Fort Beach, Cape Elizabeth, Maine

Maine is known for it's rugged rocky coastline and not for its sandy beaches. However this small Beach at Ft. Williams Park, with smooth pebbles, lies in a little cove between the Portland Head Lighthouse and Fort Williams. It was a pleasant day in August when we were there, however, the water here never gets warm. Still we saw a few hardy people enjoying the beach, and some children were swimming.

For those who dare, the beach is open to the public year round. Winter swimming is not recommended since the water may be frozen.

Other recreational opportunities in the park include tennis courts, walking the rocks along the shore, picnic areas and open green space for throwing a frisbee, flying a kite or whatever.

The Lobster Shack, Cape Elizabeth, Maine

On our way to Maine Karen told me of this wonderful seaside restaurant where she had eaten with her sister on a visit several years earlier. The only problem is, she couldn't remember the name of the place, or its exact location, but she did remember the general area. Both of us were delighted when we found The Lobster Shack and she instantly recognized that this was the place of which she had such fond memories. Fortunately for both of us, it was just about time for lunch when we found it.

The Lobster Shack is an award-winning restaurant which has been a favorite with both locals and tourists since the 1920s. They have a small indoor dining room and a spacious outdoor dining area right on the ocean. Since the weather was nice, we opted for the outdoors.

This was my first time to have a lobster roll, which is a favorite dish all along the coast of Maine. It was better than I expected, with more lobster than roll. The lobster roll is a type of sandwich and not inexpensive. However, I understand the price does fluctuate with the market price of lobsters. No visit to Maine would be complete without having one.

For desert we enjoyed one of their cream-filled chocolate Whoopee Pies. Yummy!

Cape Elizabeth Lights: West Tower

Like it's twin East Tower, the West Tower was first lit in 1874. However, it is no longer operational having been deactivated in 1924. Today the West Tower is a private residence. The foundation of the West Tower is stone, and the tower itself is made of cast iron. It no longer has a lantern.

We drove up Two Lights Road and took a picture of the West Tower from the street, trying to still respect the privacy of the people living there. Photos may also be taken from nearby Twin Lights State Park.

Cape Elizabeth Lighthouses: East Tower

Standing high on a ridge overlooking the entrance to Casco Bay are two lighthouses, namesakes for Two Lights State Park." The light station was established in 1828 and the first of the historic towers standing today, the East Tower Light, was first lit in 1874. It was automated in 1963 and is still an active aid to navigation.

The 67-foot tower is made of cast iron over a stone foundadion. The lighthouse is free-standing, but is beside a private residence and the property is privately owned. It is not open to visitors, but may be viewed from afar. The best views are from Two Lights State Park.

Two Lights State Park, Maine

Two Lights State Park consists of 41 acres of rocky headlines which rise high above the pounding surf of Maine's legendary rugged coast. Established in 1961, the park takes its name from the twin lighthouses located nearby at the end of Two Lights Road. The lighthouses, which are not open to the public, are outside the boundaries of the state park. However, the park is the best place for viewing the lighthouses.

Karen and I enjoyed walking some of the paths here and scrambling out onto the rocks. Park facilities include a playground, picnic sites and rest rooms

Goddard Mansion Ruins, Fort Williams, Maine

Stand high on a hill overlooking Fort Williams are the ruins of what was once a magnificent oceanfront residence, the Goddard Mansion. This was the home of Colonel John Goddard and his family who lived here during the mid to late 1800s. Karen and I enjoyed walking through the ruins and trying to imagine what life must have been like for those who called this place "home."

The Goddard Mansion, completed in 1858, was one of the first grand houses to be built along the Cape Elizabeth shore. Goddard, who had made his fortune in the lumber business, purchased Cape Cottage, a popular summer resort hotel built in 1835.

The mansion was built on a portion of the hotel property, although we did not see any of the remains of the hotel.The mansion was acquired by the U.S. Army in 1898 and used for housing married enlisted men and their families who were stationed at Fort Williams. The basement of the house was used for the fort's Non-Commissioned Officer's Club.

Fort Williams Park, Cape Elizabeth, Maine

Fort Williams, which once protected the shoreline of Cape Elizabeth and also provided the Harbor Defense for Portland. Officially closed and deactivated in 1963, the fort is now the site of a beautiful 90-acre park on Casco Bay.

Fort Williams Park is a popular place for walking the rock coastline, running, biking, baseball games, tennis and picnics. In winter Fort Williams is an ideal place to cross-country ski, sled, or even ice skate on the pond. The Park is also the venue for special community events throughout the year.

In addition to the recreational opportunities it provides, Fort Williams has also managed to maintain some of its historic past. Those with an interest in history will enjoy seeing some of the ruins of the old fort, dating back to the mid 1800s.

The biggest draw at Fort Williams Park is the oldest lighthouse in Maine, Portland Head Light, which I show in another post.

