KITTERY & YORK
Photo by Jeff Morris, the Pierce Studio
Kittery
Whether you want that long awaited first taste of lobster, a step back in history, or simply a shopping expedition, Kittery will satisfy your needs. Kittery is easily reached from I95 and Routes 1/103/236. Kittery, the gateway to Maine, was first settled in 1623 and incorporated in 1652, named after a manor house in Devonshire, England. Be sure to visit the Frisbee General Store, circa 1828, the oldest still-in-thefamily (6th generation) emporium in the United States and the 1926 Kittery Trading Post which launched the outlet boom. Kittery is home to 120 plus factory outlets and boutiques lining both sides of Route 1; it also has two forts and museums, a fine park and historic architecture. Accommodations range from inns and motels to farmstead B&Bs. Restaurants abound suiting everyone’s taste and wallet.
24
www.gotravelmaine.com
York
The seacoast area is awash in history and the group of villages known as “The Yorks” has been fortunate enough to preserve its fair share of it. York Village, York Harbor, York Beach and Cape Neddick have their own personalities and each has something different to offer. As an Abenaki Indian settlement, York was first named Agamenticus, later renamed Gorgeana when Sir Ferdinando Gorges was granted a patent, and finally incorporated as York in 1652. For outdoor lovers, York offers walks, kayaking, parasailing and scuba diving, plus whale-watching trips. There are bathhouses at Long Sands Beach and Short Sands Beach, which has a playground and basketball courts. York Harbor Beach is sandy and sheltered. Walk the two-mile Boat Harbor Trail, and don’t miss the Cliff Walk flanked by 19th-century homes, beaches and views. Cross York Harbor’s Wiggly Bridge, the smallest suspension bridge in the world, this leads to the Stedman Woods bird sanctuary and walking trails. Mount Agamenticus, 692 feet, provides horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking and views.