New Castle · Grand hotel
Wentworth by the Sea
A restored 1874 grand hotel on an island at the harbor mouth, with a spa and ocean views. The romantic splurge.
Official details for Wentworth by the SeaNew Hampshire · Couples · Two nights
Portsmouth
A colonial harbor town with a great food scene.
Founded in 1623, Portsmouth is one of America’s oldest towns, with brick streets running down to a working harbor. Walk the historic houses of Strawbery Banke, eat oysters and tapas downtown, cruise out to the Isles of Shoals and stay at a grand 1874 hotel by the sea.
Historic harborFood townGrand hotel
YOUR ROUTEKMYR to KPSM
STRAIGHT-LINE DISTANCE~680 NM
ILLUSTRATIVE FLIGHT TIME~4 hr 48 min
WEEKEND STYLETwo nights · Rental car + walks
Time illustration: direct distance at 150 KTAS plus 15 minutes for departure and arrival, matching the discovery page. Use ForeFlight for your actual flight plan.
01 / Aviation & getting around
Land at a former Air Force base.
KPSM, Portsmouth International at Pease, is a towered former Air Force base with a long runway, about 10 minutes from downtown.
The FBO
Port City Air is open 24 hours. Ask about rental cars, parking and fees. No live fuel price is shown.
Boston’s Class B airspace lies to the south. Coastal fog is common. About 680 nm from Myrtle Beach, so plan a fuel stop. Review the sectional and current NOTAMs.
02 / Where to stay
Downtown or by the sea.
Rates and availability need travel dates.
Downtown · Boutique
The Hotel Portsmouth
A boutique hotel in an 1881 Queen Anne mansion, a short walk from Market Square.
Official details for The Hotel PortsmouthWaterfront · Casual
Ale House Inn
A small, modern inn in an old brewery warehouse, next to Strawbery Banke.
Official details for Ale House Inn03 / Where to eat
Two dinners. One seafood lunch.
Portsmouth has more good restaurants than most cities its size. Reserve weekends.
Friday dinner · Tapas
Moxy
Inventive small plates of New England ingredients, a downtown favorite.
Official details for MoxySaturday dinner · Oysters
Row 34
Oysters, lobster and craft beer in a lively room by the river.
Official details for Row 34Lunch · Seafood
Jumpin’ Jay’s Fish Café
A small downtown fish café with a changing daily menu.
Official details for Jumpin’ Jay’s Fish Café04 / Things to do
Four centuries by the harbor.
Walk, eat, and get out on the water.
Strawbery Banke Museum
Ten acres of historic houses and gardens from four centuries of the neighborhood’s life. Seasonal.
Museum informationPrescott Park & Market Square
Waterfront gardens, summer arts festival and the shops and cafés of the old town center.
USS Albacore
A sleek 1950s experimental submarine you can walk through, a few minutes from downtown.
Visit informationIsles of Shoals cruise
Harbor and island cruises leave from downtown in season, past lighthouses and forts.
New Castle & the coast
A drive over the bridges to New Castle, Fort Constitution and Odiorne Point.
Optional / Spa & relaxation
The spa at Wentworth by the Sea · Time for two
The grand hotel’s spa offers couples treatments with views of the harbor and the sea.
Booking: Ask about couples treatments, access for non-guests, current pricing and cancellation policy. No prices are shown here, and no appointment has been booked.
05 / What’s happening
Sometimes the season is the reason to fly.
This prototype links to the local visitor site. It does not yet match events to your travel dates.
Summer
Prescott Park Arts Festival
Outdoor concerts and shows on the waterfront.
October
Fall color & harvest
Crisp days, quieter streets and seafood season.
December
Candlelight Stroll
Strawbery Banke’s holiday evenings of candlelit historic houses.
Concerts, festivals & local happenings
Check the local calendar when choosing a weekend, and confirm dates and tickets with the organizer.
06 / Suggested itinerary
Friday in. Sunday home.
A sample Friday–Sunday weekend: history, the harbor and two excellent dinners. No bookings or availability confirmed.
Day trip version
Just for the day
- Arrive
Land at KPSM mid-morning and ride downtown.
- Midday
Strawbery Banke and lunch on the harbor.
- Afternoon
Market Square and Prescott Park, then back to the FBO.
FRI
Arrive & downtown
- Arrival
Land at KPSM, subject to weather, your fuel stop and your actual flight plan, and pick up the car.
- Afternoon
Check in and walk Market Square and Prescott Park.
- Evening
Dinner at Moxy.
SAT
History & the water
- Morning
Strawbery Banke.
- Afternoon
Lunch at Jumpin’ Jay’s, then a harbor cruise or the spa.
- Evening
Oysters and dinner at Row 34.
SUN
The coast & home
- Morning
USS Albacore, or a drive to New Castle.
- Before leaving
Return the car and allow time at the FBO.
- Fly home
Let weather and your flight plan set the departure.
Longer stay · Add a day
With an extra day
- Morning
A cruise to the Isles of Shoals.
- Afternoon
The coast road to Rye and Odiorne Point.
- Evening
Dinner and the spa at Wentworth by the Sea.
07 / Good to know
Keep the weekend easy to change.
These details make the difference between an appealing list and a usable getaway.
Book in this order
Lodging and a car first, then dinners.
Fuel stop
Plan a fuel stop for most piston aircraft.
Seasons
Strawbery Banke and harbor cruises are seasonal.
Coastal weather
Fog and sea breezes are common. Keep a backup day.
Reviewed · Destination 39
Reviewed November 3, 2026.
Picks and links reviewed by WingAway Weekends. Hours, prices, menus and availability change often, so confirm directly with each place before booking. Spotted something out of date, or have a favorite we missed? Email us at [email protected].
WingAway Weekends helps you discover the destination. Use ForeFlight and current official aviation information for route, performance, weather, NOTAMs and preflight decisions. Flight planning and PIC responsibility stay with the pilot.