A nice little museum but it really isn't John Paul Jones' house. The house depicts the history of…read morePortsmouth but JPJ simply stayed at the home but it was not his. The historical value is in the rehab and Portsmouth artifacts contained in the house. The exhibition on the Portsmouth Peace Treaty is really good, they should actually highlight that more than the JPJ side of it. The Museum shop is very small and not much to look at. Overall it is ok but I would rather spend my time on another stop.

If you're a history buff you will no doubt like this place. It's full of period pieces, great…read morestoryboards, historical charm and provides a great sense of what living here during the late 18th century would have been like. After having toured John Paul Jones' tomb at the Naval Academy in Annapolis and getting a great history lesson there from our tour guide, we were anxious to stop at this house during our recent visit to Portsmouth. Conveniently, it was right around the corner from our hotel! The house is run by the Portsmouth Historical Society who have done a great job re-establishing the home to its current state after what we learned were years of neglect. With volunteer help and amazing contributions of historical furniture and other items from committed supporters, the home really does bring you into the age of John Paul Jones. I didn't mind the $5 senior citizen admission charge knowing that it was going to support the upkeep and maintenance of such a historic place. The representative from the Historical Society provided an excellent narrative of the significance of the home and all that is contained therein. Very informative. Then we were free to wonder at our leisure. What was a surprise, however, was that this was really NOT John Paul Jones' house. Yes, he rented a room here on two occasions during the construction of war ships. I was under the mistaken impression that he owned this house. Turns out that he was just a boarder here. Nonetheless, you'll get a good overview of his life and the significance of the man known as the Father of the U.S. Navy.

When I wandered into the Portsmouth Athenaeum I had a Belle from Beauty and the Beast moment. The…read morelibrary is not as grand as Beast's, but there is something magical about being around really, really old books and stuff. We met a man who was working (or was he just hanging out? not sure) there and was nice enough to give us a special tour of the place! He was so knowledgeable about the history of Portsmouth and was so passionate about the town. I saw some really neat artifacts here, including whale vertebrae...which totally made me squeal in excitement. Just take a visit to the Portsmouth Athenaeum and strike up a conversation. You never know what you will discover!

If you are a history buff, you have to check out the Portsmouth Athenaeum! The front door is…read moresomewhat hidden but if you walk a little bit up the block from Starbucks you'll find it. Couple flights of stairs or an elevator and you find yourself in the middle of a pretty neat research library. We went to the North End History exhibit and it was super-informative and very interesting. Lots of neat old photos and details about parts of Portsmouth we drive by on a regular basis without realizing their historical significance. Ask for James, ask a few questions, and sit back and laugh as he takes the history of the area and wraps it up in funny and memorable stories and anecdotes. Just a note - finish your food and coffee before visiting. There are some incredibly old books in this place and you don't want to spill!

York, ME has a number of historic sites, including the Old Parish Cemetery. I was lead here to…read morevisit the grave of Mary Nasson and found a lovely historic site. Headstones are varied. Simple, decorative, some include memorials to the departed. The town also placed a couple of memorials here to memorialize residents buried elsewhere. The property is in good condition on a tree filled lot. It's a serene spot appropriate for an historical cemetery. Parking on Lindsay Rd is free. No services. Town hall is across the street. Road side displays on York St. include information on some of those interred as well as nearby historic sites. You can spend a good deal of time reading headstones and monuments here.

Perkins Cove is one of the very few places to park in Ogunquit, ME. Pay at the kiosk near the…read moreentrance to the parking lot. There are a few shops in this area where you can purchase souvenirs, ice cream and other things. The bridge is near these shops. If you are new to the Maine coastline, Ogunquit offers some nice views of the rocky seaside and open ocean. You climb up on the bridge to view the cove, filled with boats on our visit, on one side and a waterway to the ocean on the other. The area as a whole is very 'seaside, tourist destination'. It's known for it's photo opportunity. For myself, it was just OK. However, I have lived seaside for decades and have had many opportunities, in many states, to enjoy the views. So take that opinion with a grain of salt. We came to Perkins Cove to park and walk the Marginal Way, so it was a quick stop to explore the area a bit before we headed off on our walk. You will definitely get that 'cute sea side village' impression here and if you walk the Marginal Way, you will end in the village of Ogunquit at the other end.

Such a beautiful part of Ogunquit. Love walking the Marginal Way to Perkins Cove and seeing this…read morepicturesque bridge. Definitely worth it to walk on the bridge and see the views from either direction. IT's a special treat to see the drawbridge in action when a boat needs to go through. This area is very walkable with cute shops, a few restaurants, a lobster roll shop, and an ice cream show. It's also a working harbor with docks and reserved parking areas for fishermen. We always make a point of visiting Perkins Cove whenever we come to Ogunquit.

The one bridge that that brings you into happiness.... MAINE! The bridge is beautiful and easy to…read morenavigate. I just truly love this bridge because it really does bring me into happiness. We never have had any issues navigating the bridge. One review talks about coming around the bend and you can see the bridge in the distance. You just know you are getting close. Then when you are on the bridge and you see the sign... entering Maine. From there you are coming off the Blue Star Turnpike into the Maine Turnpike.

