3) Hampton Beach, New Hampshire
It’s known as “the premiere” vacation spot on the New Hampshire coast. The now famous annual Sand Sculpting Competition takes place here for 5 days in June. Master sculptors from around the world compete for top honors and the $15,000 in prize money. The annual beach Catamaran Regatta also takes place in June. It draws many spectators to watch champion and novice sailors compete in races throughout the 2-day weekend event. It’s held close to the shore so spectators can see the races relatively close-up, while admiring the spectacular beauty of the colorful sails. Concerts on the Seashell hosts a series of 80 free shows, which run from June through September. For the more adventurous, a local fishery company has been offering deep sea fishing and whale watching tours for over 60 years. There’s also the Casino Cascade water slide, the largest in Hampton Beach.