Beautiful, flaky popovers and delicious coffee-inspired beverages: What could be more delightful? Popovers On the Square is perfect for a light breakfast, coffee break, or even dessert later in the day. Their Seven Layer Bars will take you through the seven gates of heaven.

If you're game for a big breakfast, this is the place to be in Portsmouth. Breakfast burritos and bloody marys all the way! While you wait for your orders, play "I Spy" with your table using the neverending supply of retro and eclectic artwork.

Explore a WWII-era research vessel that was a pioneer for the submarines of its day. Ahoy!

You haven't met your burger match made in heaven until you've been to Lexie's Joint. Juicy, hearty, and filled to the brim with an array of interesting toppings, you can order a "Beef," Cluck" (ground chicken with chimmichurri), or "Beanie" (Black Bean/Pepper/Onion/Panko). Make sure to try their Salt Cellar fries, which come with a variety of mouth-watering toppings paired with premium flavored salts from another local Portsmouth business called the Salt Cellar. Every order comes with a diminuitive and delicious chocolate chip cookie.

Travel back in time as a visitor of this 10-acre outdoor history museum. Learn about everything from architecture to heritage plants from the past four centuries. Active duty military and their families have free admission every day from May 1 to October 31.

To get a feel of Portsmouth through art, visit Piscataqua Fine Arts, owned by printmaker Don Gorvett. His reduction woodcuts feature the rich waterfront, colorful houses, and the Memorial Bridge that leads into Maine.

The Black Birch is actually a short five minutes away from downtown Portsmouth in Kittery, Maine, but you won't regret making the extra trek. This gastropub has an everchanging food and classically influenced cocktail menu, but you can often find favorite small plates like Poutine with Duck Confit and Deviled Eggs 3 Ways and the 2 Govt. Street cocktail (Buffalo Trace, Lemon, Housemade Grenadine, Muddled Orange Peel, Sugar, Fees Aromatic Bitters). The Black Birch is the Seacoast's best kept secret - look for the small wooden sign in the corner of the window and the crowd of hungry people forming by the doorway.

When you enter Earth Eagle Brewings, prepare to be amazed. This nanobrewery (classified as such because it has a brew system with less than four US beer barrels) is like a beer laboratory, with six creative and tasty options at a time that change frequently. Founded by Alex McDonald and George "Butch" Heilshorn, Earth Eagle is known for its unhopped ale style called a "gruit," which is made with herbs instead of hops. Like their "St. Corbinian's Red," a sour gruit made with bear meat. Yes, you read that correctly! The tasting room is the only location in the area that has their brewings. Options include pints, half pints, and 4 oz. tasters, but take a growler back to your lodgings to let the magic continue. During the daytime, home brewers should also check out Alex’s other venture next door, A&G Homebrew, for all brew concoction needs.

With its beautiful views and convenient downtown location, the Sheraton Portsmouth Harborside Hotel also has its own Beer Master, Brian Aldrich, and frequently hosts tastings from regional breweries.