Isle of Shoals, Lighthouses, & Portsmouth Harbor Cruise

The Harbor Cruise - Join us aboard the Victorian style M/V Thomas Laighton and experience the fascinating legends of our legendary New Hampshire & Maine Seacoast. Little known but historically crucial, the legendary Isles of Shoals, located 9 miles off our coast, are an intriguing archipelago of 9 islands steeped with history.  As we glide through Portsmouth Harbor, we will see a unique working port with tugboats, tankers, the nation’s oldest and active naval yard, the closed castle-like prison- “the Alcatraz of the East”, our quaint Olde Port waterfront, a famous Grand Resort Hotel, 5 Historic Forts and 3 Lighthouses proudly guiding mariners safely through our waters. Our own Isles of Shoals historian will guide us through these same waters for the duration of the trip. 

A Great Meal at the Portsmouth Gas Light Company with a little history to boot!!

Welcome to The Grill at the Gas Light. Built in 1837, this building is the former home of the city’s first utility, the Portsmouth Gas Light Co. Over the last 170 years, it has stood the test of time-including Portsmouth’s “Great Fires.” If you look closely on the eastern wall, you can still see original brick charred by the fires. Today the restaurant is appointed with rich textures of wood, brick and copper paying homage to the Gas Light Company’s role in Portsmouth’s storied history. In fact, every week they burn more than a cord of aromatic wood in the brick oven kitchen to prepare their unique wood-fired bistro cuisine. We hope you’ll feel as at home at the Gas Light as we do.Once your lunch is completed take some time to browse the shops and sights within walking distance of the restaurant.

For guests that are not registering with a group, you will be notified of the closest departure point to where you live by 7/6/2023 or earlier.  If you are not satisfied with, or capable of reaching, the closest departure point for this program we will understand.  You will be cancelled from the event and issued a refund of all charges paid for the trip.   

No Refunds will be issued for cancellations, regardless of cancellation reason including but not limited to force majeure, health pandemics, or government restrictions after 7/7/2023.  Best of Times reserves the right to issue any refunds due in whole or in part in the form of Future Travel Credit.