Things to do nearStar Island
Star Island is a remote granite outcrop off the New Hampshire coast, celebrated for its historic hotel, sweeping Atlantic views, and rich conference retreat heritage.
Star Island sits within the Isles of Shoals, a cluster of small islands straddling the New Hampshire and Maine border roughly ten miles off the Seacoast. The islands have a long and layered history, inhabited by fishing communities as early as the seventeenth century and later made famous by the poet Celia Thaxter, who grew up on neighboring Appledore Island and wrote vividly about life in this windswept place. That literary and artistic tradition left a lasting mark on the Isles of Shoals and on Star Island in particular.
The centerpiece of Star Island is the Oceanic Hotel, a large Victorian-era structure that has served as a gathering place for conferences and retreats for well over a century. The Star Island Corporation has operated the island since the early twentieth century, hosting educational, spiritual, and community programs each summer. The hotel's wide porches look out over open water, and the rocking chairs there have a way of making hours disappear.
Beyond the hotel, the island rewards slow exploration on foot. Stone paths connect the dock to the chapel, the hotel, and the rocky headlands where harbor seals occasionally haul out. Birdwatchers find the island productive during spring and fall migration, and the surrounding waters draw kayakers and sailors who anchor in the cove for an afternoon.
Star Island is worth visiting for the rare combination of accessible wildness and genuine history it offers. Few places within a short ferry ride of the mainland feel so thoroughly removed from everyday life, and that quality of quiet presence is something visitors tend to carry with them long after they return to shore.
7-day forecast
Chance of rainTips for visiting Star Island
Take the first morning ferry from Portsmouth to make the most of your time on the island before day-trippers arrive.
Bring layers even in summer, as the open ocean location means winds can turn cool quickly regardless of the mainland forecast.
Walk the perimeter path around the island to find the best tide pools and unobstructed views of the Isles of Shoals.
Try the chowder served at the Oceanic Hotel dining hall, a simple and satisfying staple of island meals.
Visit the small stone chapel near the dock for a quiet moment and a look at one of the oldest places of worship in the region.
Top tours & experiences near Star Island
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Private 50-Minute Airplane Tour Over Miami Beach
Fly private over Miami landmarks with non-alcoholic champagne
Take a 40-Minute Private Airplane Tour in Miami
Fly a private 40-minute airplane tour over South Beach and the Miami skyline
Fly a Private Miami Sunset Airplane Tour
Private 50-minute sunset flight over Miami with non-alcoholic champagne
Cruise To Star Island & Snorkel From Fort Lauderdale
Private captain-led boat tour to Star Island with snorkeling time
50-Minute Miami Night Lights Airplane Tour
Fly over Miami’s night skyline on a private airplane tour
Ride a Segway on a 1.5-Hour South Beach Guided Tour
Glide through South Beach by Segway with a guide on Ocean Drive
Ride a 1.5-Hour South Beach Bicycle Tour
Bike through South Beach highlights with a local guide
Private 2-Hour Night Boat Tour in Miami Bay
Cruise Miami Bay at night with a private captain and skyline views
Cruise Miami Bay on a 2- or 4-Hour Private Charter
Private Bayliner Element 21 cruise with swim stop in Miami Bay
Private 29' Boat Charter in Miami Beach
Captain-led Miami Bay cruising with a floating mat and your own soundtrack
Cruise Miami Bay on a Private Boat 2 or 4-Hour
Cruise Miami Bay on a private Stingray 234 LR with time to swim
Cruise Miami Bay on a Private VR6 Boat Charter
Private VR6 boat charter for up to 6 with a licensed captain
Cruise Miami Bay on a Private Sundeck Boat Charter
Private Sundeck 26 boat cruise on Miami Bay for up to 11 guests
Cruise Miami Bay on a Private 26' Boat Charter
Private Hurricane 26' boat cruise with skyline views and a swim stop
Star Island Anchor and Chill Boat Tour
Relax on a scenic boat anchored off Star Island with time to swim and enjoy Miami views
