Take in the harbor views from the tallest bridge observatory in the world and see one of the best-preserved forts on the East Coast in Bucksport, Maine.
If you are planning a trip to Canada by car you can visit Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia all in drive and stop in Maine on the way home. This is what we did one summer!
Fort Knox Port Inn
Our hotel room faced Penobscot River with wide views of the bay and its tide changes. I would definitely pay the extra money for the view.
Address: 64 Main St, Bucksport, ME 04416
Johnathan Buck Monument
The hotel is in the center of Bucksport. You can take a walk along the harbor, which ends near a grocery store, and from there you can walk up to the John Buck Monument. We are also going to Stephen King’s house so it seems appropriate to visit a grave with a witch’s curse.
Colonel Buck was a justice of the peace and is the subject of a legend that holds that he ordered a witch put to death by burning, and this witch put a curse on his tomb. The monument to Col. Buck erected in the Bucksport Cemetery in 1870 bears a stain roughly in the shape of a woman’s lower leg. According to the legend, the stain is the leg and foot of the witch, and the mark has reappeared whenever the tombstone has been replaced. (From Wikipedia)
Address: 68 US-1, Bucksport, ME 04416
Also, the walk in the morning has gorgeous views. We also stayed in the side of the hotel with lake views which is totally worth it. You can walk as the tide comes in.
PENOBSCOT NARROWS BRIDGE OBSERVATORY AND FORT KNOX HISTORIC SITE
The next morning, we headed across the Penobscot Narrow Bridge to first check out the observatory and then the fort.
They are in the same area but are not walkable from each other. You first pass by the fort before you come to parking for the observatory.
If you want to only see the bridge there is a pull-off along Maine Highway 174, but it does not connect to the bridge. A sign also talks about the former Waldo-Hancock Bridge which the observatory bridge replaced.
Address: 740 Ft Knox Rd, Prospect, ME 04981
Penobscot Narrows Bridge Observatory
The observatory is 420 feet or 42 stories and is the tallest structure in Maine.
Parking Lot
Head towards the right of the parking lot to the nearby pillar and this is where you will take an elevator up to the top.
Heading Inside
In talking with the park official I found out that my son and I are the tenth and eleventh people who have been to this observatory and the second bridge observatory at the Most SNP Bridge in Bratislava, Slovakia.
He said there used to be four, but the two in China have closed so the one in Bratislava and the Penobscot are the two remaining ones.
Obviously, most people don’t end up at both, but we did it when we were in Vienna, Austria. It is a short train ride to Bratislava and I could add another country we visited in Europe, Slovakia.
A sign inside this observatory shows that the bridge height is between the Statue of Liberty and the Washington Monument.
Then we took the elevator to the top.
At the Top
We took in the view of the Penobscot River far below.
You can look directly down at the cables from the top.
Near the stairs that lead to an upper observatory area, my son took in a peek-a-boo view.
Looking down you can see the parking area below, we tried to signal David in the lot, but he didn’t see us so far up.
You can see distant mountains from the top.
Signs by the windows point out landmarks.
You also gain a bird’s eye view of the fort.
My son then pushed the elevator button to head back down.
Back on the Ground
The park attendant wanted to take a photo of us since he was doing a presentation on bridge observatories. In the future, he said that the presentation will be on the park’s website so we can check it out.
Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Fall, Daily (Fort and Observatory closed Sept. 1- Oct. 31. Hours change seasonally check website for more information.
Fort Knox State Historic Site
The fort is known as the historic fort since there is Fort Knox with all the gold in Kentucky. There can’t be two active forts at the same time with the same name.
History of the Fort
During the country’s infancy, Maine was repeatedly involved in northeast border disputes with British Canada.
In fact, the area between Castine and the rich lumber city of Bangor was invaded and occupied by the British during the American Revolution and the War of 1812.
The fort was named for Major General Henry Knox, America’s first Secretary of War.
Fort Knox was established in 1844 to protect the Penobscot River Valley against a possible future British naval incursion.
The fort was last used during the Spanish-American war in 1898 but never saw military action.
A number of cannons point out from the stone fort walls.
You can see a recreated barracks
We went up to the upper area to see more cannons and lookouts.
The fort includes a lot of dark passages which my son enjoyed exploring.
They recreated the Bake House Oven for bread and cooking.
A Powder Magazine can be seen in the far northeast corner.
​D Battery
My son and I explored the D Battery using a tunnel that goes closer to the river.
The tunnels and the many passageways made the fort more of an adventure for my son.
Details
Admission:
- Non-Resident 65+; $5.50, Fort and Observatory; $3; Fort Only
- Non-Resident 12-64; $9, Fort and Observatory; $6.50, Fort Only
- Non-Resident 5-11; $5, Fort and Observatory; $2.50, Fort Only
- Non-Resident 4 and Under- FREE
Address: 740 Ft Knox Rd, Prospect, ME 04981
Lunch: Blaze Bangor
During the week there were fewer choices for lunch, so we went to Bangor, Maine, and had burgers.
Hours: 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m., Monday-Saturday; 10 a.m. – 9 p.m., Sunday
Address: 18 Broad St, Bangor, ME 04401
Stephen King’s House
In Bangor is horror author Stephen King’s house. You cannot tour it but you can take a selfie.
Outside of the house, you will find a fence decorated with spider webs, bat wings, and even a dragon.
Also, sculptures can be seen in the yard.
Nearby I went to the Gulf Station which still does full service. The attendant said he had pumped gas for King before. So at least I’ve been where he gets his gas at in town.
Gulf Station: 462 Hammond St, Bangor, ME 04401
Dinner: Young’s Lobster Pound in Belfast, Maine
Pick out the fresh lobster you want before it is cooked.
Hours: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m., Monday-Saturday; 9 a.m. – 7:30 p.m., Sunday
Address: 2 Fairview St, Belfast, ME 0491
World’s Largest Glode
In Yarmouth, Maine, you can stop and see the world’s largest rotating globe at the Garmin office. After seeing the world, we headed to Boston to see family ending our Canadian and then Maine adventure!
Hours: 9 a.m. -5 p.m., Monday-Friday; Closed, Saturday-Sunday
Address: Eartha Globe, DeLorme Dr, Yarmouth, ME 04096
CANADIAN MARITIME PROVINCES
North of Maine or the maritime provinces which we visited lasted summer, here are highlights and fantastic places we saw!
Hopewell Rocks and Fundy National Park Adventure
Walk on the sea floor at low tide among rock formations at Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park and explore the forested coast at Fundy National Park in New Brunswick.
PEI Ferry, Titanic, and Halifax Citadel Exploring
We took a road trip through various Canadian provinces including Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. Highlights included a bottle village, Point Prim Lighthouse, the Citadel, and the Titanic exhibit in Halifax. We also enjoyed beach walks, seafood, ferry rides, and a fascinating museum showcasing maritime history and Titanic artifacts.
Parlee Beach Fun and Prince Edward Island Touring
Shopping at Fredericton’s Farmers Market, and swimming at the warmest beach in Canada, Parlee Beach, before staying the night in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
This was our first full-day itinerary in the Maritime Provinces.