Quoddy Head State Park, Maine

Quoddy Head State Park encompasses 540 acres on the tip of a peninsula which juts into the North Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy. This is the easternmost point of land in the continental United States.

Karen and I savored the few hours we spent there, picnicing, drinking in the spectacular views and walking a portion of the 4.5 miles of hiking trails along the coast. The park also has extensive forests, two bogs and a few rocky offshore islands. Together they provide a diverse habitat for wildlife as well as rare plants.The West Quoddy Head Lighthouse is adjacent to the park.

Operation Dates: May 15 - October 15

Lubec Chanel Light, Maine

The Lubec Channel Light, erected in 1890, is and is also affectionately known to locals as the "Sparkplug." It's one of three surviving sparkplug style cast-iron lighthouses in Maine.

The channel light was built in 1889 in "The Narrows" between Lubec and Campobello Island, New Brunswick. For well over a century it has remained an important aid to navigation, guiding both commercial fishermen and recreational boaters to the western entrance of Lubec Harbor.

The Lubec Channel Light is easily seen from many points along the coast. A telephoto lens is helpful in getting a good photograph of the light. A sunny day would help too, but these cold waters often help to create haze and fog.

West Quoddy Head Lighthouse, Maine

The West Quoddy Head Light, which stands on the easternmost point of land in the continental United States, reminds me of a Christmas peppermint candy cane with it's distinctive horizontal red and white stripes. It is the only candy-striped lighthouse in the U.S.A. The first wooden light tower was built on this location in 1808, by order of President Thomas Jefferson. The lighthouse as it is seen today was built in 1857. It has been in operation from 1858 until the present time.

There is a very nice Visitor Center in the old lightkeeper's house. Karen and I took advantage of one of the picnic tables on the lawn beside the lighthouse for a very scenic picnic lunch. Admission to the visitor center, lighthouse and grounds is free.

Hours:Open Memorial Day Weekend through mid-October10:10 AM to 4:00 PM daily

Lubec, Maine: Easternmost town in America

Lubec, Maine is the easternmost town in the continental United States and also is situated on the 45th Parallel, mid-way between the North Pole and Equator. Because of the cold waters of the North Atlantic Ocean, at the mouth of the famed Bay of Fundy, this remote little community is shrouded in fog about 60 days out of the year. On the day or our visit in late August we saw both fog and sun, changing every few minutes as the wind blew.

Lubec was originally a fishing village and fishing is still an important part of the economy. The town also draws many tourists, not only because of it's unique geographical setting, but also because of the outstanding scenery and outdoor recreational opportunities. It is a short hop from New Brunswick, Canada, via the Roosevelt Campobello International Bridge. Lubec is also home to the West Quoddy Light, one of the most photographed lighthouses in New England.

Abbe Museum, Acadia, Maine

There are two Abbe Museums, one in downtown Bar Harbor and the other near the Seiur de Monts Spring in Acadia National Park. This tip is about the museum in the Park.

Abbe Museum exists to study and showcase Native American culture and its history in Maine. Descendants of this culture are known today as the Wabanaki or "People of the Dawn." This includes four Indian tribes: the Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, Micmac and Maliseet.

The Abbe Museum, which opened in 1928, was one of the first museums built in Maine and is the only museum devoted solely to Maine's Native American heritage. Originally, it was conceived as a trailside museum and was the vision and labor of love of Dr. Robert Abbe (1851-1928), an eminent New York physician with a strong interest in archaeology. Today the museum is one of only two remaining private trailside museums in the National Park system.

Archaeological collections at the museum consist of more than 50,000 objects spanning 10,000 years of history. These include many stone based tools such as knives, axes, projectile points and fishing weights. There are also objects shaped from bone such as combs, needles, fish hooks and harpoons; a very rare, 3000 year old flute was made from the bone of a swan. There is also native pottery and more recent collections of beads, copper tools, pipes, jewelry, woodcarving and basketry.

Sieur de Monts Spring, Acadia, Maine

Sieur de Monts Spring is intricately linked with the early history of Acadia National Park. It is named for the French nobleman, Pierre Du Gua, de Monts, who was Lieutenant Governor of New France in the early 1600s.

Pierre Du Gua, de Monts, had authority over all of North America from present day Philadelphia to Montreal. In 1603 he was commissioned by King Henry IV “to establish the name, power, and authority of the King of France; to summon the natives to a knowledge of the Christian religion; to people, cultivate, and settle the said lands; to make explorations and especially to seek out mines of precious metals.”

George B. Dorr, the first superintendent of Acadia National Park named the spring and built the spring house (pictured) in 1909. On a nearby rock Dorr carved the words: “The Sweet Waters of Acadia.” Today the spring is a symbol of the enthusiasm and gallant efforts which brought into being the first National Park in the eastern United States.