Private Bayliner 190 Cruise on Miami Bay
Enjoy skyline views and sandbar swims on a private boat with BYOB and Bluetooth
Cruise Miami Bay on a Private Sport Boat
Rent a private 22-foot sport boat in Miami Beach with a captain for up to 6 guests
Private Miami Beach 29' Sport Boat Charter
Cruise Biscayne Bay privately with a captain, your music, and a floating mat
Explore South Beach by Bicycle Rental in Miami Beach
Rent a beach cruiser and ride South Beach at your pace
Explore South Beach On An E-Bike Rental
Rent an electric bike and explore South Beach at your own pace
Tandem Bike Rental in South Beach Miami
Rent a tandem bike and cruise South Beach together
Segway & Boat Tour of Miami & Millionaire’s Row
See South Beach by Segway, then cruise Biscayne Bay by boat
Miami City & Little Havana Guided Tour With Bike Rental
See Miami by bus, then ride South Beach with a 3-hour bike rental
Miami & Key West Multi-Day Tour Combo With Bike Rental
Bundle four Miami tours plus a free 3-hour South Beach bike rental
Ride a Hybrid Bike Rental in Miami Beach
Rent a 21-gear hybrid bike and explore Miami Beach at your pace
Full-Day Key West Tour From Miami
Spend the day in Key West, plus a free 3-hour South Beach bike rental
Biscayne Bay Cruise & South Beach Bike Rental
Cruise Biscayne Bay, then ride South Beach with a free 3-hour bike rental
Miami City Tour, Biscayne Bay Cruise & Bike Rental
See Miami by bus and boat, plus a 3-hour South Beach bike rental
Ride a Segway to Star Island in Miami Beach
Glide past Art Deco sights and Star Island mansions on a guided Segway ride
Everglades Airboat Tour From Miami with 3-Hour Bike Rental
Ride an airboat in the Everglades, plus a free 3-hour South Beach bike rental
1-Hour Guided Jet Ski Tour in Miami
Take the controls for an open-water Miami jet ski ride
Explore Biscayne Bay & Millionaire Homes 2-Hour Cruise
Cruise Biscayne Bay for skyline views and celebrity homes in 2 hours
Cruise Biscayne Bay on a Pirate Ship in Miami
See the Miami skyline from Biscayne Bay on a pirate ship cruise
Miami Beach Raccoon Island Guided Cruise
Explore a wild Biscayne Bay island and look for raccoons
2.5-Hour Miami Jet Ski & ATV Adventure
Pair Miami Beach jet skiing with an off-road ATV ride through the Redlands
Cruise Biscayne Bay on a 90-Minute Boat Tour
See Miami’s skyline and Millionaire’s Row on a double-decker cruise
Private Miami Bay Cruise on a 26' Bayliner
Cruise Miami Bay on a private 26 ft Bayliner with room for up to 11
Sunset Cruise in Miami on a Private Charter
Cruise Biscayne Bay by private boat with shade, space, and a stocked cooler
Cruise Star Island & Celebrity Homes in Miami Beach
Private boat tour of Star Island with captain and gas included
Take a 45-Minute Private Air Tour in Miami
See Miami’s skyline from the air on a 45-minute private flight
30-Minute Private Air Tour Over South Beach
Fly over South Beach, Key Biscayne, and Miami’s skyline on a private 30-minute tour
45-Minute Miami Speedboat Tour
Ride offshore for Miami skyline views, island mansions, and South Beach's Art Deco coast
Miami 3-Hour Sightseeing Boat Tour
Cruise Miami landmarks, swim, and relax on the water
Miami 2-Hour Sightseeing Boat Tour
Cruise past Miami’s islands, skyline, and waterfront landmarks by private boat
Miami Celebration Boat Charter
Celebrate on a private boat while cruising Miami’s waterways and island views
Miami Private Sandbar Cruise
Cruise Biscayne Bay with swim access, shade, and Miami waterfront views
3-Hour Private Cruise in Miami
Private, captained time on Biscayne Bay with music and your own drinks
Miami 3-Hour Yacht Party Cruise
Dance to live music with an open bar as you cruise Miami’s skyline
Miami Beach 90-Minute Amphibious Tour
Explore South Beach landmarks and splash into Biscayne Bay
Private Miami Beach Airplane Tour
See Miami’s coastline, islands, and skyline from a private airplane
Miami Biscayne Bay Water Sports Catamaran Cruise
Island water-park fun with kayaks, paddleboards and floating play gear
Private Air Tour of the Florida Keys
See the Florida Keys' bridges, islands and turquoise waters from above
Private Air Tour Over Seven Mile Bridge
Fly privately above Marathon's Seven Mile Bridge and Florida Keys coastline