6 Ideas to Find the Fun in Portsmouth

Image by Brett Hammond from Pixabay

If you want to plan a packed out itinerary for your time in Portsmouth, that’s a great way to do it, and we can help. If you want to fly by the seat of your pants, that’s just as great. Portsmouth has a bit of everything with various ways for you to play, hang, and try something new. Start planning your days with a few of the places known as go-to spots to find some fun or make your own. 

Four Tree Island

Four Tree Island is not really an island at all, is very accessible, and a gem of a park that is just off the beaten path but still right in the mix of the Portsmouth scene. Hosting a number of picnic tables and BBQ grills for visitors to use, the park is an ideal spot to relax with a picnic while you enjoy the waterfront, grassy play areas. The park is open from dawn to dusk, making the perfect destination for your morning run or bike ride, a nice place for an afternoon kayak or maybe even do some fishing, or catch a fiery coastal sunset here with family and friends with the always beautiful Piscataqua River backdrop.

Prescott Park

Portsmouth’s Prescott Park has long been a staple to this community but has still grown so much year after year - the events, the gardens, the historic tours and sites, the waterfront, the various arts programming and shows - fun can be found here. The 10-acre waterfront park is home to extravagant gardens, sculptures and local history that sits right on what had become an unattractive former industrial area of historical Portsmouth. The park hosts a number of events each season that highlight local art, music and more, but is a year-round gathering space to post up, read a book, or just stroll and enjoy the day. Bring your camera as there are various spots to snap pictures of your visit, the flowers and the river will provide a camera roll of memories for you to look back on fondly.

Monkey Mind Escape Rooms

Once voted as the #1 thing to do while in Portsmouth, the escape room experience by Monkey Mind will challenge, surprise, and even get the adrenaline going. Bring a date, a wedding party, a group of friends or colleagues and stimulate those brains with a fun and rewarding puzzle pursuit. Don’t be afraid to try something new, put yourself to the test and see what you’ve got!

Vent Smash & Splatter Rooms

How are you feeling? Let the folks over at Vent know, as they invite you to express yourself in whatever way that may be. Vent Activity Rooms will actually welcome you to get crazy, a little chaotic, and yes, break stuff. Their Portsmouth location has specially designed ‘smash’ and ‘splatter’ rooms as a way for guests to relieve stress, create ‘beautiful chaos’ as they describe it, and of course have some fun releasing that emotion via creation and destruction. A unique experience to say the least, whatever it is, get over there and Vent about it.

The Goat

You can always bet on the fun and lively scene for a good time at The Goat. If burgers and whiskey pique your interest, look no further than this classic-country vibe in downtown Portsmouth. With live entertainment every day of the week, The Goat is bringing the fun when others might not be open, when the seasons change, when it’s closing time… good times keep rollin’ at The Goat.

Bonus: they have a real treat for us this holiday season that invites guests to join them in their holiday festivities - for the first time ever, the Christmas themed Miracle Pop-Up Bar is coming to The Goat Portsmouth! Starting November 29th through January 2nd, Miracle at The Goat will be the first ever and only New Hampshire location and will feature festive cocktails, over-the-top decorations and some special surprises for those in attendance - plan your stay and join the fun!

Part of having fun in Portsmouth is experiencing each pocket of culture in this little city - the old and the new, the premium frills with the tried and true classics. Whether you want to mingle with the dive bar crowds, seek out what’s hip and happening, or find something social with friends, one of the best ways to do just that is to play games and join in on some good, friendly competitive spirit.

Legends

As a local watering hole and a must stop on the dive bar tour when it comes to games, Legends Billiards & Tavern is the place to play. The beer is cold, the jukebox is jammin’, and the TV’s are playing every sports program you could want to watch while you flex your skills on the pool table or dart board. The location serves as a spot to start, continue, or end your evening, so the crowd continues to grow as the night goes on.