Archived Accolades
CN Traveler Best Things to Do in Portsmouth (June 2022)
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is a prime destination for year-round outdoor and cultural exploration…At just 16.8 square miles and 21,000 people, Portsmouth isn’t large. But its compact borders contain an alchemical blend of scenic landscapes, beautifully preserved historic architecture, and modern destinations for dining, shopping, and culture.
Only In Your State: 5 Most Historic Towns (April 2022)
Then of course there’s Portsmouth, one of the oldest towns in the United States. Browse the shops, eat delicious seafood, and drink your way through the breweries and pubs among gorgeous 18th-century buildings.
HGTV, Most Charming Towns: Portsmouth (February 2022)
These enchanting towns wow with nostalgia, history and plenty of tree-lined streets. In pulling together this list of 30 small town downtowns across the United States (and it was tough to narrow this list to just 30), we looked for vibrant towns where charm and style welcome you in and implore you to take a stroll to find out more about what makes each one tick.
Portsmouth is a great city, but knowing that it's also considered the most walkable in New Hampshire makes it even more lovable.
Toronto Star, Experience a Hallmark-worth holiday in the Christmas Capital of North America (Dec 2021)
This Christmas cheer is one of the major draws for the 300,000-plus overnight visitors who come to Portsmouth’s wider county each winter, ballooning the city’s population of 22,000.
The Travel, Best Living History Museum in NH (Dec 2021)
Portsmouth, the charming coastal city in New Hampshire, welcomes every year more than 9 million tourists who flock to the city to witness its marvelous attractions and take part in its unique activities.
The Travel, Portsmouth NH: Why you need a week to see this beautiful city (Dec 2021)
Portsmouth is the jewel of the seacoast region of New Hampshire and a beautiful town to visit in New England…Visitors to the city go shopping and fancy the dreamy historic architecture, refreshing water views, and delightful walks around the Market Square area.
World Atlas, 10 most scenic East Coast cities (Nov 2021)
As the name suggests, Portsmouth is a port city in New Hampshire that sits along the Piscataqua River. The city has ranked number six in the United States on National Geographic's traveler's list of historic places and has a rich colonial background. The city boasts scenic harbor views and a quaint colonial-style district full of historical buildings.
CNN.com, Best fall weekend getaways (Nov 2021)
If you’re looking for a quintessential New England fall experience, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, should be at the top of your list. One of the most historic cities in the United States, Portsmouth exudes historic charm wherever you turn… [with] an abundance of shops, restaurants, bars, galleries, museums and more that are sure to keep you occupied.
“Well-rounded is probably the key word for this city…”
Livability.com includes Portsmouth in the 2017 Top 100 Best Places to Live and The Best Cities for Entrepreneurs. Click here for more information.
“In Portsmouth, history, art, excellent cuisine and quaint cobblestone streets collide.”
April 3, 201.7 Click here for more information.
Testimonials
“Winter is a magical time in Portsmouth, N.H, with twinkling lights illuminating the cobblestone streets and roaring fireplaces warming the city’s finest restaurants.”
- Diane Bair and Pamela Wright
Portsmouth featured as destination to shake the winter blues, http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/travel/2017/01/05/weekend-getaways-shake-winter-blues/lj5PznrPJXTQtptWP0dNuL/story.html, January 6, 2017
“Portsmouth punches way above its weight level in terms of arts and culture,’’
Tom Holbrook, 46, cofounder of RiverRun Bookstore in http://realestate.boston.com/location-location-location/2017/02/14/like-live-portsmouth-n-h/. 2016
“Chefs from near and far have been coming to the shores of coastal Portsmouth, fueling a flavor-filled food revolution in the small town,”
http://www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-small-town-food-scene/ and
http://shark1053.com/usa-today-portsmouth-among-americas-best-small-town-food-scenes/ 2016
“Seriously, Portsmouth? You're going to be that perfect? So ideal that I ache, I envy and I curse my childhood for not including your idyllic splendor?”
