Kittery, ME
Kittery is Maine’s first port and you may be lucky enough to see the historic gundalow (cargo barge) Piscataqua plying a 21st-century cargo trade up and down its namesake river. Settled and established as a fishery in 1623, Kittery turned to boatbuilding early. Ranger, the first vessel to fly the Stars and Stripes, was launched from here in 1777.
Although Portsmouth receives a lot of deserved attention, there’s plenty to explore on the Maine side of the river. Many colonial homes are open to the public, old Fort McClary (now a memorial park) makes a great stop and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and several friendly marinas bring a rich maritime history into the present.
The Waterway Guide Team has gained extensive boating knowledge over the years, and now we are sharing all of the tips, skills and tools we’ve picked up along the way!