Portsmouth NH Coastal Area – A Little Show and Tell

Seacoast New Hampshire Coastal Scenery

Seacoast NH Coastline

If you follow my blog and read my posts, you know I LOVE to show off this gorgeous Portsmouth New Hampshire area that I’m fortunate enough to call HOME!

And show it off, I do!

I thought I’d use this post to show off some of our beautiful New Hampshire coastline – rocky and sandy, and just as most would picture a New England coastline to be.

New Hampshire Coastline - Rye NH Portsmouth NH - Rye NH Caostline - Rye Harbor

We have the smallest coastline in America – so small that most people not from this area and/or New England don’t even realize New Hampshire has a coastline.  We do, and it’s all of 17-18 miles long, from the Massachusetts border to the Maine border.  In almost 2 blinks of an eye, you can travel 3 states right here, and if you make that drive along the Atlantic Ocean route, you’ll see some spectacular scenery.  I like to call this area “God’s Country” – it really is.  And yes, I know I’m a teeny tiny bit partial, but if you could see what I see, I think you’d agree with me and the rest of us who get to live right here in the NH Seacoast.

Rye Harbor Park - Rye NH Homes FILE0122-1

I hope you enjoy the coastal scenery I’ve posted here!

Rye NH Homes - Rye NH Coastline North Hampton NH Homes - Overlooking North Hampton Beaches

Rye Rocky and Sandy Coastline - Ann Cummings Portsmouth Harbor View

And if you’re interested in making this beautiful area your home, I would just love to show you how easy it is to fall in love with the Portsmouth NH area and find a new home or condo here in the Seacoast NH areas.

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Servicing the New Hampshire towns of Portsmouth, Newcastle,
Rye, North Hampton, Hampton, Stratham, Exeter, Greenland, Newington,
Dover, Durham and surrounding areas, and the Maine towns of Kittery,
Kittery Point, Eliot, South Berwick, York, and surrounding areas.
Would you like information on the Portsmouth New Hampshire real estate market? Do you have questions about the buying or selling process? Give me a call at 1-888-349-5678 x 3839 or send me an email and let’s talk real estate!

At HOME in New Castle New Hampshire

Welcome Home to New Castle NH

The Great Island - New Castle NH - Ann Cummings New Castle NH Copyright

As you can see from the sign that greets you as you drive into Newcastle NH, you’re driving onto a quaint and charming island community, dating back to the early 1600’s.  There are a good number of homes in Newcastle that date back to the 1600’s that are still being lived in.

From the narrow winding streets, you’ll see some stunning antique homes, gorgeous water views of the Piscataqua River or the back channel, and a slightly modern day view of what life might have been like back then.

New Castle was originally known as “The Great Island”, being the largest of several islands in the mouth of the Piscataqua River.  The Piscataqua River is the dividing line between New Hampshire and Maine, and has the third fastest river current in the world.

Newcastle is the smallest town in New Hampshire, covering only .8 square miles, which is roughly 512 acres or so, and the only town in NH located entirely on islands.  Surrounded by water, New Castle is connected to the ‘mainland’ via the causeway to Portsmouth and a drawbridge to Rye, both taking you over water and offering up even more delightful views of our great Seacoast here in New Hampshire.

New Castle NH- Great Island Common
The current population of New Castle NH is 1,100 residents, giving it a population density of 1,376 people per square mile.  The island residents love seaside living, and get to enjoy a wonderful ocean side park called owned by the town, “Great Island Common“.

Great Island Common is a 31 acre ocean side park, open to local residents for no charge.  Non-residents, during the summer season have access for a small charge.  What a great place for family gatherings, picnics, swimming, and more.

New Castle NH Beach - Looking out to the ocean

New Castle Beach is right next to The Common, making it a perfectly relaxing place to spend the day with friends and family.  Because it’s tucked away like it is, very few of the summer tourists that descend on the area find their way to this quiet relaxing spot of seaside serenity.

New Castle residents have their own elementary school, Maude H. Trefethen Elementary School, for the town’s children to attend.  They move on to Portsmouth for middle school and high school.  Children from kindergarten through 6th grade in New Castle attend this school.

The stunningly renovated Wentworth-by-the-Sea Hotel is located on New Castle.  This hotel is on the National Register for Historic Places, deservedly so.  The “Hotel Wentworth”, as it was originally named, was built atop a hill in 1874, and has fabulous views of the Little Harbor and the Atlantic Ocean.  The 1905 Treaty of Portsmouth, which ended the Russo-Japanese War, was negotiated here by President Theodore Roosevelt.

