8 Reasons to Vacation in Hampton Beach This Summer
Hampton Beach is a honkytonk seaside resort town located along New Hampshire’s 18-mile stretch of Atlantic coast and is a popular tourist destination for visitors from all over the U.S. and overseas. It’s easily the busiest beach community along the Seacoast and during the summer weekends, it’s not uncommon to see this 2,300 resident community swell to 150,000+ people. Ocean Boulevard, the main street along the beach, includes a boardwalk, shops, restaurants, patios, hotels, an outdoor concert venue, arcades and the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom, which consistently hosts national acts. New England is full of beautiful beach communities located in places like Cape Cod, Maine and Rhode Island but Hampton Beach is truly unique and continues to experience stunning development, new businesses and increased visitors year-over-year. Here are 8 reasons to vacation in Hampton Beach this summer⤵
Location – What makes Hampton Beach so special is it’s convenient location to many of New England’s top day trips. In less than 60 minutes you can visit Portland ME, Portsmouth NH, Newburyport MA, York ME, New Hampshire’s White Mountains and Lake Winnipesaukee, the largest lake in New Hampshire.
Beaches 🏖️ – Hampton Beach is well-known for consistently having some of the cleanest ocean water in the country, and there is more than one beach to enjoy when you’re in town. (1) Central Beach is busiest beach and located along the main boardwalk. This is the heart and soul of Hampton extending from Church Street down to Haverhill Avenue. It’s a wide, clean, sandy beach with award –winning lifeguards on duty. (2) North Beach tends to be a bit quieter, attracts the surfer community, has less parking and beautiful private homes. It’s located between High Street and a rocky point called Great Boar’s Head and is the longest beach in Hampton. (3) South Beach is tucked between Epping Avenue and the mouth of the Hampton Harbor. This quiet corner attracts campers, RVs and larger groups looking to get together.
Music🎵 – It’s hard to walk a block along the main strip without hearing live music playing from one of the local outdoor patios, bars or music venues. The Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom opened up in 1899 and attracts some of the top musicians and comedians. This year, appearances will be made by Trevor Noah, Citizen Cope, The Beach Boys, Jim Jefferies, KC and the Sunshine Band, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Foreigner and more. Other popular music venues include Bernie’s Beach Bar, which recently hosted Lil Jon and Jaysean, and Wally's Restaurant & Entertainment Venue. Also, there is always free nightly concerts at the Seashell Stage and local dining establishments during the summer months.
Food 🦞 – Many people travel to Hampton Beach solely to enjoy the food, with seafood being the main attraction. Fresh lobster, clam chowder, fried fisherman’s platters, lightly baked or blackened fish, scallops and oysters showcase at many of the local seafood restaurants. A matter of fact, every September Hampton Beach hosts one of the most popular festivals in the country, Seafood Fest, which attracts visitors from all over looking to enjoy the wide variety of seafood, actives and beach. Whether you’re looking for fine dining or casual grab-and go eating, Hampton Beach has options for everyone. Ashworth by the Sea boasts three great restaurants (Breakers, the Sand Bar, and Wharfside), The Sea Ketch Restaurant and McGuirk’s have been a staples on the strip for decades and The Boardwalk Café is a popular option as well. Wally’s and The Goat regularly offer fabulous food deals, like 10 cent wing Wednesdays and 2-for-1 burger Mondays. If you’re aiming for something on the lower end, enjoy “beach pizza” at Cristy’s, order wings from Farr’s Famous Chicken Beach Shack or indulge your sweet tooth at Blink’s Fry Doe.
Nightlife 🍹 – There is no shortage of nightlife choices in Hampton Beach, especially during peak season which runs from June through September. Hampton attracts a wide variety of people of all different ages and backgrounds, which is one of the reasons why going out and socializing in Hampton is so much fun. You’ll feel welcomed in any establishment, no matter who you are. Some of the most popular nightlife establishments include, Bernie’s Beach Bar (rooftop decks, DJs, bands and dancing), The Sea Ketch (4 levels of bars), Wally’s (billiards, darts and music), The Goat (whisky, beers, burgers and country music), L Street Tavern (karaoke), McGuirk’s (Irish Pub and live music) and Club Madison (dancing). This year, many residents and repeat visitors are eager for Tom McGuirk’s “Post 8” bar and restaurant to open up in early July.
Free Family-Friendly Events 🎆 – Hampton has always been a family-friendly beach destination due it’s fun events, arcades, mini golf and more. The Seashell Stage hosts more than 80 free nightly concerts during the season and throughout July and August, the Hampton hosts popular Monday Night Movies on the Beach with free shows starting at dusk. On Wednesday nights in the summer, and on special occasions, free Hampton Beach fireworks shows bring in families from all over. From midwinter penguin plunges to midsummer talent shows, there’s almost always something happening at Hampton Beach. Among the biggest events each season is the Sand Sculpting Competition in June, which brings more than a dozen master sand sculptors to Hampton Beach. Visitors are able to watch the creations take shape over the course of four days. The finished artworks are then illuminated for evening viewing for two weeks. And as previously mentioned, the annual Hampton Beach Seafood Festival marks the close of the summer season each year. Held the weekend after Labor Day, the festival supports multiple nonprofit organizations and attracts more than 150,000 visitors to what has been acclaimed as one of the top 100 events in North America by the American Bus Association.
Tax-Free Shopping 🛒 – New Hampshire is known for having no sales tax and this tax-free shopping in Hampton Beach is filled with unique boutiques selling jewelry, cloths, bags, toys, charms, and much more. Close by is Portsmouth, NH and the Kittery Outlets in Maine, both offering excellent tax-free shopping as well.
Water Sports 🐋 – As with many beach communities, there is no shortage of waters ports for vacationers to enjoy. Whale watching and deep-sea fishing are two of the most popular activities. Surfing along Hampton’s famous “North Beach Wall” also attracts many people. Sailing, kayaking, jet skiing, windsurfing, paddle boarding and parasailing are also available for those looking for an adrenaline rush.
If you’re planning a trip to the Seacoast’s famous Hampton Beach then let Seacoast Vacation Rentals help you with accommodations. We have condos and private homes for rent, for groups of 2-10 people, complimentary parking and nightly or weekly stays. To view our growing list of accommodations visit our properties page here!
