Star Island – Isle of Shoals

Star Island – Isle of Shoals

A place of peaceful retreat is the stately old hotel complex on Star Island.  One of the group of islands called the Isle of Shoals off Portsmouth NH – Star is home to a Unitarian Universalist conference center which fortunately welcomes cruisers.  

We enjoyed a totally calm ride on our trip to Star Island - even seeing some mysterious fins - whales or sharks we could not tell.

Lucky enough to get a vacant mooring in the rocky harbor we wandered the island to visit the sights and enjoyed a family style meal in their dining room to end our day. These islands were first named by John Smith when he visited briefly in 1614. At one time there was a village of Gosport here and then the hotel and now a place of retreat. The buildings evoke an earlier time with rocking chairs lining the wide verandas. The staff is largely college aged enthusiastic and energetic youth – making a visit pleasant from the cheerful greeting on the dock to smiling delivery of dinner. There is little doubt why a stop in Gosport Harbor rates five stars in all our cruising guides.