DETAILS
The Isles of Shoals are a group of nine islands straddling the Maine-New Hampshire border, 10 miles off the coast of Portsmouth, N.H.
Getting there:
• University of New Hampshire Isles of Shoals Discovery Cruises from the UNH pier in New Castle, N.H., to Appledore Island. Tickets are $40 and include a guided tour of the island. http://seagrant.unh.edu/islesofshoalscruises.
• Star Island can be reached via the Isles of Shoals Steamship Company in Portsmouth, N.H. Tickets for day trips are $35 for adults, $25 for children 4-12, www.islesofshoals.com/ or 800-441-4620.
• Island Cruises in Rye, N.H., also offers service to Star Island, www.uncleoscar.com/ or 603-964-6446.
• Smuttynose Island can only be reached by rowboat or dinghy.
Staying overnight: Star Island Corporation offers conferences and personal retreats from mid-June to mid-September. A seven-night conference costs $850 per person/double occupancy and includes all meals and ferry transportation. Personal retreats cost $175 for one night, per person/double occupancy, including meals; www.starisland.org or 603-430-6272.
