Fort Popham State Historic Site – Phippsburg, Maine

Fort Popham State Historic Site in Phippsburg, Maine is a fine example of a civil war era fort built during the the Third System of fortifications which began in 1861. The ruined fort is great fun to explore and run about with towers and dark tunnels. A great place to spend an hour either before or after heading towards the beach at Popham Beach State Park just two miles up the road.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New video by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

All kinds of informative signage if you want to learn something while exploring.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

Watch Alex’s video to see how much a young child loves exploring the old fort.

New video by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

“The fort was built a long time ago way before I was even born” – Alex (HaHa)
Rita made a couple of vlogs as well:

New video by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New video by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

Popham Beach State Park – Phippsburg, Maine

Popham Beach State Park in Phippsburg, Maine is a great destination for a summer swimming and beach day. There is a large parking are and two changing facilities. The beach is long, wide and sandy. The beach itself has strong surf and occasional riptides and strong currents. Care must be taken especially if you have children with you. Properly supervised the surf can be fun. There are lifeguards in place during the summer months.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

Be prepared depending on the tide to walk a great distance to get to the water. The beach is great for sunbathing and playing in the sand but not so good for mixing in trips to the water.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

An interesting side trip a few miles down the road is the Fort Popham State Historic Site.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

Restaurant Review – Clambake (Scarborough, Maine)

Scarborough, Maine just north of Old Orchard beach has a restaurant that brings back many childhood memories. We used to camp in nearby Cornish, Maine and make frequent trips to Old Orchard Beach in the summer. The highlight of the beach day would be a stop at the Clambake restaurant for seafood. Of course we never knew the restaurant by that name, back in the day the small seafood shack used to erect large awnings over picnic tables where you would sit after ordering food at the counter service. Our name for this favorite restaurant was “The Tent” because of the large canvas awnings. We would always order a huge pile of steamed clams followed by lobster and fried and baked seafood items. The restaurant has long since replaced the “tents” with wooden buildings and the “shack” is now quite large but the concept is still the same.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

You first go to the counter and place your order, receive an order number and then find a seat and wait to be called. I would recommend any of the seafood options. The scallops are my favorite if I am too full of beach snacks for the fishermen’s plate.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

The fish is always fresh.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

and if you have to you can always get a burger.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

Do not eat too much at the beach so that you can not fit in a delicious seafood meal here.

George’s Parking – Old Orchard Beach, Maine

When spending the day at Old Orchard Beach in Maine spend the money and park at George’s Parking a three minute walk to the beach with shower and restroom facilities on site.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

For ten dollars you get all the conveniences you will need for your beach day.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

It is nice to know that after a day in the sun and water you have a spot minutes from the surf with a place to shower and change.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

The parking lot has a beach shop across the street in case you forgot your towel or beach toy.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

Be sure to get your Pier French Fries.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

Nahant Beach State Reservation – Nahant, Massachusetts

Nahant Beach State Reservation in Nahant, Massachusetts is a nice swimming beach in the summer.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

There are more than a dozen access points to the beach and ample parking along the whole stretch of beach.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

The sand is soft and the water is quite shallow a long way out perfect for the little ones. There is a long bike / walking path between the parking area and the beach that is great for people watching in the summer and jogging or dog walking in the off season.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

The beach has a lifeguard during the summer season and portapottys at several locations. At the Nahant side of the beach is a nice seafood restaurant The Tides.