A nice outing. The structures are still in good shape, lots of history here…read more Especially loved the map that shows where things are in front of you. Views of Constitution Light (NH) and Whaleback Light, which is actually just a short 10 minute drive away and we went to visit that after! Sign said they officially open Memorial day but the picnic area across the street was open.

Working through my Maine State Parks pass, we revisited Fort McClary around Memorial Day weekend…read more There were a couple of families using the picnic tables, some folks walking their dogs, but we were able to once again explore the grounds at our own pace (probably helped that it was kind of a cool and misty day)!  As I mentioned in my first review: they really did a wonderful job preserving the area. There's sweeping ocean (and, of course, lighthouse) views, spacious green lawns, a small hiking trail behind the parking lot (I think part of it might accidentally lead into someone's backyard!; one part brings you all the way to the entrance), and all the fun things kids/kids-at-heart can climb all over. From the canons to the bunker (you can go down inside it; be careful, it's wet!), the powder house to the enormous unfinished walls on the perimeter of the property, I'm impressed that people can still pretty much touch and be a part of everything! Lots of forts I grew up going to now have gates and fences and barriers up to prevent the public from walking on/too close to things for preservation purposes. Which, as I mentioned in my first review, I totally understand and respect, but I think there's something pretty cool about being able to immerse yourself in a site like this when you can get so close! We *still* weren't able to go inside the Blockhouse though! Next time!

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.

Fort Constitution is a historic fort with an identity crisis. While the Fort is a New Hampshire…read moreState Park it is within an active area of a US Coast Guard base. As a result, visiting the fort is hit or miss. After making the three hour drive, I was only able to see the part of the fort through a rusty fence or from across the Piscataqua River. The Fort was established pre-Revolutionary War (1631) to protect the Colonies and harbor. The Fort was taken by Patriots during the Revolutionary War. There are several structures on the grounds including the Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, the fort itself, Battery Farnsworth (built 1899) and the ruins of Walbach Tower (built 1814). The drive across New Castle island to the fort is lovely with old New England homes. There is a small parking lot at the entrance to the park. I've since learned that there is a way to drive over to the fort, perhaps the best way is to ask when you arrive. There is designated parking outside the fence where you can view the old battery and read about the history of the Walbach Tower. The Tower was built during the War of 1812 and has since collapsed. The Farnsworth Battery became decommissioned in 1917 when the guns were moved to Europe during WWI. There's a lot of interesting history at the site. Call the Park before coming to learn how to get in.

sitting beside the local coast guard installation fort constitution, like the nearby portsmouth…read moreharbor lighthouse, remains inaccessible to the general public for several years now (according to government representatives "it's for your own good, trust us.") the remains of Walbach tower dominate the site currently a mass of stone and concrete well on its way to becoming a pile of rubble; inferior materials and poor construction techniques contributed to the fort's early deterioration with the local hoodlummery and idlers apparently doing their best to hasten the collapse despite the addition of barbed wire and fencing some years ago. this structure is in a sorry state of disrepair but with a little motivation and a small bucket of cash the fort could either be rehabilitated or obliterated entirely in short order. meanwhile there's some goats for hire doing their best to keep the vegetation in check. call ahead for grazing times and dates. +3 stars for the goats and their keepers!!

We had a great time on the boat with Captain Jon. He is very knowledgeable, about the area and…read moreabout the fishing/lobster'ing, and he is very friendly. Our trip was customized to fit our family's needs and everyone enjoyed themselves. I would highly recommend!

Wow, what a fantastic experience! I highly recommend Captain Jon for an amazing boating trip. He…read morewas so knowledgeable about Maine and everything around us. He gave us a really wonderful, informational tour of the area. Aside from all of the information he provided, he was very personable and created a great experience for us aboard. We all felt very safe the whole time and saw some really cool things along the way!

We had an incredible time on our bike tour with Donna. We did the 3 hr tour hitting every part of…read morePortsmouth. Our e-bikes worked great and were very comfortable. Donna was a true historian of the area and told us all about the history and prominent sites with her enthusiastic energy which made it truly interesting. Our ride was challenging enough to keep us active and moving while being totally doable. What a great way to see the area in a way that would be very difficult to do on your own as a visitor. I highly recommend it!

This was definitely a five star experience. We did the Island tour. Paul, the guide, was amazing…read more So knowledgeable. A true historian. We learned so much about the city. And the views were so beautiful. We rode along the water and into New Castle. It was a long ride but we made plenty of stops. I haven't been on a bike in ten years but was able to keep up. The tour was the highlight of our trip! Thanks, Port City!

A nice good clean place to stop . To use the bathrooms which are well maintained. They are very…read moreclean. They have an area of ℹ where you can ask questions and pick up brochures. This is a very helpful resource.

Located just after you cross the border from New Hampshire in Kittery, Maine off US-95 (the…read moreturnpike) and can also be reached off US-1. The Maine Visitors Center and grounds is absolutely beautiful and extremely clean. They offer all the typical stuff...clean restrooms, a vending/money machine building, picnic area, dog walking area, more than ample parking, etc. The information they offer is for every part of Maine, to include some areas in Canada and a few things in the nearby states. Everything and anything you want or need to know is here. And if they don't have a brochure, leaflet, etc.....just ask! The staff here is beyond knowledgeable about what is in the state, the surrounding states and the portions of Canada that border with Maine. Not to mention they can make some great recommendations.

Top notch experience! They are very well organized from the instructions you receive after…read moreregistering to the check-in process and parking for $5 for the duration of your trip. It was great that it was a live narration rather than a recording. So many interesting facts along the way. We took the shoals island tour that included 1 hour at Star Island. The option to take a 1/2 hour tour or explore on your own for about an hour was available. Plenty of time to look around. Snacks and drinks available in boats are affordable or you can bring your own snacks. Overall a great experience.

We went on the M/V Thomas Laighton to and from Star Island…read more These folks are tops in their business. Not only a pleasant trip but also a superb narration of the historical significance of the details and also the points of interest along the route. Comfortable, full bar, snacks and great views.

This is the nation's oldest and continually operating Naval base in the country with its history…read morebased in shipbuilding because of its access to Northeastern pine. Shipbuilding began here in 1696 with the HMS Falkland, the first British ship built in the 13 colonies. Commissioned in 1800, famous ships refurbished here included The Constitution ("Old Ironsides") and the first of our nation's submarines built in 1917. Various buildings in this harbor held prisoners of the Spanish-American War and crews from captured German U-boats. President Roosevelt won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906 for his signing the Treaty of Portsmouth right here that ended the Russo-Japanese war in 1905. What looks like an unassuming harbor with working naval boats holds so much history dating back to the founding of these United States. Take your children and history buff friends here.

Nice selection of items for size of exchange. Good prices and tax free.read more