As these sun-worshippers can attest, New Hampshire’s Hampton Beach is the place to be on a hot summer day.

If weren’t for the quaint cottages and rocky New Hampshire coastline, first-time visitors to the Hampton shore might think they were in California or Hawaii. Surfers are everywhere, riding the waves off Hampton Beach State Park, the roughly three-mile stretch of sandy New England that’s the heart, soul, and funk of the state’s beautiful Seacoast district, which spans a mere 18 miles.

With plenty of restaurants, entertainment venues, and the state beach and park, Hampton Beach (a village of Hampton) offers something for all comers. Once known solely for its party atmosphere, it now attracts family vacationers and tourists during the summer season, when more than 150,000 visitors flock to its carnival-like boardwalk and sprawling white-sand beach.

Long before surfers and summer tourists discovered Hampton’s coastline, the area was a sleepy farming and fishing community. The first settlers arrived in 1638, eventually moving inland and establishing coastal farms. Fishermen threw up tiny shacks and kept their boats on the northern portion of the beach, while farmers pastured their cattle on the salt marsh.

It was the fishermen who were responsible for the beach’s transformation to a tourist destination. In 1802, a young entrepreneur named Moses Leavitt established a “house of entertainment” for local fishermen. After Leavitt’s death, his son and grandsons converted the house to an inn for summer tourists.

The famous Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom was built in 1898, and over the years has played host to countless celebrities, including Louie Armstrong and Duke Ellington. In the 1960s and ’70s, the casino showcased famous rock acts, including Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Led Zeppelin.

Early tourists traveled to Hampton Beach via trolley from Exeter, New Hampshire, from the north, and Amesbury, Massachusetts, from the south. By the time the trolley ceased operations in 1926, Hampton was well established as a popular tourist destination.

For those who wish to visit Hampton Beach by boat, the overnight options are limited to a single marina inside Hampton Harbor. The harbor entrance, at the southern end of Hampton Beach, is about halfway between the Seabrook power plant and a blue water tower. Follow the channel markers closely to avoid shoal water and ledges.

Passenger boats run frequently out of Hampton Harbor, offering everything from fireworks cruises to deep-sea fishing trips.

Navigating the inlet can be challenging in certain conditions, although the channel is well marked. The Underwood Bridge—a bascule span that carries Route 1A over the inlet—has 17 feet of clearance at mean high water and can be opened for larger power- and sailboats. A green buoy just beyond the bridge indicates a split in the channel, and serves to mark a large rock.

Once past the bridge, you will see the state pier to starboard, home to commercial fishing and whale-watch boats. The pier facility is also home to the harbor’s only fuel dock, as well as a public launch ramp.

The transient-­friendly Hampton River Marina is a just bit farther upriver. This well-protected marina has two large docking areas—one that juts into the harbor and a second that hugs the banks of the river.

The marina is popular among boaters who want to spend the night at the Hampton Beach Casino, and comprises the adjacent Water’s Edge Yacht Club. The yacht club operates a private restaurant, available to marina customers.

A short walk or bike ride brings you to bustling Ocean Boulevard, which skirts the beach. This busy thoroughfare is redolent with the smells of fried dough and Italian sausages mingling with the salty ocean air. Masses of people meander up and down the beach, passing iconic establishments such as Blink’s Fry Doe, and Sal’s Just Pizza. The boulevard is also jam-packed with arcades, cotton-candy stands, gift shops, and more.

The crowd ebbs and flows like the tide, from the shop side of Ocean Boulevard to the ocean side. This is the main drag and remains a popular spot for cruising—of the four-wheeled sort. Front and center on the beach is the Sea Shell Stage, which hosts free live shows every night in summer, as well as fireworks displays. Other public events throughout the season keep the action lively.

If you seek a quieter side of Hampton Beach, you can explore the marsh-lined tidal creeks surrounding the harbor. Paddleboards can be rented at Hampton Beach Parasail & Paddleboard, but you can always bring your own kayak or SUP and launch from the beach near the launch ramp. The marshes are filled with birdlife, and you can also buy a clamming license and dig some bivalves at low tide on the exposed mud and sand flats. It feels a million miles away from the noisy beachfront scene, and makes for a relaxing change of pace.