We’d originally planned to make the five-plus hour round trip to Acadia National Park, perhaps the most well-known destination in Maine. But, Amanda was tired after managing the kids by herself, I was tired from my busy work trip to Iowa, and the kids weren’t super excited for a long day in the car. We traded what would have been an extremely busy day into a low-key day in the area including a return to Popham Beach.
Eilidh and I had a donut at Dunkin’ before dropping off our laundry in Brunswick, Maine, about a 10-minute drive from the hotel in Bath. We then returned to Bath where we explored their charming downtown and purchased a few baked goods at the Saturday farmer’s market. I wish we would have carved out some more time to spend in Bath, which had several intruding shops we didn’t have time to visit.
Eilidh did a little math in the van before we left the Dunkin’ parking lot.
Lunch was from Bruno’s Wood-fired Pizza, a vast improvement from the Domino’s delivery order the night before. We devoured every piece of pizza except for three that were dropped on the hotel room floor. By 2:00, we were in the car and on our way to Popham Beach. It was a return visit for Amanda and the kids but marked my first visit.
The lobster pizza featured Maine lobster, caramelized onions, roasted corn, green onions, Bechamel sauce, and asiago cheese.
On the way to Popham, Amanda took the older kids into a quaint Rock Shop in Phippsburg, Maine, directly along our route. When we parked at Popham Beach, we noticed a helicopter was on-site and the pilot was letting children take a look inside. It was operated by Maine Forest Rangers and on-site to potentially put out a small fire at a nearby island. Noah and Emmie got a chance to sit in the front while Eilidh viewed the chopper from afar.
Eilidh stuck her head out of the sunroof while the older kids were in the rock shop.
The beach was pleasant enough but we would have benefited from yesterday’s heat. While we mostly spent our time on the sand, there was no shortage of Mainers who were swimming in the cold ocean water. I was only able to hang around for about an hour until I had to jump in the van to return and get our laundry before the attendant left for the day. By the time I returned, a few sprinkles had arrived and Amanda and the kids had retreated from the beach to the parking lot.
Eilidh originally wanted a sandcastle but settled for a sand seat.
Eilidh was a little chilly by the end of our beach visit.
For dinner, we made a short jaunt down the road to the Popham Beach State Historic Site, which had some more beach and was adjacent to Spinney’s Oceanfront Restaurant. We placed an order, the kids explored the rocks and beach, and within twenty minutes, we had our food to take to a nearby picnic table with a scenic view.
Noah and Emmie posed for a final photo before we left the Fort Popham State Historic Site… at least until our return tomorrow morning.