Hampton Beach

Walk the sands of a laidback stretch of New England beach

Mild weather and calming ocean breezes characterize Hampton Beach, New Hampshire. Situated on the southern edge of the state, less than an hour north of Boston, the seaside hamlet once bore the name Atlantic City of New England.

Hampton Beach State Park is a pristine mashup of sand and sea that’s perfect for swimming, sunbathing, fishing and camping. Families are the focus of many attractions in Hampton Beach; the Hampton Beach Playground has entertained little ones since the 1920s, and it is also home to the annual Children’s Festival, where kids and kids at heart enjoy magic shows and a giant costume parade.

Seafood for All

Hampton Beach loves a good party, and the Hampton Beach Seafood Festival draws crowds to taste the finest fare that area restaurants have to offer. Other summer attractions here include free concerts at Seashell Stage, the Beach Master Sand Sculpting Competition, and several talent shows. Fireworks are a weekly occurrence in the summer, too.

Swirl around the village’s tallest ride and make a splash at the Cascade Waterslide. Comprised of three slides—all with ocean views—Cascade Waterslide sits near the Hampton Beach Casino. This family-friendly event center features indoor mini golf, an arcade and a casino room for adults where profits go to support local causes.

Hampton Beach is the proud home of one of the nation’s “first period” colonial homes, the James House. Built near salt meadows in 1723, the home of Benjamin James is considered by many to be the earliest surviving example of a two-room, center-chimney colonial. The home undergoes frequent preservation efforts and is where the James House Association Players perform living history for visitors.

More Hampton Beach history is found at the village’s Tuck Museum. The collection of buildings, monuments and exhibits is found throughout Hampton Beach and consists of a historical garden, paintings by native artist Charles Henry Turner, and dozens of artifacts from the village’s early days.

Fire Department History

The establishment of a fire department helped secure Hampton Beach’s reputation as a vacation destination, and the Seacoast Fire Museum pays homage to the efforts of local firefighters to keep visitors and residents safe year-round. The museum houses a 19th-century pumper truck, a collection of antique alarms and other exhibits.

Don’t stay ashore too long when you’re in Hampton Beach.  Whether you’re into sports fishing or whale watching, Hampton Beach charters are plentiful. Whales are most often spotted off the coast of New Hampshire between July and September, and deep-sea fishing is a popular pastime between April and mid-December—expect to cast lines for haddock, pollock, mackerel and striper.

Back on dry land, you can learn more about the mysteries of the deep at Hampton Beach’s Blue Ocean Discovery Center. The center is open June through September to aid in marine conservation through education and hands-on activities. Get to know sea creatures up close and personal in the touch tank, and tag along on an afternoon tide line walk with knowledgeable staff.

For More Information

Hampton Beach

www.hamptonbeach.com

New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism

603-271-2665

www.visitnh.gov