Coast Guard Station New Castle NH - Ann Cummings New Castle NH Copyright

A quaint quiet fishing village for most its existence, New Castle has played an important role in our country’s history.  Home to an actively operating Coast Guard Station, Newcastle is home to the historic Fort Constitution site and to the historic Fort Stark site.

Ft. William and Mary Historic Marker - New Castle NH - Ann Cummings New Castle NH Copyright
Fort
Constitution overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and the Piscataqua River, and was originally named Fort William and Mary.  This fort played a great role in the Revolutionary War.   Fort Stark was one of seven forts built to protect the Portsmouth Harbor.

Originally these forts were built to protect the colonists, but as the area’s importance in the ship-building industry grew and as the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard grew, the importance of these forts grew as well, and they all underwent major fortifications.

If you love history, be sure to check out the links to these forts, as there’s some great information in there not only about these forts, but others in the area.  The forts in the NH Seacoast area played major roles for our country.

Newcastle NH - Ann Cummings Copyright 2008

New Castle New Hampshire is such a charming seaside town.  If you’re looking for island living and you want to be close to everything, you just might want to consider making New Castle NH your next home.

Newcastle NH may just be the perfect little community for you!  Beautiful towns in the Seacoast area of New Hampshire make finding your next dream home here easy – if you’re ready to start your search, I’m ready to help you as your New Hampshire REALTOR!

Come for a visit and you’ll soon find you’ll want to make this area YOUR HOME – you can then be AT HOME IN NEW CASTLE NEW HAMPSHIRE!!

Once you’re here, this area just makes you fall in love with it, and this just helps to make my job as your New Castle NH REALTOR that much more enjoyable to ensure you have as smooth a move as possible!

It’s no wonder so many people love living here in this area of NH and making it their HOME!  If you’re interested in learning more about making New Castle NH home – I’m ready to help you do just that!

Give me a call or send me an email, and let’s get started!!

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Servicing the New Hampshire towns of Portsmouth, Newcastle,
Rye, North Hampton, Hampton, Stratham, Exeter, Greenland, Newington,
Dover, Durham and surrounding areas, and the Maine towns of Kittery,
Kittery Point, Eliot, South Berwick, York, and surrounding areas.

Send me an email or give me a call at 1-888-349-5678 ext 3839.

Would you like information on the Portsmouth New Hampshire real estate market? Do you have questions about the buying or selling process? Give me a call at 1-888-349-5678 x 3839 or send me an email and let’s talk real estate!

Portsmouth NH Homes – Lilacs Abound Everywhere

Portsmouth New Hampshire Homes Show Off State Flower – Lilacs!

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Lilacs are the state flower of New Hampshire, and one quick drive through town, and you’ll clearly see them all around Portsmouth NH homes.  For several weeks each May, the intoxicating scent of lilacs is all around you here in the NH Seacoast as well as all around the state…..breathe deeply……………ah….  I love that fragrance!

The first lilacs introduced into NH came to use via England in the 1750’s.   Royal Governor Benning Wentworth wanted them to showcase his Portsmouth NH historic home, now known as The Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion.  Every summer, this historic home in Portsmouth is open for free tours, and each May you can see the lilacs bursting with those fragrant little flowers, descendents of the original lilacs brought over in the 1750’s.

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The most common lilacs you’ll see around homes in Portsmouth NH are the lavender, deep purple and white lilacs.  In the last few years, light pink lilacs have been showing up, and I saw a couple of yellow lilacs recently as well.  Those are really beautiful, and striking when you see them because they’re not very common varieties of lilacs.  They smell just as beautiful as the more common colors.

This year’s Lilac Festival will be May 29th, from 10am to 4pm.  You’ll be able to buy beautiful lilac bushes, lilac-themed gifts, and refreshments.  Tours of The Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion will be offered, as well as the opening of an art exhibition.  The festival is free to all who attend, donations are most certainly welcome, so feel free to donate whatever you feel being able to see and smell this beauty is worth to you!

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Whenever I’m near lilacs, I can’t help put gather a branch, pull it to me, and breathe in deeply that heady lilac scent.  I can never get enough!  Fortunately for me, I have my own lilac bushes around my own Portsmouth home.

