Stratham Neighborhood Guide for Families

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This information is thoughtfully provided by our sponsor, realtor Dorothy Verani. Contact her (dorothyverani@kw.com) for more about the wonderful town of Stratham and see her full contact information and bio at the bottom of this post.

Stratham is a beautiful 15 square mile small town on the Seacoast of NH. A fun fact is that it is the only town of its name in the entire U.S.! Stratham’s mix of both neighborhoods and country farms create a picturesque landscape. Its location truly can’t be beat. Stratham is close to shopping, beaches, major highways-and all the Seacoast has to offer!

Why Moms Love Stratham, NH

Stratham is a very warm and welcoming community which earned the well-deserved title, “The Heart of the Seacoast”. You feel the spirit of the community in so many ways if you live here. Not only is it part of a top-rated school district, but there are so many family-friendly events and activities!

Stratham Neighborhood Guide for Families
Stratham Neighborhood Guide
Stratham Neighborhood Guide for Families
Stratham Neighborhood Guide for Families

Photos clockwise from top left: Stratham Hill Park by Ali White, Summer on Autumn Lane by Jess Tiernan, Stratham Hill Park Winter by Joe Strathern, Stratham Hill Park Views by Pamela Bates (Copywright 2019).

Stratham Neighborhood Guide for Families
Stratham Fair by @katadiscoe, click for details
Stratham Neighborhood Guide
Blueberry Bay Farm by @mlCassedy, click for details

Playgrounds, Parks & Attractions

For year-round outdoor fun, Stratham residents head to Stratham Hill Park right off of Route 33. Full of history, this seventy acres of land is a central location for youth sports, hiking, biking, and dog walking. In fact, there are always water bowls for dogs and the Park Rangers love to hand out dog treats! It also has wonderful picnic areas and a great playground. If you hike up to the top of the fire tower, you can see both mountains and the ocean in the distance. What a view (pictured above)! In the winter, enjoy snowshoeing on the trails or lace up your skates and take a spin on the town-maintained rink.

In the summer, you won’t want to miss the annual Stratham Fair held at the park every July since 1967 (pic left). This amazing fair features carnival rides, fair food, 4-H activities, exhibits and more. Because the community spirit is so strong, the fair is run by town volunteers. 

Want another place to play?  There is also a playground at Steven’s Park off of Bunker Hill Ave where you will find athletic fields and tennis courts which are available on a first come first served basis.

Stratham is right next door to the Great Bay Discovery Center in Greenland. In addition to being an amazing place to take a nature walk, kids can participate in hands on-learning and interactive displays as they learn about the Estuary and its creatures, salt marshes, tides, research and more.

Childcare & Schools

For childcare, there are a many different wonderful private and public child care centers to choose from whether you are looking for just day care or one that offers preschool as well.  

Stratham is part of the highly-desired SAU-16 school district because if its strong ratings and reputation. Stratham Memorial School (SMS) serves all of Stratham for students K-5. SMS uses an evidence-based approach that focuses on the strong link between academic success and social-emotional learning.

Stratham students then attend the Cooperative Middle School (CMS) for grades 6-8. Here students take the “Hawk Pride” pledge to support their school community and their peers while achieving a competency-based education. A $17.8 million expansion to CMS has been recently been approved, which pleases many Stratham residents!

Students then go on to Exeter High School, ranked 18th among NH schools, in nearby Exeter. EHS is one of the best high schools in America, according to the 2019 U.S. News & World Report). Go Hawks!

Shops & Restaurants

Stratham is home of Timberland’s Corporate headquarters and the only Lindt Chocolate factory in the U.S. And thankfully, there is a Lindt retail store right in the town on Portsmouth Avenue. At Halloween, Stratham police often give out Lindt chocolate to trick-or-treaters!

Because of its close proximity to downtown Exeter and Portsmouth, many residents head to those areas for shopping and restaurants. Let’s not forget that Target is only about a 10-minute drive in Greenland, key for moms in need of caffeine (there’s a Starbucks) and an awesome place to shop!

That said, there are some great spots for yummy food right in town. For date night, Grill 110 is a top pick but is also great for family dining and has a great outdoor space. If you want to watch a game and eat wings or listen to some live music, the Tailgate Tavern is a local favorite. Have a hankering for something sweet? Visit the Sweet Dreams Bakery which prepares everything from scratch! Or visit Stratham’s latest, The Angry Donut which is sure to bring a smile to your face.
In the summer months head to Just the Wright Place for Ice Cream and, as the name implies, you will have chosen well.

Activities

Stratham is the home of the NH Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NHSPCA). The NHSPCA is a brings animals and people together through many adoption and educational programs. Kids’ activities at the NHSPCA include story time with animals, school vacation camps, and kids’ clubs. Students, ages 13 to 15 years old, may become Junior Volunteers. From hamsters, to bunnies to horses and everything in between this is a great place where residents visit and give attention to our furry friends.  

The Wiggin Memorial Library is the public library of Stratham. Not only is it a great place to check out books, it also has excellent programs encouraging early literacy. A great resource for all ages, there is story time for both babies and toddlers, a teen area and plenty of adult classes and family-friendly events.

Stratham Parks & Recreation hosts and supports many events each year with a focus on kids and the Stratham community coordinating events like the Community Bonfire, Family Fun Day at Stratham Hill Park, Neighborhood Bike Rodeo and Thursday Nights at the Park, to name just a few. They also offer youth sports throughout the school year for kids in K-6th grade.

Need some Mom time and pampering? The Wingate Salon & Spa, an award-winning spa at the Stratham circle, attracts people from all over the area including neighboring states. 

Many Stratham residents pick their own produce, especially blueberries at Blueberry Bay Farm (pictured above). There’s also Saltbox Farm and Barker’s Farm, famous for its delicious and fresh corn and cut flowers. Speaking of farms, don’t miss the pumpkins, apple-cider donuts and annual 6-acre corn maze at Scamman Farm which is different every Fall. 

Every activity Stratham offers community, a chance to shop local and loads of fun. It’s a great place to live with much to do!

Dorothy Verani
Agent

Keller Williams Coastal Realty
750 Lafayette Road, Suite 201
Portsmouth, NH 03801
Office: 603.610.8500
Mobile: 603.505.7350

Dorothy grew up in Westport, a coastal town in Connecticut, and learned how wonderful it is to reside in a seacoast area. After attending Boston College with a degree in Marketing, she spent time working and living in the Boston area until she moved to New Hampshire over 15 years ago. Dorothy lives in Stratham, NH with her husband and their two daughters. Both of her daughters are in the SAU-16 school district. Dorothy is able to offer her expertise for the town of Stratham both as a realtor and a happy resident! 

Dorothy is an agent with Keller Williams Coast Realty and licensed in New Hampshire. She has expertise in residential buying, selling and home staging. With over 25 years of proven experience in sales, marketing, negotiation, and strategic thinking, she committed to making real estate transactions as enjoyable and seamless as possible. Her goal as a realtor is to provide a 5-star experience to each and every client. Based on her Zillow reviews, she has done just that.

Reach out to Dorothy for any questions about Stratham!

Stratham Neighborhood Guide for Families