How long is hampton beach nh

We served , people the first week. We loved the fireworks and it was cool to play games in the Casino and very cool to hang out and scope out boys at the railing out front. I think of those first summers living there as some of the best years of my life. I love everything — the ocean, the sand and the kitsch. The cheap and other thrills are in every direction you look at Hampton Beach but you better come and get it while you still can.

Some see the recent upgrades to the Seashell Stage and other improvements as the toehold of gentrification. The strips at Revere and Nantasket beaches have disappeared, shouldered out of the way by waterfront condos. Can Hampton Beach be far behind? And, of course, there are motels. Farr's Famous Beach Shack is renowned for its chicken wings, Sal's Pizza boasts the "Biggest Slice on the Beach" and Big Steve's Italian Sausages have their fans too, but you don't have to succumb to the first neon sign that winks at you.

The beach also has some dining options for foodies who like to be waited on during their vacation. Ashworth by the Sea has three restaurants including the newly renovated Breakers Restaurant and Bar with a fine dining menu, oversized windows that are made for people and ocean watching and an upscale bar. Also great for ocean-view eating is the Purple Urchin — on the other side of the Casino.

Check out the Atlantic Avenue Bangers, a selection of local shellfish with Mornay sauce served on mashed sweet potatoes. You don't need a meteorologist to know which way the wind blows and you don't need a map to navigate the beach, after all it's a straight line of sand, surf and fun, but knowledge of local landmarks is helpful. The center of the action is the new bath houses , seashell stage and visitors information center centrally located on Ocean Boulevard. Across the street is the Hampton Beach strip with the restaurants, fast food outlets, hotels, motels and souvenir stands stretched out for a half a mile.

Behind the strip, parallel to Ocean Boulevard, is Ashworth Avenue , the "Back Strip" of delightfully small and sometimes weathered motels, hotels and bars like Wally's Pub , a favorite biker bar with live music and karaoke. Opened in , it's "Still a Classic," according to the sign. Head north and you'll hit the aptly named North Beach, a favorite of surfers and the location of condos and cottages where many of the long-term renters or owners stay. In addition to taking a plunge in the frigid North Atlantic, there are several other requirements for the full Hampton Beach experience.

Play skee-ball at the Funorama Arcade , which was built on the ground floor of the Casino Ballroom in and hasn't changed much in the intervening years.

Video games have been added to the pinball machines and other pastimes that can be played to accrue tickets redeemable for a trinket, plush toy or other prize. Drop by for a high-carb guilty pleasure at Blink's you gotta love the spelling Fry Doe. Blink's has two stands under the garish orange signs along the strip and offer a variety of toppings including tomato sauce, cheese, jimmies and garlic as well as the traditional cinnamon and sugar. What would a trip to the beach be without salt water taffy?

The salt water taffy at Mrs. Mitchell's Gifts features iconic Hampton Beach images on the red, blue and white box, including Boar's Head and the Lady of the Sea statue.

And you don't have to wait for Talk Like a Pirate Day to get up close and personal with the sword-wielding giant buccaneer that overlooks the fun at Buc's Lagoon Mini Golf — another must-do on your Hampton Beach vakay. In less than a decade, Hampton Beach gained an electric trolley, a bridge connecting Seabrook to Hampton Beach, the famous Hampton Beach Casino, and a bandstand across the street to attract thousands of tourists to this recreational center every summer!

Automobiles became available to everyone and driving personal cars and taking buses replaced the electric trolley as the preferred forms of transportation. Even after two destructive fires, Hampton Beach continued to grow and host a variety of spectacular events.

In order to maintain the beach, the town transferred its ownership rights to the State of New Hampshire in and Hampton Beach State Park was established. In , a memorial honoring sailors and soldiers lost at sea was built on the boardwalk and the bandstand was replaced by the Seashell complex in A multi-agency partnership completed the Hampton Beach Area Master Plan in to imagine the development of the beach over the next 50 years.

The state provides access for disabled persons with parking spaces at various locations, ramps, special beach wheelchairs, and a beach ramp that extends to the high tide line. There are regularly scheduled events on and near the Seashell Stage throughout the summer season including daily and weekly activities for children and families, nightly concerts, karaoke, talent shows, and fireworks. The annual Seafood Festival and Sidewalk Sales event, usually held for three days the weekend after Labor Day, has attracted over , people in the past.

Its attendance is dependent on the weather and has ranged from to 2, people. Hampton Beach State Park, located on the southeastern part of Hampton Beach, has a parking lot that can accommodate to cars, parking and hookups for 35 recreational vehicle campers, and a building complex that consists of a pavilion, bathhouse, several maintenance buildings, an administrative building, and a concession see Figure This part of Hampton Beach is quieter and has a more natural setting than the main section of the Beach.

Aside from the beach and rocks on the ocean side, many people use the breakwater for fishing and walking. Although several commercial businesses are located on the other side of Route 1A near the Hampton State Marina, they do not seem to influence uses at this beach area. It has a parking area for vehicles and trailers, a boat ramp, and several docks and piers.

Several businesses, including whale and fishing charters, and a bait and tackle shop, lease space at this location. A detailed description of this area begins on page 48 in the chapter titled Hampton Harbor and the Waterfront. Faced with a growing budget crisis in , the Legislature passed Chapter , Laws of establishing a State Park Fund to provide an adequate level of service and maintenance in the State Park system. This Fund is capitalized by the revenues that the state park system generates.

These revenues include park entrance fees, season passes, retail store sales, group reservations, shelter rental, parking meter revenue, parking fines, leases, and special use permits.

Through this legislation a non-lapsing State Park Fund was created into which all park revenue is deposited. Any surplus income in excess of budgeted expenses may be spent on any park project or program, including for operations, maintenance, and capital expenditures, with the approval of the legislative Fiscal Committee and the Governor and Executive Council. Since its inception, the State Park Fund has had positive net operating income for six out of ten years, which has permitted the completion of numerous projects including land acquisitions, major campground improvements and development, an expanded marketing program, new parking meters, equipment purchases, replacement vehicles, and the Ameri-corps Program.

The budget for the state parks has varied over the past few years. Activities in the park include swimming, fishing, picnicking, and RV camping with full hook-ups in the campground. Dates and times are weather dependent and subject to change without notice.

For up to date hours, please call the park directly. This park is always open for recreation unless otherwise posted. During off hours and the off-season the park is typically not staffed, comfort stations are not available and gates may be closed.

The off-season poses unique risks inherent when participating in outdoor recreational activities. Recreationists should possess the necessary knowledge, skill, and equipment to ensure their own safety. Users assume all risk while recreating in State Park lands.