"Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle in your boots and shoes Wiggle,…read morewiggle, wiggle, you got nothing to lose" (Bob Dylan) Ever since I stumbled upon a Yelp listing for something as awesomely named as "The Wiggly Bridge", I knew I just had to make a visit happen one of these days. Pulling off that visit was difficult, because following the address we had put us in the middle of a residential neighborhood with "Permit Parking Only" signs galore. We parked off to the side, held our breath, crossed our fingers, and looked for the Bridge, which was nowhere to be found. Luckily, a gent was walking near us, and he directed us to a long circuitous walk down an elevated path, under the road, and across a marine walkway. As we walked and walked and walked, we finally caught sight of the big green spires that told us we had found the elusive Wiggly Bridge. The Wiggly Bridge is just 75 feet long, and I've seen a few sources claim it's the smallest suspension bridge in the world. And yes, we can confirm that when you walk across it, it most definitely bounces, wiggles, and flexes under your feet. I can also confirm that on a rainy day (like today), the Bridge should really be named "The Wiggly and Slippery Bridge", because it was slippery as hell.

The Wiggly Bridge is a narrow pedestrian suspension bridge that stands in York, Maine. Located just…read moreoff of Maine State Route 103 (Lilac Lane), the 75-foot-long bridge crosses the tidal flow from Barrel Mill Pond to the York River. Built in the 1930s, it is believed to be the smallest suspension bridge in the United States. The bridge provides access to the Steedman Woods Nature Preserve and is a popular feature of the Fisherman's Walk trail. Originally known as the "Barrel Bridge", local lore claims that it earned its current name from a perceptive group of Girl Scouts who noted the bridge's "wiggly" nature. When walked upon, the deck bounces and flexes, banging back and forth in the anchorages. Many native southern Mainers can share their own childhood memories of leaping over the edge into the water and being pushed underneath with the current, one way or the other depending on the tide. This practice, as well as clam digging and any other possibly damaging activity, is now discouraged due to the erosion of mudflats. The Wiggly Bridge stands out as an iconic landmark and a must-visit destination for anyone looking to immerse themselves in York, Maine's unique charm and natural splendor. Steedman Woods is also a great place to visit. A nice stroll on the trails in this lush and tranquil forest offer scenic viewpoints and picturesque spots that showcase the breathtaking beauty of the Maine coast. Parking near the Wiggly Bridge is limited, so you may need to park on the side of Route 103 or in a nearby harbor lot, keeping in mind some spots may require a permit or have time restrictions. It is also possible to walk to the bridge from nearby York Village.

Lovely and stately mansion adjacent to the Salmon Falls lake and Vaughn Woods, Hamilton House is…read morenamed for the first owner . It is built for a wealthy merchant/privateer and it clearly shows with its rich wood carvings and grand front hall. Tour guide is friendly and shows the house at a good pace. No awkward silences. There is one bathroom on the grounds and lovely gardens for visitors to walk through. People book the venue for weddings.

This gorgeous historical site is the perfect bit of peace when we don't want to sit among the…read morenoisy, too-close-for-comfort crowds lining every inch of southern Maine beaches. It's an oasis of green trees, bushes, and grasses dotted with the most beautiful variety of flowers. There's classic statuary, stone walls, an artists cabin, scattered chairs and benches, the stately old home and, of course, marvelous views of the calm Salmon Falls River. If you look closely, you might spot a heron or several turtles coming out of the mud, marching slowly toward the tidal waters as the river's edge fills back in. You can even access Vaughan Woods from a footpath, if you'd like to get a hike in. Of course, you can always bring a blanket, a picnic, and just enjoy the gorgeousness that surrounds you. Bathroom situation: in season there's a wee house-type structure that opens into a single, large bathroom. It appears to be cleaned and stocked regularly.

This is one of Maine's iconic lighthouses that is easy to access by car if you're visiting York, ME…read moreor driving through the area. First, it's pretty for taking a photo or two. You cannot access the island directly, but can view the lighthouse from the parking lot. Second, you can walk down the rocks on the left side and watch the crashing waves. In the summer (we visited on July 4, 2026), it can get quite crowded (the parking lot has perhaps 40 spaces in total). But most people do not stay for a long time. If you are driving to Maine on the coastal route, I would strongly recommend visiting here for a photo after you cross the state line at Kittery!

Beautiful lighthouse. Easy to navigate to the location and easy to park. It was so peaceful to…read morewatch the waves crash against the rocks. As a tourist, this checked all my boxes, especially that there was no cost to enter the parking lot.

