Bath & Phippsburg

Ships have been very good for Bath and Phippsburg. Bath is still called the City of Ships and the heritage of shipbuilding and shipping have left this town with neighborhoods full of gorgeous mansions, churches and businesses built during its heyday in the sea trade. Today, the monstrous cranes of Bath’s shipyard, The Bath Iron Works (BIW), still tower over the downtown.

Things to Do in Bath

Today, Bath is a Designated Main Street Community, recognized for its work preserving its beautiful and historic downtown. It’s stuffed with shops, restaurants and galleries. Main Street Bath has events throughout the year including Heritage Days in early July, an Old Fashioned Christmas, and Winterfest – an annual celebration with a lantern parade, ice sculptures, shopping and more in February.

Shopping in downtown Bath is a delight! Visit  Island Treasure Toys for puzzles, games, and craft kits, and then enjoy a treat at Bath’s Sweete Shoppe, a candy shop offering sweet delights and gifts. For book lovers,  Mockingbird Bookshop offers timeless classics, new releases, and local favorites, as well as steaming cups of tea to-go, while  Open Door Bookstore specializes in rare and out-of-print books. Refresh your space at  Maine Street Design Co with a selection of local home décor products and a professional design team ready to assist you. Home cooks and kitchen gadget lovers know that Now You’re Cooking  is a must when it comes to cookware shopping. They also carry a wonderful wine selection.

Downtown, the  Chocolate Church Arts Center – built inside a Gothic Revival church – offers concerts and plays, such as those by the  Studio Theatre of Bath.

The Maine Maritime Museum sits within the former Percy and Small Shipyard, once a builder of wooden sailing ships. The shipyard buildings are incorporated into the museum and used as exhibits. Outside is a life-sized sculpture of the ‘Wyoming,’ the largest sailing ship built in North America. It was constructed in the yard. You can take a boat tour of surrounding lighthouses and the Bath Iron Works facility. You can also visit a reproduction of Maine’s first ship ever built – Virginia – which was constructed at the Popham Colony in 1607.

To learn more about Bath’s heritage, take a walk. This walking tour  will lead you through its charming and historic center. Looking for some more exercise? Try the many hiking and biking trails in Bath, many in nature preserves. If you want to get on the water, hop in a kayak or on a stand-up paddleboard from Seaspray Kayaking and Paddleboarding.

Things to Do in Phippsburg

Phippsburg, down a peninsula from Bath, is home to Popham Beach State Park, with a glorious stretch of sand where the Kennebec River meets the sea. Movie junkies should keep an eye out; the park provided important locations for the Kevin Costner/Paul Newman movie ‘Message in a Bottle.’

History fans can also visit two forts – Fort Popham and Fort Baldwin. Both were designed to guard the mouth of the Kennebec River from invading navies. Massive Fort Popham was constructed of granite blocks on the banks of the river during the Civil War era. Fort Baldwin was built later, just before World War I. Both are now state historic sites.

Restaurants in Bath and Phippsburg

Looking for some something good to eat? In Bath, check out the Kennebec Tavern, J. R. Maxwell & Co., or The Cabin for hand-tossed pizzas. In Phippsburg, consider The Ledges Pub at Sebasco Harbor Resort and Spinneys at Popham Beach. Also check out these suggestions and scroll down our list of regional businesses below.

Where to Stay in Bath and Phippsburg

In Bath, you can choose from a number of accommodations including the Hampton Inn Bath Brunswick, the Kennebec Inn, the Middle Street Inn, the Benjamin F. Packard House, the Pryor House and The Inn at Bath. In Phippsburg, consider the Sebasco Harbor Resort and the historic 1774 Inn. Also check out these suggestions and scroll down the list of regional businesses