Bath, a town of about 10,000 people, is known as the “City of Ships” for its storied tradition of shipbuilding. The tradition lives on at the Bath Iron Works, but to get a sense of what actually goes into the creation of a sea-worthy vessel, visit Bath’s renowned Maine Maritime Museum. It features a historic shipyard with five original 19th-century buildings.
There’s plenty for landlubbers in Bath, too. Its streets are a mixture of quaint small-town charm and grandiose 19th-century neoclassical architecture—perfect for a long walk. The downtown streets offer restaurants and shopping of all sorts.
Travel Tips
The Maine Maritime Museum is open from 9:30-5:00 every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years.
Travel Information
Directions: Bath is about 35 miles from Portland. Take I-295 north for ten miles, then take exit 17 for US-1 towards Yarmouth/Freeport. Continue on US-1 through Freeport until you reach Leemans Highway. Take a right and you’ll be in Bath.