The Piscataqua River Bridge is a major east coat highway that connects Portsmouth New Hampshire and…read moreKittery Maine. This steel through arch bridge was completed in 1972, six lanes.. three in each way spanning across 4,503 ft. We travel this bridge every time we are on vacation in Maine. It's easy to cross over and lucky never had any delays. Beautiful views on both sides.

I discovered Fort Foster almost two years ago when I decided to explore Kittery. I was looking to…read morespend a bit more time along the pristine coast of Maine and enjoy the sounds of the ocean again. What I didn't expect to find was just how perfect this location was and how the seasons change the overall experience of walking along the beach trails. During late spring to early fall, charcoal grills are installed along the abundant picnic tables so the scent of grilled meats permeate the air and boast of good times. When the grills are removed for the rest of the "off-season", the crowds become much smaller and the sound of the ocean becomes the main soundtrack. But this time around, after missing several opportunities to witness how snow transforms Fort Foster, I finally had the chance to see the magic happen. Nothing could have prepared me for the sight of magical white blanketing this whole area in a peaceful glow. The clouds, the utter silence, and the cold but refreshing breeze that bites deep reminding you what it feels like to still be alive is a magic that cannot be replaced. I love it here and I finally can say that I've loved this place truly through all the seasons.

Remnants of the historic Fort Foster and Battery Chapin can be found at this hidden gem of a park…read morein Kittery, Maine. Fort Foster was commissioned in 1900 following the Spanish American War to protect the harbor underwater minefields. Originally, Battery Chapin was equipped with large mounted guns and a spotlight. The fort ceased operation after WWII and was left idle by the military. Local residents petitioned to turn the grounds into the park that stands today. The park has great views of two lighthouses and other historic structures in the bay and across the shore. There are plenty of picnic tables and a slightly dated playground for the kids. I was able to climb the aging stairs of the Battery Chapin and explore across the structure, but I had to be careful as there are no handrails and the stairs are narrow. The fort is interesting. There is plenty of parking during off season and there was no admission. (There may be admission during peak season, I couldn't tell). Portable potties are available in the parking lot. The park is a great place to bring kids, walk the dog or just have a peaceful afternoon. Lots of history and beauty to enjoy.

this light sits behind the coast guard station in portsmouth harbor and is thoroughly inaccessible…read moresince the plannedemic according to the goat keepers which kind of detracts from the whole "let's go see some historic lighthouses" experience but slightly enhances the "we're already here so let's go have a look" and "do you think the coast guard is hiding something back there?" aspects of the trip so it's almost a push. original tower erected in 1771 was the first light north of bean-town; the current forty-eight foot tower was built in 1878, the focal plane for the fixed green light is 52' up and visible for 12 nautical miles give or take... automated in 1960 the light is still in use and the coast guard still holds title but the 'merican lighthouse foundation holds license since 2000 with the local chapter acting as stewards and fixing whatever needs it. the light is supposedly open to the public a few days each year but not right now because of storm damage and the impending change of seasons.

With Fort Constitution closed, all opportunities to visit the lighthouse are null. You can see…read moreanother lighthouse at the distance, in an island and maybe available with a boat, but the Portsmouth Harbor lighthouse is not available. You can walk around, go into street that lead to the area, but the lighthouse is not visible from the street unless you go further. Basically, skip until the fort is open again.

Pam was amazing! She made our stay wonderful. The view was…read moregorgeous and it was fun watching the boats and water

Fires lights and…read morecoasts The town of Newburyport has a long ship building and nautical history, mostly because of it's location right on the Merrimack River. The river empties in to the sea and is wide enough for some large ships to go into Newburyport. Unfortunately the river can also be very treacherous. Lots of huge storms, fog and currants turns the lovely river into a real killer at times. Many ships have been lost trying to get into Newburyport. So the good people of the town decided that something had to be done to make it safe. At first huge bonfires were lit to help guide the way up the river but that proved less than satisfactory. So in 1873 a lighthouse was construction at the point where the river narrows into the town. In fact two lighthouses were built. Having two lights was once thought to make things easier for ships to judge angles and distances but frequently proved to just makes things more complicated. The idea was to have a small one in front and then a taller one in the back to contrast the first light. With the fog and other variables it never worked quite as well as advertised and the idea soon fell out of use. The front range lighthouse in Newburyport is small, only about 25 feet tall and right next to the river. It originally had a 6th order Fresnel Lens that was later removed. It served it's purpose of guiding ships into the town until it was deactivated in 1961. It still is a very cool looking little light but is frequently neglected and ignored because of the looming presence of the much taller rear range light just a few hundred feet away. The light is now part of the Coast Guard Station and is blocked off by a fence. But nice views can be had if you go right down to the river and peer around the fence. Don't try to actually go on the CG property, I learned the hard way that they don't like that. It's a little light but one that did it's lighthouse duties for decades. Survived all kinds of storms and everything else nature could throw at it. It's no longer is active but still a cool part of the maritime history of Newburyport.