I wish I could put a ‘scratch and sniff’ tool on my post so you could experience their fragrance as well…. who knows, some day soon ‘scratch and sniff’ may be a tool that comes with all computers.  As a friend always said, “if we can think it, someone somewhere has or will create it’.  I’m waiting!!

If you’re interested in buying or selling homes or condos in the Portsmouth NH real estate market, let me know. I love helping people achieve their real estate goals!

Once you’re here, this area just makes you fall in love with it, and this just helps to make my job as your Portsmouth NH REALTOR that much more enjoyable to ensure you have as smooth a move as possible! Give me a call or send me an email, and let’s get started!!

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Servicing the New Hampshire towns of Portsmouth, Newcastle,
Rye, North Hampton, Hampton, Stratham, Exeter, Greenland, Newington,
Dover, Durham and surrounding areas, and the Maine towns of Kittery,
Kittery Point, Eliot, South Berwick, York, and surrounding areas.

Send me an email or give me a call at 1-888-349-5678 ext 3839.

Would you like information on the Portsmouth New Hampshire real estate market? Do you have questions about the buying or selling process? Give me a call at 1-888-349-5678 x 3839 or send me an email and let’s talk real estate!

At HOME in Rye New Hampshire

At HOME in Rye NH

Rye NH Coastline - Homes in Rye New Hampshire FILE0124-1

Rye New Hampshire is a beautiful scenic small town located right on the coast of NH.  We have the smallest coastline in the country, and it’s just beautiful!  Our small 17 mile long coastline is just as most picture New England’s coast – some rocky coastal areas and some beautiful sand stretches of beach.

Rye New Hampshire - Rye Harbor - Lobster and Fishing Boats
Our coastline offers some wonderful scenery and beautiful peaceful settings along the coastal route of Route 1-A, which follows the ocean.  You’ll find great fishing spots, as well as whale-watching trips and deep-sea fishing cruises, all from Rye Harbor.

The drive along Route 1-A, Ocean Boulevard, is so tranquil, it can really soothe your soul.  It’s one of my favorite drives, and is a favorite of most locals.

There are some truly stunning Rye homes along this drive, most were built as summer homes in the Victorian times.  Today, many of these Rye NH homes are now used as year-round residences.

Rye NH became the summer playground for the rich and famous during the early 1900’s for many years.  Many of the local residents today can trace their roots many generations back to the early settlers of Rye.

Students in Rye attend Rye Elementary School and Rye Junior High School, and then go on to Portsmouth High School, as part of the School Administrative Unit #50.  Rye Elementary covers pre-school through 5th grade, and Rye Junior High covers 6th grade through 8th grade.  The Rye PTA (Parent-Teacher Association) is very active, holding monthly meetings as the Rye Library during the school year.  They take to heart the Rye School System’s slogan of “every child – one voice”.

Rye NH is in a great location – right along the Atlantic Ocean, less than an hour’s drive south into Boston, and an hour north to Portland Maine.  Manchester NH and Manchester Airport is a 45 minute drive west, and loads of winter activities can be found within less than a 2 hour drive from Rye.  Portsmouth NH is the next town over, just a short few minutes drive away.

These pictures show a sampling of the beautiful homes in Rye NH:

Rye New Hampshire Homes Homes Rye NH Rye NH Homes

Come for a visit and you’ll soon find you’ll want to make this area YOUR HOME – you can then be AT HOME IN RYE NEW HAMPSHIRE!!

The beauty of this area just makes selling homes in the Seacoast areas of New Hampshire and southern Maine such a pleasure!

It’s no wonder so many people love living here and making Rye NH their HOME!  If you’re interested in exploring making Rye your home, I’m at your service!

Please give me a call at 603-431-1111 x 3839 or send me an email to Ann@AnnCummings.com. I’d welcome the opportunity to talk with you, find out your real estate needs, and offer you my real estate assistance!

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Servicing the New Hampshire towns of Portsmouth, Newcastle,
Rye, North Hampton, Hampton, Stratham, Exeter, Greenland, Newington,
Dover, Durham and surrounding areas, and the Maine towns of Kittery,
Kittery Point, Eliot, South Berwick, York, and surrounding areas.

Send me an email or give me a call at 1-888-349-5678 ext 3839.

Would you like information on the Portsmouth New Hampshire real estate market? Do you have questions about the buying or selling process? Give me a call at 1-888-349-5678 x 3839 or send me an email and let’s talk real estate!

