that will break your windows. Also you may find many access roads closed so that clean up crews can do their jobs.
Most people will just head to the grocery store the day before and stock up on bread and milk. I could never understand that. Most of these people wouldn't buy bread and milk any other time! After stocking up most of us just stay in, read a book, watch a movie or even write in their Blog!
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SPRING CAN'T BE FAR OFF!!
The signs of spring are not in the air but you can still see them! Seacoast Harley-Davidson had their annual kick off to Daytona bike week over the last weekend. A ride up route one would have proved that. Traffic was backed up in both directions as the biker enthusisats made their way into the dealership. I'ts only a couple more months now before the beaches open up for the summer. Rental property is being reserved and help wanted ads are starting to show up in the papers. I can smell those sausage and peppers now! If you are considering a summer rental at the beach don't wait any longer. The choice locations and weeks are going fast.
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WHERE TO STAY?
If you are planning on spending every sunny day on the beach then you'll want to stay at one of the many beach hotels or motels. The best being the Asworth hotel on Ocean Blvd. If you have day trips in mind too some of the surrounding areas then the beach can be a pain in the butt to get in and out of do to the one way streets and traffic. By the way most local residents avoid Hampton Beach as much as possible because of this. Daytrippers should consider lodging on route one. You'll find several fine hotels and some not so fine motels. My suggestions are Lamies Inn (first choice) or the Inn of Hampton (second choice). Both are fine, it's just a matter of what your tastes are. Lamie's is a country style Inn with the Old Salt restaurant on the premises. The rooms are nice, the lounge is always busy and offers entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights. Sunday brunch is fantastic. The Inn of Hampton is just North on route one. The rooms are modern with chalet ceilings. They have an indoor pool if this is of interest to you. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner (a bit pricey for what you get) and the lounge is quiet.
Both of these hotels offer adequate parking, beach shuttle service and easy access to I-95.
The proximity to the highway is a big factor if you plan on making any trips to the malls or the mountains.
Just a note, there is not much for the kids to do in downtown Hampton so if you bringing kids the beach might be your best bet!!
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