I wouldn’t say that we are a “sports family.” We don’t regularly watch sports on TV, and we didn’t even attend a Super Bowl party. We are, however, an “outing family.” We love spending our weekends enjoying quality time outside our home. This includes visiting museums, going on a Seacoast hike, camping, fishing, and yes, sometimes… going to see a game! Luckily there are plenty of spectator sports for families like ours to enjoy, up and down the Seacoast.
We all know that Boston provides a host of world-class sports teams to watch, but you may not have considered that your family can enjoy a thrilling and fun sports experience much closer to home. Whether you are new to the area or just want to see something new, I’ve put together a list of my favorite Seacoast spectator sports for families.
Seacoast Spectator Sports For Families
University of New Hampshire
Wildcat Stadium may be close to home for most of us, but it really is big on sports. My favorite sports to visit as a family are UNH Hockey and UNH Basketball. My kids (aged 5 and 7) absolutely love the stadium atmosphere, the concession stand, and mascot; they also appreciate that it’s only a short drive to get there. While these are already popular spectator sports, you could easily consider taking your kids to some of the other sports as well. Depending on their interests, a volleyball game, soccer match, or gymnastics meet might be a fun way to connect and enjoy watching sports together. What’s more, a visit to the Wildcat Stadium is both a great family outing and a way to support local student athletes! Visit the UNH Wildcats website for times and tickets.
New Hampshire Fisher Cats
Spring is coming and so is the baseball season! The New Hampshire Fisher Cats are a minor league baseball team located in Manchester, NH. I love taking my kids to experience America’s favorite pastime, watching a local game while enjoying a hot dog and lemonade. Check out their website for home games. Also, check out their promotions page for extra special nights with giveaways, reading challenges, picnics, and more!
Motorsports
It’s hard to beat the electric atmosphere of a car race. Your family will love the cars, excitement, and fun of the NASCAR Cup Challenge in Loudon, New Hampshire. Whether your little one is obsessed with cars or not, be sure to add this to your summer bucket list! Check out the New Hampshire Motor Speedway website, as well as NASCAR’s recommendations for what to bring in order to have a positive experience (like ear protection and sun protection).
Roller Derby
Did you know that both Portland, Maine and Manchester, New Hampshire have roller derby teams? I’ve been to a few bouts and I can attest that this is a super fun way to spend an afternoon or evening. Not familiar with roller derby? Don’t worry! The announcer will explain the rules of the race before it begins. Prepare for big personalities and a humor! It may be an impressive athletic competition, but it has a lighthearted and nostalgic air about it. Trust me when I say, your family will want to come back! Visit NH Roller Derby or Maine Roller Derby for more information and their home schedules.
High School Athletics
Here on the Seacoast we have some amazing high school student athletes! From Exeter Boys basketball to Dover Girls Field Hockey and Portsmouth-Oyster River Football – the Seacoast definitely tops the standings! Check out your local high school’s athletic page for games and schedules. For some wholesome fun, attend a Unified Sports game. Unified Sports joins athletes with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. As a Unified Sport coach, I can tell you there is no better or more positive atmosphere than that surrounding the spectators, athletes, and teams at a Unified game. Portsmouth, Epping, Exeter, Oyster River, Spaulding, Dover, and more all host Unified teams.
Whether you’re a huge sports fan, or just looking for something fun to do with your family on a Friday night – going to a game is a great way to spend time together. What’s your favorite Seacoast spectator sport? Let us know in the comments!
