During a recent work trip to the Northeastern United States, I (Dallas alone, unfortunately – although I would have loved to have brought Karen and Lily along!) made the trek from Boston to Portland, Maine – quite the picturesque drive, as you can imagine! One particular stop on that drive stood out from the rest: Portsmouth, New Hampshire. What I expected to be a quick, straightforward breakfast stop ended up being the picture-perfect idyllic New England town that provided arguably the best meal of the trip!

For a quick overview, in case you haven’t heard of Portsmouth, it is one of the more popular tourist spots in New Hampshire (which is likely because of it’s convenient placement along I-95, one of the more often-traveled routes in the Northeast.) Driving from one side of New Hampshire to the other takes less than an hour along that route – a true shock to someone who grew up in Texas, where you can travel for 10+ hours and never leave the state – but Portsmouth really does warrant a stop.

One of the best parts about Portsmouth was that it wasn’t only decor; the streets were abuzz with small shops and stores that seemed to be thriving. They all seemed to sell particularly unique wares, but you’d typically never expect to have that many options to choose from in a town with a population that was just over 22,000. There’s a true sense of history in Portsmouth (exactly what you’d expected in a New England town), but it’s so well-maintained that you easily forget the age of the place you’re in.

Where to Eat: The Friendly Toast

As I mentioned earlier in the post, this particular meal was arguably the best of this trip, and I never expected it to be as much! The Friendly Toast puts an eclectic spin on the classic breakfast diner in terms of decor/atmosphere, but it doesn’t stop there; their menu does the same with standard breakfast food as well. I opted for the Doughnut Stop Believin’, a sausage, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich that was served between two halves of a sliced donut. You might think that the combination of sweet and savory would clash or be too messy, but it all worked together very well, with everything cooked to perfection. With great coffee, perfectly cooked/seasoned home fries, and great vibe throughout the restaurant, The Friendly Toast claimed a top spot amongst UnlockingTravel recommendations.

If you’re driving up or down I-95, it’s really easy to just past through Portsmouth (or really, New Hampshire as a whole), but to say that my time there was ‘a pleasant surprise’ would be an understatement. If you’re exploring New England, it definitely stands out near the top of the list of charming destinations. Portsmouth typifies the picturesque New England town, but it goes beyond that; it’s well-worth your time to stop and spend some time!