The best things to do in Rockingham County

Bowl-O-Rama Family Fun Center brings 22 candlepin lanes with automatic scoring, comfy sofa seating, and lane-side bites from Shenanigans' scratch kitchen. Between leagues, cosmic bowling, and a big arcade featuring Jurassic Park and Willy Wonka, a quick game can easily become your week's low-stress highlight.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, September 24, 2026

Cozy quarters in a tranquil hotel offering 3 eateries, as well as 18- & 9-hole golf courses.

Nestled in the woods on 175 acres, this elegant, English Tudor castle features private event space.

Campbell's Scottish Highlands Golf Course & Driving Range is that go-to Salem track where the fairways are friendly and the range just got a shiny new upgrade. Grab a bucket, squeeze in a lesson, join a league or plan an outing, then celebrate good shots at the Bar & Grill.

From the Salem newsletter, September 8, 2026

With five tees per hole, Hoodkroft Country Club lets you loop the back from new angles for a legit eighteen-hole feel, and the rolling terrain with smart hazards keeps every club honest. Grab a post-round bite at the Grille, or join a league and make it your weekly thing.

From the Derry newsletter, September 23, 2026

Vent some steam this week, then paint your feelings at Vent Activity Rooms, a private, one-group-at-a-time spot with two ways to let loose. Go full Smash in the rage room or get gloriously messy in the Splatter action-painting room, all about self expression, stress relief, and rediscovering your inner kid.

From the Kittery newsletter, October 4, 2026

Golf course known for its friendly service and popular greens, plus a clubhouse bar.

Monkey Mind Escape Rooms brings locals into pharaoh tombs, pirate hideouts, sunken cities, and time-bending quests with clever puzzles and just enough adrenaline. Great for friends, families, or team building that doesn’t feel like homework, it’s the rare group plan people actually text about afterward.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, August 31, 2026

Challenging golf course that's well maintained with a short, old-school design.

Golf course that's well maintained, presents a challenge, and features a friendly staff.

Trade your doomscrolling this week for cascading-waterfall views, shipwrecks, and devilish turns at Captain's Cove Adventure Golf. The nautical course is actually tricky in the best way with sand traps and water hazards, then you reward the round with legit New England ice cream, Dippin Dots, or a slushie.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, August 17, 2026

Considering membership? Wentworth By The Sea Country Club pairs panoramic ocean views with an 18-hole Scottish links challenge where the ocean breeze keeps you honest, plus a modern tennis and pool complex and a clubhouse rich in Old New England style. Also a standout spot for weddings and polished corporate events.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, August 21, 2026

If your driver has been dramatic lately, give it a timeout and hit Londonderry Country Club, an 18-hole executive track with only par 3s and 4s, tree-lined fairways and contoured greens that reward smart swings. Perfect for a midweek round that still scratches the golf itch.

From the Manchester newsletter, August 20, 2026

The Music Hall keeps the week buzzing with live music, sharp comedy, author talks, and a film slate that swings from blockbuster favorites to festival gems, plus occasional big-stage magic with The Ogunquit Playhouse and intimate sets at The Music Hall Lounge.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, October 22, 2026

The Music Hall Lounge is the smaller, intimate side of The Music Hall where live music, sharp comedy, and one-of-a-kind author events land within whisper distance. Pick a night this week, scan the lineup, and treat yourself to a show that actually fits your vibe.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, October 8, 2026

Chain of movie theaters, some with multiple screens, stadium seats & self-service ticketing kiosks.

Tee-lined driving range with covered bays, plus miniature golf and lessons.

With three distinct 9s weaving through leafy woods and streams, Pease Golf Course keeps your rounds fresh, your short game humble, and your post-round options dialed, from the Golf Shop to a year-round PGA Tour simulator, then cap it with Grill 28's Friday night live music.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, September 16, 2026

Portsmouth Country Club, a member-owned spot founded in 1901 along Great Bay, specializes in private events tailored to you. Book showers, birthdays, or anniversaries with Great Bay views and clubhouse polish, and you don’t even need to be a member to lock it in.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, August 27, 2026

If your week needs a low-stress win, Mini Links Miniature Golf Course brings 18 holes with sand traps, rock formations, and a legit waterfall, all tucked beside LaBelle Winery. Easy fun for kids, date-night worthy for adults, and just the right excuse to play outside.

From the Haverhill newsletter, August 10, 2026

Grab a couple friends and your phone, then let Portsmouth Scavenger Hunts turn downtown and Prescott Park into your game board. Solve local-history clues, chase playful pirate prompts with the kids, and rediscover corners you’ve walked past a hundred times. A fun reset for this week.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, October 15, 2026

Longtime, family-run golf course featuring wide-open fairways and a snack bar.