By: Kim Snyder, Interpretive Ranger for Southern Region Parks We’ve all been there: perfect day at the beach, perfect sandwich in hand, taking in the crash of the surf and soaking in the sun. Then… A gull steals your lunch! Just swoops down and plucks it right from your unsuspecting hand. The gulls tear into […]
Seacoast
Edge of the (New Hampshire) Sea
By: Kim Snyder, Interpretive Ranger for Southern Region Parks At the coast, sea life exists in a constant ebb and flow of water. The changing tides create dynamic habitats and specialized conditions that make living there a challenge for those not adapted to the area. In her guide to the seashore; The Edge of the […]
Sights of Shoals
By: Bethany Bryant, Interpretive Ranger at Bear Brook and Seacoast Parks Looking off of New Hampshire’s beautiful coast, a keen eye may notice a few rocky out-croppings in the distance. Those mysterious islands are none other than the legendary Isles of Shoals. You may be able to spy one or more of the nine islands […]
Roving the Southern NH Parks
By: Kim Snyder, Interpretive Ranger (Southern Region Parks) As the Discover Power of Parks Southern Rover, I have the pleasure of traversing the width of Southern New Hampshire weekly, seeing all kinds of environments and learning all about this diverse state. From the Seacoast to the Vermont boarder, New Hampshire abounds with wildlife and awe-inspiring […]
Salt Marshes of the NH Seacoast
Drive down New Hampshire’s seacoast, and the first thing you’ll notice is the ocean. Take a moment to turn away from the coast, though, and you’ll spot one of the seacoast’s more overlooked ecosystems; New Hampshire’s salt marshes. A salt marsh is a type of coastal wetland that is regularly flooded and drained by salt […]
A Visit to the Beaches
When many people think of the seacoast they often think of warm sunny days. Yet in New Hampshire, the cloudy days can be just as amazing. Recently, I was lucky enough to spend a day out on the ocean. I took some time to visit several state parks during my visit. Stopping at Wallis Sands, […]
Start with Parks: Lessons from the Trail
01.20.15 “I am losing precious days. I am degenerating into a machine for making money. I am learning nothing in this trivial world of men. I must break away and get out into the mountains to learn the news.”- John Muir For the fourth consecutive year, New Hampshire State Parks hosted “First Day […]
Sunken Forest at Odiorne Point
Our last summer weekend together as a family took us to the ocean. We arrived at low tide at Odiorne Point State Park in Rye. I seldom visit the seacoast to relax or sunbathe or enjoy bustling boardwalks. I visit it to hunt. And I visit it because no where else reminds me how […]
Walking on Water: Part 2
“The miracle is not to fly in the air, or to walk on the water; but to walk on the earth.” – Chinese Proverb You may remember last week’s account of a very fun (but also very wet!) tour of Hampton Beach State Park from the vantage of a stand-up paddleboard. After an hour on […]
Summer Rain Hiking at Odiorne Point State Park
It was my first real visit to the New Hampshire seacoast and I couldn’t wait to get out on the beach. I was ready with sunglasses and sunscreen. But mother nature had something else in mind. The forecast? Rain, rain, rain… Although it wouldn’t be the lazy beach towel and a book weekend I had […]