When you contemplate where you want to live, you think about amenities for living your BEST life. After all, you want to choose a place where you'll be happy. So, what sparks joy for you...food and fashion? Culture and community? Or perhaps wellness and nature? Those of us who call the Seacoast area home are drawn to the ocean. What we love about living here is the energy and excitement of city life (see Portsmouth NH Condos for sale) combined with the charm and friendliness of a small town (see Rye NH Homes for sale).
Here, we've compiled a list of the top 7 Seacoast amenities for living your best life...
WELLNESS
The Seacoast area is a hub for high-quality medical care and home to four major hospitals from Exeter Hospital to Portsmouth Regional Hospital and Mass General-affiliated Wentworth-Douglass Hospital to York Hospital. Rest assured, you always have access to top-notch services when you need them!
There's a growing community of holistic practitioners who offer a more natural approach to health and wellness. Women-owned Whole Life Health Care and Vibrant Health are two stellar examples of those providing primary and specialty care services to like-minded residents.
If 'self-care' is important to you, explore these unique Seacoast amenities for living your best life:
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Shilo Farm, a private sanctuary promoting wellness and a sense of community. Here, you can enjoy group classes (from yoga and tai chi to meditation and ping pong), unique workshops and retreats, potlucks, fires and seasonal celebrations.
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Flote, a healing wellness center offering float therapy, infrared sauna, massage, naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, sound meditation and yoga. Imagine floating in a pod filled with a foot of water and 1,000 pounds of epsom salt...it's a great way to relieve stress and experience deep relaxation. Trust us...we've tried it!
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Soleil's Salt Cave, a haven for self-healing where you can recline in an anti-gravity chair or lay directly in tons of Himalayan salt while experiencing the benefits of halotherapy. Essentially, you're breathing pharmaceutical salt which helps to clear congestion and inflammation.
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Jane Gee, a boutique with holistic products and services that nurture body and soul. Upon walking in, you'll likely be greeted by Jane herself...a friendly lady who genuinely cares about helping people become their best selves. From soaps and salves to bath bombs and body treatments, you'll love the quality here.
FITNESS
It's that time of year again...instead of making a resolution to get fit, make a long-term commitment to stay fit. Whether you're a hardcore fitness fanatic or a zen-seeking yogi, you'll find the same caliber classes and studios in the Seacoast area as in Boston...here are a few standouts!
Anyone looking to take their fitness to the next level should try Mission, a boutique studio with group classes in Portsmouth's West End. You can mix and match workouts to suit your vibe...from Yoga and Barre to Cycle and Strength, and Row to Recovery...it'll challenge you in all the right ways, transforming your body in the process.
If you have your 'thing' and like to stick to it, there's always Pure Barre, Cycle Fierce, 9Round and Blaze Yoga & Pilates. And, of course, we have Orange Theory, several former Crossfits (Great Bay Strength is a good one!), and independents Flight House Gym and Team Fitness Elite Strength. Finally, Seacoast Sports Clubs is a great all-around gym for anyone...including golfers who want to stay in shape during the offseason! Did you know there are more than TEN golf courses and country clubs within 15 miles of Portsmouth? Wentworth by the Sea is an icon.
Be sure to check Seacoast Lately's 2021 Fitness Guide for other suggestions.
FOOD
The Seacoast area is known as a legit foodie destination and Portsmouth, in particular, is purported to have more restaurant seats than residents! Twice a year, Restaurant Week draws locals and visitors out to enjoy a booming dining scene that's as diverse as it is delicious. Here are a few suggestions, but we're only scratching the surface...
For fresh bread and pastries served with a smile, it doesn't get better than Elephantine Bakery (those croissants!), Beach Pea Baking Co.(that fougasse!), and Lil's Cafe (the crullers!).
If you're seeking healthy takeout options, you'll love The Fresh Press (try 'Orange Is The New Juice', a delicious blend...mmmm), Laney & Lu (the 'Bee-you-tiful Smoothie Bowl' is off the charts) and Ohana Kitchen (can't beat the Spicy Crunchy Ahi Poke Bowl). When you need to get your 'veg' on, look no further than Green Elephant (we love the Thai ginger noodles).
For creative cuisine in an intimate setting, we suggest The Black Birch (start with the 'deviled eggs 3 ways'), The Carriage House (sit at the bar and try the cheeseburger with 'skinny fries'), and Otis.
Looking for a unique bottle of wine to go with a home-cooked meal? Stop by South Street & Vine in Portsmouth's South End, Corks & Curds or C'est Cheese for personalized service and the perfect pairing of wine, cheese and charcuterie!
FASHION
Many consider Portsmouth and the Seacoast area to be fashion-forward, with its unique and diverse collection of independent shops. Authentic fashion, whether new or vintage, is an integral part of the 'fabric' of this community...in fact, 3S Artspace and Portsmouth400 (more on these later) recently collaborated on 'Fashion Fusion - Mixed Era Fashions for a Modern Holiday' runway show and costume party, with great success!