Sieur de Monts Spring is located behind the Nature Center close to where Route 3 crosses over the Park Loop Road.

Jordan Pond, Acadia National Park, Maine

We discovered several "favorite" spots during our 3 days of exploring Acadia National Park. But none holds any better memories than Jordan Pond. We ate at the Jordan Pond House overlooking the water, hiked the 3-mile trail around the shoreline, and reveled in the awesome beauty of a perfect late summer day.

Jordan Pond is a natural glacial lake which can be reached by the Park Loop Road. Whether you spend half a day there as we did, or just stop for a few minutes to drink in the view, it is a MUST stop on any trip to Acadia. This is a beauty spot where natural and human histories intertwine.In our photo

"The Bubbles" can be seen across the water, from near the Jordan Pond House Restaurant. The Bubbles are twin rounded rocky peaks which help create a unique and memorable landscape.

If you make the trip to Acadia National Park you owe it to yourself to pay a visit to the Jordon Pond House. For more than a century this historic restaurant has been delighting diners with outstanding cuisine in the perfect scenic setting.

Jordon Pond House serves lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner daily during season. We arrived just in time for the afternoon tea, which has been a tradition at the Jordan Pond House since the late 1800s. With our tea we ordered one of the restaurant's famous popovers and strawberry jam.

Even more enjoyable than the refreshment was the ambience of this historic place and the absolutely stunning view of Jordan Pond and the surrounding mountains. It was a memorable experience that every visitor to Acadia should have.

Bar Island Trail, Bar Harbor, Maine

There are numerous hiking opportunities in and around Bar Harbor, Maine. One of the most interesting, and within shouting distance of downtown Bar Harbor, is the Bar Island Trail. This is a very easy trail but still one which has a special sense of adventure - even a certain bit of danger. It can only be hiked at low tide, when a gravel bar is exposed that connects Bar Island with the mainland.

Bar Island is a small uninhabited, forest covered island which is a part of Acadia National Park. It is within easy view of Bar Harbor, but is a world away. If you get caught on the island after the tide comes in, you will have several hours to wait before you can return to the mainland. Be prepared.

You may find the Bar Island Trail by following Bridge Street off West Street in downtown Bar Harbor.

The Village Green, Bar Harbor, Maine

Bar Harbor, named for Bar Island and a natural gravel bar which leads to it during low tide, is in one of the most picturesque settings imaginable for a town. Behind it rises Cadillac Mountain, the highest peak on America's eastern coast, and in front are the crystal blue waters of Frenchman Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The community is on Mt. Desert Island, and is surrounded by Acadia National Park. It is a vibrant and historic place, home to artists, writers, lobster fishermen, outdoor enthusiasts. It would be difficult to find a more ideal locale for a summer vacation.

Bar Harbor is nothing at all like Gatlinburg, Tennessee; Estes Park, Colorado, or West Yellowstone, Montana. Yet it reminds me of all of these towns in that they are all gateway communiies to some of America's most cherished national parks. As such, they are usually crowded with tourists. Late spring to early fall is the primary tourist season at Bar Harbor. But the town doesn't go away in winter. Some say that the less crowded "off season" is one of the most magical times of all in this charming oceanfront village.

Acadia National Park, Maine

Located on the rugged Atlantic coast of Maine, Acadia National Park encompasses 47,000 scenic acres of mountains, lakes, woodlands, rocks, wildlife and spectacular scenery. Unique among the national parks, Acadia has 44 miles of historic carriage roads which are one of the finest examples of broken-stone roads left in America. These are off limits to motorized vehicles, but very popular with bicyclists, hikers, and horse drawn carriages. There are also 27 miles of paved roads. The park lies primarily on Mt. Desert Island, first discovered by Samuel Champlain in 1604, and later the haunt of the rich and famous. Some of America's wealthiest families built extravagant summer cottages here in the 1800s, where they came to escape the summer heat.

Most of the old homes and hotels are gone now, many a victim of fires. Much of the land was donated to the Federal Government and was designated Sieur de Monts National Monument by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916. Three years later, as the park expanded with more land donations, it was redesignated a National Park, the first to be established in the eastern United States. Acadia is a wonderland for the nature lover, outdoor enthusiast and history buff alike.

Karen and I spent four glorious days here in early September, 2005. This photo was taken from the top of Cadillac Mountain, near the center of the park.

Portland Head Lighthouse, Cape Elizabeth, Maine

Cape Elizabeth is home to one of the most spectacularly beautiful lighthouses on America's east coast, the Portland Head Light. It is the oldest lighthouse in Maine.

Standing at the entrance to Portland Harbor, the 72-foot high stone lighthouse was built by local masons and completed in January 1791. The first lighthouse keeper, appointed by President George Washington, was Captain Joseph Greenleaf, a Revolutionary War veteran