This is one of several mysterious stone chambers in New England, whose provenance and purpose is…read moreunknown. Usually they are square or rectangular in shape, with stone slabbed roofs and soil floors. Archaeologists usually try to claim that they were built by early colonists as 'root cellars' yet they are ill-suited to that task as the floors are soil, which is hardly conducive to dry storage. There is also some documentary evidence from early colonists saying that the chambers were there when they arrived. Other chambers have had very old trees growing out of their walls, evidence that the chamber must be older than the tree. Another theory is that they were sweat lodges used by native Americans, but there is no evidence to show that any native groups built stone sweat lodges. So who did build these things? The closest equivalent in Britain is the souterrains of Scotland or fogous of Cornwall, but these tend to be larger and have curved layouts. The corbelled roof construction is similar to the beehive cells constructed by early monks like the Culdees, but there the similarity ends. Maybe it was early Viking explorers? An earlier megalithic culture that we don't know about? It's a fascinating enigma. Research by antiquarians and earth mystery researchers has shown that many chambers have precise geometric ratios in their construction, and that they are aligned to significant solar events like midwinter solstice, and this Beehive Hut seems no exception. The proportions are almost exactly 2:1 - it is just short of being twice as long as it is wide, and the width and height are the same. The entrance (by my estimation) seems to be aligned to midwinter sunrise (it's hard to be precise because of the tree cover), and is situated part-way up a hillside, which would allow the rising sun to enter the chamber. There are an interesting couple of white quartz stones, one in the back wall and one in the left-hand side wall, which may mark the extremes of the sunrise positions between equinox and winter solstice. But as I'm not resident here I am unable to do the long-term observations that this theory would require to confirm it. Interested locals should get in touch with the New England Antiquities Research Association (NEARA), who will know more about these things.

During our visit in early May there were few people here making for a quiet visit. There are…read moreseveral picnic tables and a few benches scattered around the property with beautiful views of the water. This fort was active through many wars and then decommissioned while building a protective wall around the property. Huge slabs of quarried stone, partually carved blocks and lots of stone 'chips' are scattered about. There are a few information signs detailing the history of Fort McClary and some buildings have signs that state the building purpose. Foundations of some buildings is all that remains. They have a few cannons on display. Check out their website for information on events and when the fort is manned. There is a seperate picnic grove up the road about 50 yards across the street. A dirt parking lot holds around a dozen vehicles or so and there is an 'RV turn around' area, but no parking for RV's or busses here. One outhouse is located past the end of the parking lot. There is a wooded trail at the back corner.

they have been shooting off loud cannons all weekend. we live right across the harbor in new…read morecastle, nh and the cannon noise goes on until after 9 pm at night scaring our small children and dogs. it is unnecessary and when we called dalton richardson the park manager at 207-357-3642 we got nothing but blather and defensiveness. this is an incredibly poorly managed park with no oversite to the people shooting off the revolutionary war cannons and no interest in what the public cares about.

My husband also found this mill online while looking for mills to visit when his parents joined us…read morefor the second week of our Fall 08 Foliage Tour. Check out their web site: www.littletongristmill.com Beautiful mill built in 1797, still grinding flour. Self-guided tour with a helpful docent at the cash register. Has a wonderful small town feel. The older woman tending the mill the day we visited was also doing a TV interview. She was embarassed that she didn't make herself up prettier for her unexpected moment of local news fame! Bought a small bag of rye flour...yum! Definitely worth a stop! Plus it's free.

The tour isn't really a tour, you can go downstairs and watch a video and look at some pictures of…read morehow the mill used to look, that's about the extent of the "tour". They were also out or light on many of their products for sale, but I was still able to pick up some oatmeal and popcorn, each $4.99 for a large bag. My mom bought several of their flours and granola. I'm giving mine as gifts, so I won't be able to try it. They also see a lot of local sodas and other items besides the ones they make in their mill. They better bulk up before the holidays though! Littleton is a really cute little town, and this mill is definitely worth a stop.

On our second visit to the Zimmerman House, we were blessed with two docents (guides) from the…read moreCurrier Museum, both were very knowledgeable about Wright and the building. I learned a few new things on this visit, and we also got to walk to the Kalil house just down the street, which the museum has recently taken under its control. That could hardly be more different, yet still recognisably a Wright house.

Not what you might expect to find in Manchester, NH…read more Connected to the Currier Art Museum, they provide tours that are hosted by two volunteers. You can see this home and there is one two blocks away called the Kalili Home. If you appreciate Frank Lloyd Wright, this is a must of you're in Manchester.

this light sits behind the coast guard station in portsmouth harbor and is thoroughly inaccessible…read moresince the plannedemic according to the goat keepers which kind of detracts from the whole "let's go see some historic lighthouses" experience but slightly enhances the "we're already here so let's go have a look" and "do you think the coast guard is hiding something back there?" aspects of the trip so it's almost a push. original tower erected in 1771 was the first light north of bean-town; the current forty-eight foot tower was built in 1878, the focal plane for the fixed green light is 52' up and visible for 12 nautical miles give or take... automated in 1960 the light is still in use and the coast guard still holds title but the 'merican lighthouse foundation holds license since 2000 with the local chapter acting as stewards and fixing whatever needs it. the light is supposedly open to the public a few days each year but not right now because of storm damage and the impending change of seasons.

With Fort Constitution closed, all opportunities to visit the lighthouse are null. You can see…read moreanother lighthouse at the distance, in an island and maybe available with a boat, but the Portsmouth Harbor lighthouse is not available. You can walk around, go into street that lead to the area, but the lighthouse is not visible from the street unless you go further. Basically, skip until the fort is open again.