You’ve made your home in Portsmouth, now you need to acquaint yourself with the area and take advantage of all the seacoast has to offer. We want to assist you in making a home here and establishing yourself as a bonafide local. Below are some useful fundamentals to help you along the way.
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Home Improvement:
Now that you have your home, it’s time to spruce it up a bit. The Portsmouth area is home to a number of familiar chain stores and local establishments for your home improvement needs. For home items ranging from custom window treatments to Ralph Lauren paint, you won’t have to look far.
105 Bartlett St., Suite 4
Portsmouth, NH 03801
Phone: 603-427-2890
Shopping:
You may be thinking that "small town" is synonymous with a lack of shopping opportunities. Fortunately for all you shop-o-holics, Portsmouth’s Fox Run Mall boasts an extensive list of stores, including Filenes, JC Penny, and Macy’s. For something a little more unique, downtown Portsmouth offers plenty of quaint boutiques and antique shops. And for bargain hunters, don’t miss the Kittery Outlets – just over the Maine bridge.
Off of coastal Route 1,
from I-95: exits 3 and 4
Phone: 207-439-4367
Getting Around:
Finding your way around a new area is often a challenge. Unfamiliar landmarks and roadways can be confusing. Let us make this process easier for you by providing some useful tips.
1.) Location
Portsmouth is on the New Hampshire seacoast, about an hour north of Boston,an hour east of Manchester, N.H., and an hour south of Portland, Maine.
2.) Driving Directions
From the south: Take I-95 to Portsmouth. Exit 7. Turn east. Drive 1 mile.
From the north: Take I-95 to Portsmouth. Exit 7. Turn east. Drive 1 mile.
3.) Airports
Pease International Tradeport - Portsmouth and Newington, a public airport with Pan Am direct passenger service to Florida and Chicago
Logan International Airport, Boston - 55 minutes
Manchester (NH) Airport - 50 minutes
Portland (ME) International Jetport - 50 minutes
4.) Traffic circles
Depending on from what region of the country you hail, you may be wondering about these strange circular roads and how to survive them. The traffic circle, or “rotary,” is a common feature of New England roads. Don’t panic; simply enter the circle after yielding to oncoming traffic. Stay in the outside lane when approaching your exit, and signal to oncoming traffic before exiting.
5.) One way streets
Settlers established Portsmouth in 1623. In the days before automobiles, city planners designed streets with horse and buggy in mind. The result is an often confusing jumble of one way streets incompatible with modern driving conditions. Again, don’t panic – just follow the road signs carefully, and remember that it may be necessary to drive around the block.
6.) Parking
Finding a parking spot downtown can be a nightmare. If you cannot find a metered spot, the parking garage on Hanover Street is your best bet. Fortunately, parking is only 75 cents an hour, a bargain for a downtown area.
7.) Main roads and highways
I-95 – goes North-South
I-93 – goes North-South – through Nashua and Concord
Route 1/Coastal 1A – parallel to 1-95 – goes North-South, through town (becomes Lafayette Rd., then Middle St. and finally State St. to the River)
State St. – Houses many bars/restaurants – extends from historic Library to Prescott Park & Maine
Market St. – Main street through downtown with many restaurant and boutiques, culminating in Market Sq.
8.) Bridges – Most newcomers to Portsmouth comment on the large number of bridges around town. Due to the fact that water surrounds Portsmouth, there are 4 main bridges that you will probably encounter at some point in your commutes.
Interstate 95 Piscataqua River Bridge - also known as the "High Level Bridge" up river from Badger's Island.
Sarah Mildred Long Bridge - Middle lift bridge crossing the Piscataqua River and connecting Portsmouth and Kittery
Memorial Bridge – Lift bridge spanning the Piscataqua River, connecting downtown Portsmouth and Kittery, Maine.
Little Bay Bridges – Connect the seacoast and inland communities
Community Organizations:
Get involved! There is no better way to feel at home in a new community than to give back to it. Local organizations are a great way to contribute your time while meeting your neighbors. Fortunately, Portsmouth boasts a number of organizations to satisfy almost every interest. For a list of local organizations, click here: www.portsmouthnh.com/local/localsites.cfm?categoryID=43