Everyone's favorite local beauty boutique for makeup, skincare, and lifestyle products is Making Faces (check out the Barefoot Dreams wraps...positively dreamy!). Next door, you'll find Linda Taylor, a women's boutique offering timeless and on-trend styles from a carefully curated selection of designers.
Right in downtown Portsmouth, search for that flawless outfit at Bliss, Lizology, and Club Boutique & City Shoes, where you're likely to find the perfect pair of shoes. Don't forget to stop by Inside Out, which offers something for everyone (including four-legged friends!). If vintage and gently recycled are more your style, check out Wear House.
Beyond Portsmouth, Christine's Crossing of Rye is a staple for both women's and home fashion, and Exeter's LunaChics is a local favorite to shop for a new pair of jeans (the service is so good, they actually make the process fun).
CULTURE
The Seacoast area is a cultural hotbed, with an exciting visual and performing arts scene...not to mention many historical house museums. At the center of it all, The Music Hall is THE place to catch a show featuring some of the world's best-known and up-and-coming artists...from concerts and musicals to festivals (like Telluride by the Sea) and the Writers on a New England Stage series, we're fortunate to have it in our backyard! And if you love top-tier jazz and blues, be sure to check out Jimmy's for an extraordinary dining and entertainment experience in a stunning, state-of-the-art club.
There's even more to enjoy in the summertime when Prescott Park Arts Festival and Ogunquit Playhouse open for the season. The arts festival takes place outside in a waterfront park, where you can enjoy a picnic while watching films, concerts and musicals under the stars!
For history buffs, there's Strawbery Banke, a living history museum of 32 houses and 10 gardens, which transforms into a giant fairy garden in September and a winter wonderland when The Labrie Family Skate at Puddle Dock Pond comes to life around the holidays. Not to be missed, the Discover Portsmouth Welcome Center at Portsmouth Historical Society is a great place to learn more about the area's history and cultural amenities, while enjoying the unique art displayed throughout its galleries...its most popular event is the annual Gingerbread House Contest & Exhibit (trust us, you'll be blown away by the creativity).
And then there's 3S Artspace, a contemporary arts venue showcasing bold, emerging art and entertainment...they have dance parties, raves, and Pecha Kucha nights, too!
COMMUNITY
By now, you've gleaned that we have a LOT of fabulous places to visit and things to do...there's also a very engaged resident population that collaborates on some epic community events! We've mentioned a few already, but there are plenty of others that you should know about...
In Portsmouth, each spring brings Children's Day, with Market Square Day following close behind to welcome the summer season. Fall ushers in the New Hampshire Film Festival and iconic Halloween Parade, where anyone can dress up, march and dance (if you haven't heard about the Thriller Dance, check it out here!). The holiday season kicks off with Vintage Christmas in Portsmouth and wraps up with First Night Portsmouth. And get ready...the city is preparing to celebrate its 400th anniversary in 2023! Keep up on all of the exciting developments here.
Other standout events include the Seacoast Road Race Series (late spring through late fall), Stratham Fair (mid-summer), Exeter UFO Festival (late summer), Hampton Beach Seafood Festival (late summer), Dover's Apple Harvest Day (early fall), and Seacoast Growers Association Farmers Markets (year-round).
NATURE
Last but not least, we are blessed with natural beauty! Bound to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, our land is further defined by a labyrinth of tidal waterways. You'll find many conservation-minded people throughout the Seacoast area (affiliated with wonderful organizations such as Southeast Land Trust) who are dedicated to preserving and protecting our natural resources. And we embrace our four seasons, celebrating each by getting outside to enjoy all they have to offer!
Three of our most diverse, beautiful and popular parks are Rye's Odiorne Point State Park (home to Seacoast Science Center and Atlantic Grill Music by the Sea summer concert series), New Castle's Great Island Common and Kittery Point's Fort Foster.
What's your pleasure? If you like to...
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Walk through the forest with your best pup, you can't beat the Urban Forestry Center and Mt Agamenticus
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Mountain bike, check out Stratham Hill Park and Exeter's Fort Rock
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Enjoy unique outdoor art, Kensington's Alnoba and Lee's Bedrock Gardens are amazing
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Meander through beautiful gardens, visit North Hampton's Fuller Gardens and Portsmouth's Prescott Park
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Explore the ocean and local islands, visit the Isles of Shoals for a day or book yourself for a retreat
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Relax on the sand or ride the waves, there are many beautiful Seacoast Beaches to enjoy...spend a little time here and you may want to move or buy a vacation home in one of Rye's Beach Neighborhoods!
For more information about Seacoast amenities for living your best life, please contact a member of our real estate sales team. At Tate & Foss Sotheby's International Realty, we pride ourselves on having in-depth knowledge of our market area. We'd like to share that insight with you.
