Cynthia - Click to enlarge Edition #38, 23 March 2009

Hello, my name is Cynthia, a mermaid from the cool waters of New England. Thank you for visiting my collection of articles on coastal New England, and a warm welcome to my new friends on Twitter!

Look for other articles in this series on the home page.

Bath, Maine

This week we pay a visit to Bath, Maine, the 'City of Ships'. Bath is located in southwestern Maine, and is the county seat of Sagadahoc County. Originally part of Georgetown, Bath was set off and incorporated as a town in February of 1781. Bath was named by postmaster Dummer Sewell after Bath in Somerset, England. Here is a map of Bath.

The Maine Maritime Museum can show you what shipbuilding was like 100 years ago. The kids will enjoy the pirate playship, and everyone will enjoy seeing the museum's thousands of artifacts. The museum is located at 243 Washington Street in Bath, and is open from 9:30am to 5pm daily except for Christmas, New Year's Day, and Thanksgiving.

Artists were sought to paint colorful canvas banners to hang in downtown Bath. The result is Banners Over Bath, a project that was originated by local artist Susan Perrine. The fifth annual Banners Over Bath can be seen now through May 15th.

Bath, Maine When the sun shines bright, head to Popham Beach State Park, located just 15 minutes from downtown Bath. Lifeguards are on duty during the summer months, but swimmers should note that this is a strong surf beach with undertow. The park is located at 10 Perkins Farm Lane in Phippsburg. Take Maine Route 209 south out of Bath for about 14 miles and follow the signs.

One Saturday each year in May, Bath hosts the largest citywide yard sale in Maine. Mayfair allows residents to easily sell items they no longer use by handling the publicity for them. The exact date for Mayfair 2009 has not yet been announced, so be sure to watch the website and prepare to go shopping!

Want to take some Maine home with you? Gilmores Seafood packs lobsters, crabs, clams, and shrimp for travel. Gilmores is located at 129 Court Street and says, "If you can't make both ends Meat, make one end Fish." Hours are 7am to 6pm daily.

There are a number of fine Bed and Breakfasts in Bath. One example is Benjamin F. Packard House at 45 Pearl Street in Bath's Historic District. Built in 1790, this Italianate home features four suites/rooms priced from $130 in season, mid-May through October. Owners Mark and Amy say, "Come be Pampered in Comfortable Elegance."

In any New England town, the small locally owned shops are what make shopping and exploring fun. In Bath, pay a visit to Magnolia Gift Store at 129 Front Street, Now You're Cooking at 49 Front Street, and the candy shop at 19 Centre Street.

In Bath, the restaurant that folks are talking about is Cabin Pizza at 552 Washington Street. A crisp crust, plenty of toppings, what more can I say? If pizza isn't your thing, then try the steak or chicken subs.

Mae's Cafe & Bakery is a landmark restaurant located at 160 Centre Street. Serving Breakfast and Lunch from 8am to 4pm daily, Mae's Cafe is a great place to meet friends for a relaxing meal. Try the Lobster Roll, the Chicken Caesar Wrap, or The Trolley (grilled chicken breast with onion, lettuce, tomato and avocado on a bulky roll with Ranch dressing.) In addition to serving great food, Mae's hosts four art shows a year.

Learn more about Bath at www.visitbath.com and www.cityofbath.com. If you should see me in the water, be sure to wave!

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Photo Credits:
Cynthia at Sunrise: DSI Photo
Bath, Maine: Webshots/gboyd1047

©2009 Gold Mermaid