I've lived in New England my whole life. I skip Newport for this other coastal city with great food, shopping, and history.

I love visiting Portsmouth, a charming coastal city in New Hampshire. Rebecca Strong As a New England native, I love vacationing in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In my opinion, the city offers the same charm as places like Newport but with a more laid-back vibe. Portsmouth has lots of great accommodations, restaurants, and historic sites to visit. Many travelers flock to New England destinations like Boston, Bar Harbor, and Newport for a weekend getaway. But as a Massachusetts resident who's spent my entire life living in and exploring New England, I've found myself returning to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, instead. To me, it offers the same coastal charm as its more popular neighbors but with a more laid-back atmosphere.