Phippsburg, a coastal town in Sagadahoc County on Maine's Mid Coast, is a popular beach destination.

Understand

The location where the popular movie Message In A Bottle was filmed, Phippsburg includes some of the best beaches in the area.

Get in

There is no local or intercity public transport.

Portland (Maine) has air and rail service. From there, I-95 north to I-295 north leads to Brunswick (Maine). Exit onto US Route 1 north, following the coast up to Bath (Maine). Exit right to State Route 209, which goes through Phippsburg.

Get around

You will need a vehicle. As roads (with the exception of Route 209) are mostly narrow with no shoulder, biking can be awkward; motorcars run 40 mph on the back roads and there can be high traffic on the way to the beach in summer's high season.

As most of the town is surrounded by water, many places are easily accessible by boat.

See

• Phippsburg Historical Society, 24 Parker Head Rd, ☏ +1 207 389-2393. Seasonal local history museum. 

Do

While the beaches are the main tourist attraction, fishing is good if you have access to a boat. Most local convenience stores sell tackle supplies. There's a good striper fishing spot on Parker Head Road at the mouth of Mill Pond, and fishing off the beach is popular. Set eels out on a hook on the beach or use a simple shad to catch them at the Mill Pond dam.

Popham Beach

• Popham Beach State Park, 10 Perkins Farm Lane (office), ☏ +1 207 389-1335. Sandy beach, picnic area. Largest beach in the area. Day-use fee, parking available for a few dollars. 
• 1 Fort Popham State Historic Site, 10 Perkins Farm Land, ☏ +1 207 389-1335. Civil War-era coastal defence fortification at the mouth of the Kennebec River in Phippsburg. Open 9AM-sunset daily from April 15th to October 30th. Fee charged. Parking is limited (an alternative is to pay to park at nearby Popham Beach).  
• 2 Fort Baldwin. A former coastal defense fortification constructed between 1905 and 1912, overlooks Fort Popham.  
• 3 Bates-Morse Mountain Conservation Area, ☏ +1 207 786-6078. Mountain surrounded by salt marshes, beach and dense Maine woods. Privately owned by Bates College for research and recreation.  
• Drummore Bay Concert Hall, 516 Main Rd (Rt. 209), ☏ +1 207 446-7199. 
• Small Point Beach. A good place to hike the rocks, as Popham is mainly beach. 
• 4 Pond Island National Wildlife Refuge. Ten acre island located in the mouth of the Kennebec River, wildlife preserve accessible by private boat. Closed to the public during nesting season.  

Buy

• Several stores sell souvenirs at the beaches.
• Andrea Brand Gallery, Sam Day Hill Rd, ☏ +1 207 319-9922. Local craft artist, barn open seasonally. 
• Bisson's Center Store, 865 Main Rd, Phippsburg (Route 209 and Parker Head Road), ☏ +1 207 389-1884. The only local fuel station, good selection of souvenirs. 
• Joshua Bate Trading Bermuda, 54 Cranberry Point, Phippsburg, ☏ +1 207 389-1353. Trading card store. 
• Percy's Store, 6 Sea St, ☏ +1 207 389-2010. 7AM-3PM. Grocer, takeaway restaurant and convenience store. 

Eat

• Percey's, 860 Main Rd. Casual family restaurant. 
• Spinney's, 987 Popham Rd, ☏ +1 207 389-1122. Seafood restaurant. 
• The Lobster House, 395 Small Point Rd, ☏ +1 207 389-1596. Scallops, lobster, seafood. 
• The Store at West Point, 47 Wallace Circle, ☏ +1 207 650-5383. Event space, catering. 
• Waters Edge Restaurant, 75 Blacks Lndg Rd, ☏ +1 207 389-1803. Eatery on the wharf of the former Down Easter and Sebasco Estates Foods clam processing facility, a mile past Sebasco Resort golf course. 

Drink

One may buy liquor at a grocery store for takeaway. There is a local pub, the Ledges Pub (+1 207 371-5113) at the Sebasco Resort.

Sleep

• The 1774 Inn, 44 Parker Head Rd, Phippsburg, ☏ +1 207 389-1774. Bed and breakfast in 1774-era heritage home in the village. $230. 
• Meadowbrook Camping Area, 33 Meadowbrook Rd, ☏ +1 207 443-4967. RV camping, cabins, paintball, lobster restaurant, camper rental. 
• Sebasco Resort, 29 Kenyon Rd, ☏ +1 207 389-9060, toll-free: +1-800-225-3819. A golf resort with hotel, restaurant and pub just over 5 mi (8.0 km) southwest of Phippsburg, near the ocean. 

Nearby

Hermit Island

In 1907, there was little here but one old man with a cabin, a few sheep and no family; the cabin was left to decay after his death. A lobster fishery was built after World War II, with a camp ground opened soon after. About 8 mi (13 km) south of Phippsburg (follow Route 209 south to Route 216), this area is now crowded in summer with seasonal campers and sites are best reserved well in advance.

• Sea Spray Kayaking, ☏ +1 207 443-3646. Kayak rentals ($25-50/day) and tours. 
• Hermit Island Campground, 6 Hermit Island Rd, Small Point, ☏ +1 207 443-2101 (office). Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. A 270-site family-oriented seasonal campground on a 255 acre peninsula. Tents and tent-trailers only, no RV's, no utility hookups, prices based on two adults (21+) and up to three kids. Three small cabins for weekly rental ($445-1175/wk). Office is on Front St, BATH ME and is open 9AM–2PM weekdays. The Kelp Shed (reception desk, Snack Bar, fireplace, pool table, video games and picnic tables) is open from 9AM–10PM. The Store sells ice, firewood, lobsters, beer, wine, groceries, bait and camping supplies. Souvenir shop with postcards and t-shirts. No personal cheques, no credit cards. ATM on site. Poor to non-extant mobile telephone coverage in the park; there is one telephone at the Kelp Shed for emergency use. 

Go next

• The nearest hotels are in Bath (Maine). The closest malls and big-box stores are in Brunswick (Maine) or Freeport. The nearest supermarkets are Shaw's in Bath and Hanniford in Brunswick. Freeport (Maine), home of the popular L.L. Bean sportswear company, offers speciality shops and outlets.
• The closest major city is Portland (Maine), where the Maine Mall features major chains like Best Buy, JCPenney, Sports Authority and Victoria's Secret.
• Arcadia National Park is a great place to hike; to the north, white water rafting is available further up the coast.
• Sunday River and Black Mountain are good for mountain skiing. Sunday River has more slopes, with six mountain peaks.