- Josh Noel, from “New Hampshire getaway a feel-good stop on any East Coast roadtrip” http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-06-11/travel/sc-trav-0611-portsmouth-new-hampshire-20130611_1_portsmouth-town-square-n-h
“Portsmouth, New Hampshire is the most beautiful town in the US because its 22,000 citizens are as delightfully surprising as the oceanfront scenery, the 21,000 restaurant seats, the 300+ years of history, the imaginative arts scene and the variety of cultural experiences found here.”
Kathy Ginocchio
Portsmouth included in Collections Etcetera blog as one of the best 39 small towns worth visiting: https://blog.collectionsetc.com/2016/08/11/39-best-small-towns-in-america-worth-visiting-2016/ Aug. 11, 2016
“The white steeple of the North Church looms overhead, while the fine brick buildings on the north side represent one of the nation’s most attractive early-19th-century business districts;"
Portsmouth’s Market Square ranked one of top 15 prettiest in US by Travel and Leisure website; http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/americas-most-beautiful-town-squares/6; October 2014
“A historic seaport, founded by the captain of Portsmouth, England, that was once one of the nation's busiest seaports and shipbuilding cities. Today, it's the perfect summer destination, with vibrant culture, beautiful scenery, and tons of historic sites.”
Portsmouth listed as one of twelve coolest US road trip destination on buzzfeed.com, July 2014, http://www.buzzfeed.com/h2/osmo/fuze/coolest-small-cities-its-time-to-roadtrip-to
Portsmouth listed in Huffington Post link to Fodors.com 15 of New England's Most Picturesque Towns June 2014 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/fodors/15-of-new-englands-most-p_b_5317542.html?utm_hp_ref=destinations
“Portsmouth is more than a town. It is a living organism that absorbs you. It is a home where you feel big even when you are small. It is a community”
https://matadornetwork.com/trips/12-reasons-why-portsmouth-nh-is-the-most-underrated-american-city/ April 2015
“I love the small-town atmosphere in Portsmouth (it's actually one of the oldest towns in the US), and it has a nice array of shops, pubs, breweries, and restaurants.”
Gunnar Garfors,
“Portsmouth is blessed with an absurd selection of restaurants, cafes and ice cream parlors to ponder.”
http://travel.nytimes.com/2013/08/04/travel/36-hours-in-portsmouth-nh.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 article on 36 hours in Portsmouth- highlighting the walkability, diversity of activities and attractiveness of the City. 8/1/13
“As the creative capital of the Seacoast, Portsmouth is a city often sought after the way some dream of New York.”
From 10 best towns in New Hampshire to hang your hat in 2016. https://bluewatermtg.com/best-towns-to-live-in-new-hampshire/
“Portsmouth, NH, is the most appealing city in the Granite State,”
from Discovering the Dynamic City of Portsmouth, NH from http://www.mdmag.com/physicians-money-digest/lifestyle/ea-discovering-the-dynamic-city-of-portsmouth-nh
For more see
Portsmouth Ranked Second most - Tax Friendly NH City for Retirement, https://smartasset.com/retirement/new-hampshire-retirement-taxes#newhampshire May 2017
Millennial Personal Finance ranks Portsmouth in the top 500 cities for pet friendliness, April 2017 http://www.millennialpersonalfinance.com/pet-friendly-cities/
Portsmouth ranked 6th best place in New Hampshire to Raise a Young Family by Nerd Wallet Finance, December 2013 http://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/2013/best-towns-new-hampshire-young-families/
Portsmouth featured is USA Today article listing picturesque small towns in each state, http://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/travel/experience/america/fifty-states/2017/01/13/picturesque-small-towns-in-every-state/96554210/, January 13, 2017
Portsmouth ranked number 6 in The Most Underrated Beautiful US Cities by Alex Flux Feb 2014 http://news.nster.com/474-the-most-underrated-beautiful-us-cities-by-alex-flux.html?b=9
Forbes lists Portsmouth in Best Small Cities for Jobs 2016 https://www.forbes.com/pictures/573b8b9a31358e68498f73fc/no-14-portsmouth-nh-me-ne/#6c770e3551fd