While Popham is not in Boothbay Harbor it is a very popular day trip destination for many who vacation in Boothbay Harbor. Popham Beach is one of the finest and longest sandy beaches in Maine. Located at the tip of Phippsburg peninsula near Bath, Popham Beach State Park is a popular spot for locals and visitors. There's plenty of beach to stretch out on, so even on the busiest summer days, you can find an uncrowded spot to call your own (although you may have difficulty finding parking).
Picnic tables and charcoal pits, as well as a bathhouse with freshwater showers, are available in the wooded section of the park. Fort Popham, built during the Civil War in 1860 and never finished, is located two miles further down Route 209. The fort sits on the banks of the Kennebec River where it broadens into Atkins Bay, and offers views of Georgetown across the river. A second fort, Fort Baldwin, built during World War 1 as an observatory used to spot periscopes of enemy submarines, sits atop nearby Sabino Hill.
Once you've parked your car and walked the short distance to the beach, you'll find sand stretching to the right as far as the eye can see. Slightly to the left, a rocky outcropping, which is interesting to explore, is reachable at low tide. Keep your eye on the incoming tide and don't get caught on this little island when the tide starts to turn. To the left of this outcropping, at the mouth of the Kennebec River, is Pond Island, a ten-acre island with a lighthouse built in 1821. The lighthouse is not open to the public, but several boat companies offer cruises that pass the island for a close-up view.
Fun Fact: The Kevin Costner movie "Message in a Bottle" was filmed here!
Popham Beach
(207)389-1335
Route 209, Phippsburg
To reach Fort Popham and the quaint village of Popham, which is part of Phippsburg, continue past the beach entrance on Route 209. The fort is at the end of the road, after the town. Fort Baldwin can be reached by heading back through the village and taking the first right after the chapel and library on Fort Baldwin Road. Both forts are open May through September 30th 9 a.m. until sunset.
For a great place to stay in Boothbay Harbor, consider Newagen Seaside Inn at 800-654-5242 or Lawnmere Inn at 800-633-7645, located waterfront just minutes from the quaint fishing village of Boothbay Harbor.
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