I’ve found a place I’d love to keep a secret, so that my room would always be empty, waiting just for me.   That’s how much I enjoyed my stay at The Governor’s House in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.   Nestled walking distance from the heart of Market Square, this B & B walks the fine line between quaint country setting and urban fun. It is quite simply a perfect getaway.

Sam - Part of the Welcoming Committee

The Governor’s House is the former home of Charles Dale- Mayor of Portsmouth, Senate President, and Governor of New Hampshire.   In this 1917 Georgian Colonial, Dale entertained and hosted people from around the world. The house was passed along. It went from an inn to a private residence, before it was purchased by Bob Chafee and Barbara Trimble in February of 2002, opening as The Governor’s House that May.

I arrived sans kids, laundry, and responsibilities.   After a quick trip south along the Maine Interstate, I arrived in Portsmouth, giddy and excited for an escape. I was greeted by two gorgeous Labrador Retrievers (Sam and Maddie), warm chocolate chip cookies, and a smile from Bob.   He gave me a quick tour and showed me to my room.   I was thrilled with the huge sleigh bed and cozy feel immediately.   My personal fridge was stocked complimentary soda, water, and wine. Lindt chocolates sat in a dish on the table. The private deck overlooking the gardens and backyard had comfortable chairs, a superb spot for reading, and for drinks with the friend I was to meet that night. I could have moved into this room and never left.

Just a Small Selection of the Titles in the Library

In the adjacent library, I found a hundreds of CD’s to chose from, up to date magazines, books, and an impressive DVD collection.   Comfortable leather chairs sat next to a large window overlooking the street.   A perfect spot for drinking an afternoon cup of tea.   Downstairs, there was a beautiful piano, a nice spot in the sun to play chess, and numerous little alcoves where you could hide away from the world. Bob and Barbara offer bicycles to ride to town and beach chairs if you are itching to sit near the Atlantic and catch a breeze.

Portsmouth, New Hampshire is colonial city with great architecture, restaurants, and the arts.   You could spend your afternoon touring the Strawberry Banke Museum, or catching a matinee at the Seacoast Repertory Theater.   Afterwards, consider grabbing a beer at The Brewery or simply window shop.   My friend and I had an amazing dinner at The Green Monkey, where we devoured mushroom forestier and pan seared crab cakes along with specialty mojitoes.

I slept beautifully on thick Frett sheets, a firm mattress, and the sound of the rain falling outside.   I woke to fresh brewed coffee from the Library and the promise of a breakfast that I didn’t need to cook.   Warm scones, crunchy apples, boiled eggs, and yogurt with homemade granola lived up to my high expectations.   A happy and healthy start to the day.   The Governor’s House was difficult to leave, but I’ll be back.

Details:

The Governor’s House, 32 Miller Avenue, Portsmouth, NH 03801

(603) 427-5140

The Governor’s House website