Hampton Beach is New Hampshire's liveliest stretch of coastline — a compact, old-school beach resort about 15 miles south of Portsmouth on the Atlantic. It draws crowds all summer with a wide sandy beach, a boardwalk lined with fried dough stands and souvenir shops, and the kind of seaside carnival atmosphere that bigger resort towns have long since polished away.
Ocean Boulevard runs the length of the beach, packed with arcades, ice cream parlours, and seafood shacks. The Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom — not a casino at all, but a storied concert venue — hosts national acts throughout the summer. On Wednesday nights the beach puts on a free fireworks show that is one of the best on the New England coast. Hampton Beach State Park at the northern end of the strip offers a quieter alternative to the main boardwalk.
Outside peak season the village is quiet, the beach nearly empty, and the sunrises over the Atlantic are worth the drive alone.