At HOME in Portsmouth New Hampshire

Portsmouth NH – A GREAT Place to Call HOME!

It’s really very easy to fall in love with Portsmouth New Hampshire, and the whole NH and Maine Seacoast area! We have so much to offer both residents and visitors alike.

Welcome to Portsmouth NH!
It’s really very easy to fall in love with Portsmouth New Hampshire, and the whole NH and Maine Seacoast area!

We have so much to offer both residents and visitors alike.  As a matter of fact, many buyers I’ve worked with over time initially came here as visitors, returning again and again, and then decided to make Portsmouth their primary home.

And it’s no surprise they do, if you ask me!   ;-)

Five GREAT reasons to make Portsmouth YOUR home:

~~  Portsmouth has a terrific location!

We are right here on the coast of New Hampshire, just 45 minutesNew Hampshire Seacoast - Sandy and Rocky Beach south of Portland Maine and 45 minutes north of Boston, Mass.  The closest snow skiing is an easy 30-40 minute drive to Gunstock Ski Mountain.  The coast, with our beautiful beaches and Atlantic Ocean, is right here at our doorstep.   We’ve got great highway access for all major commuter routes, airports in 3 cities are less than an hour’s drive and we have a small airport right here in Portsmouth, Amtrak rail service is just 15 minutes away.

~~  Portsmouth is just full of all kinds of things to do year-round!

We’ve got parks, multiple theaters and venues for all kinds of productions – plays, musicals, concerts, etc.  Loads of shopping abounds all over the place, and we’ve got just about every kind of dining right here in Portsmouth that you can think of!  Spring through Fall, our Seacoast Farmer’s Market runs every Saturday - a great place to buy fresh local produce, make new friends, and meet up with old friends.

~~  Portsmouth has great schools!

And those great schools include a beautifully renovated and expanded high school.  We have 3 wonderful elementary schools, serving the various neighborhoods around town.  And to add to all that our schools have to offer, we have a brand new beautiful library right next door to the Middle School.  In addition to our great schools right here, we’re only a few minutes away from the University of New Hampshire, located in Durham.  UNH has one of the prettiest college campuses you’ll ever see!

~~  Portsmouth offers great housing opportunities!

And we’ve got homes of all kinds, with a home to fit everyone’s needs.  Being in New England, we have all kinds of antique homes as well as lovely new construction homes, and everything in between.  We’ve got great condos – both conversions as well as newly built, in all price ranges.  We have plenty of homes for buyers to choose from, and with today’s interest rates what they are & prices a little lower than they were last year, it’s a GREAT time to be a buyer!

~~  Portsmouth‘s economic environment is great!

We’ve got many great businesses here in Portsmouth and the surrounding areas.  Over the last few years, a number of high-tech businesses have relocated to this area, causing this area to be dubbed the “e-Coast“.  Our downtown area has free wireless set up, a perfect environment for businesses and business people who love being downtown.  They are looking into expanding this further to encompass more of the downtown area as well going into some of the neighborhoods close to downtown.  Plus here in New Hampshire, we have NO income tax nor do we have a sales tax!!

Portsmouth NH - Prescott Park Gardens and Pier - Piscataqua River

There are so many other reasons to convince you Portsmouth is a great place to call home – you just have to come see for yourself why so many of us just love making our homes in Portsmouth!

Come to visit – come to STAY because you’ll want to make Portsmouth New Hampshire YOUR home!

Once you’re here, this area just makes you fall in love with it, and this just helps to make my job as your Portsmouth NH REALTOR that much more enjoyable to ensure you have as smooth a move as possible!

If you’re interested in buying or selling homes or condos in the Portsmouth NH real estate market, let me know.  I love helping people achieve their real estate goals!

Give me a call or send me an email, and let’s get started!!

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Servicing the New Hampshire towns of Portsmouth, Newcastle,
Rye, North Hampton, Hampton, Stratham, Exeter, Greenland, Newington,
Dover, Durham and surrounding areas, and the Maine towns of Kittery,
Kittery Point, Eliot, South Berwick, York, and surrounding areas.

Send me an email or give me a call at 1-888-349-5678 ext 3839.

Would you like information on the Portsmouth New Hampshire real estate market? Do you have questions about the buying or selling process? Give me a call at 1-888-349-5678 x 3839 or send me an email and let’s talk real estate!