fort mcclary state park

Very nice place to stop and see the scenic view off ocean and look over to NH . Nice place to walk you dog.

If you are in Kittery, doing the outlets, you have to do yourself a favor and stop by Fort McClary.This is an awesome stop as it shows the history of the Seacoast region like none other. Revolutionary War at its best. This is how our great country was founded. By the little forts that protected the colonies during the time of revolution. Well preserved and a nice site.

Hannibal Hamlin Vice President under Lincoln served here! Beautiful views! A great place to explore and have a picnic!

The fort is very cool. you can walk around and go inside the old structures. you really get a good sense of what the troops saw while on guard. The view is absolutely stunning. A must see even if your not a history buff!

Four of us discovered this historic site by accident while just driving the back roads in the Kittery, Me. area. For History buffs (and youngsters) this Old fort is well worth finding. It's very interesting, with the fort house itself sitting atop a high grassy knoll holding a vast view of the Atlantic, beautiful surrounding Maine landscapes left and right, a not-to-distant lighthouse plus much more. You can discover foundation remains of once-existing militia barracks, a sunken, revolving gun battery, a powder magazine house, a separate riflemen's blockhouse, and an almost concealed access-way at the shore wall below, which I believe may have been used for small boat transits to-and-from a "mother ship" which would be anchored off-shore. There are picnic tables on-site as well for those who want to enjoy a casual, relaxing lunch. Strick ($200 fine) no-pet rules apply at this site.

Serene setting, but it is a fort. Sort of a 'two birds, one stone' scenario. You have a good view of two lighthouses from the raised edge of the water. Some history also, and plenty of walking

Family spent 2 hrs. here. Kids loved it. Absolutely beautiful. Very scenic you could walk for hours.

Fort McClary is located on Route 103 in Kittery, Maine. The setting and view are spectacular--one of the best on the Maine coast and it's only a few minutes from Portsmouth, NH ! You can see two lighthouses(Portsmouth Harbor and Whaleback), Pepperell Cove and the Piscataqua River from the fort. The history here is very interesting and the block house has some info. on charts. We were fortunate to have a guide that day as we were part of an organized group. There is a very nice picnic area across the road from the fort with tables, rest rooms, swings, slides, etc.

The fort is just a great place to visit and look into the past of the USA. Really enjoyed it with my wife and daughter and her fiance.

There is a lot of historical information provided at the fort. They were doing some renovations while we were there.

My husband and I were on our way to York (Maine) when we noticed the Fort McClary sign by the side of the road. On impulse, we turned around to see what was there.What a surprise! The view of the harbor and ocean are remarkable. The self-guided tour of the fort (wandering around, reading fascinating, hand-lettered signs) is well worth your time, as well. The site's history goes back to the 17th century.Bring a camera. I've explored most of coastal Maine and this is one of the very best sites I've seen for photos of iconic Maine landscapes: quaint harbors, two lighthouses, boats and yachts sailing past, rocky shores and cliffs, and more.The $2 admission fee (on the honor system) is a bargain. Walking shoes are a good idea, as some of the terrain can be steep. (However, if you're willing to choose a longer, gentler path, even less fit family members will enjoy this site.)Inside the fort, if you climb down the steep stairs labeled "good morning," you will need to climb back up them, later. There is no other exit from the room you'll reach at the foot of them.Be sure to climb to the top level of the fort, too, because the views are extraordinary.The fort itself is not wheelchair accessible, but the paths along the coast are paved or smooth enough to navigate without much effort. Even without a trek to the fort (at the top of the hill), this is worth a visit.Fort McClary is an ideal location for a picnic, a marriage proposal, Scouting activities, or family adventures. Plan to spend at least an hour at the site. We were there close to two hours, and still didn't see everything that caught our interest.We'll spend more time there on a future visit, when we're not on our way to somewhere else. Fort McClary is a great destination, all by itself, and it's a hidden gem along the coast of Maine.

Being from the area, I haven't been to Fort McClary since I was probably 4 years old. Since 30 years has gone by, my husband and I took our toddler and dogs to go explore for a half day. What a fun place. I absolutely loved the old buildings, the descriptions and the beautiful scenery. The photo opportunities were endless. The dogs loved coming in with us as well. We spent probably 2 hours or so just walking around, taking photos, exploring. Afterwards we crossed the street and had a picnic lunch on one of the many picnic tables and our son played on the cute kids play structure, which he loved. This was a great place to spend a half day outside with our dogs and really enjoy nature. We'll definitely go back next summer and many summers after that.

We've passed the sign many, many times and thought we would check it out. Entrance fee is $2 for adults on the honor system. There is lots to explore and a wonderful view to soak in. We were there a good hour plus, much of it on a shaded bench watching sail boats gliding past and enjoying being able to see 3 lighthouses at once. There were a couple of picnic tables, one quite rickety. Across the road is a picnic area that we did not explore.This is definitely a "return to" place when we are back in the area.

Historic fort in Kittery, ME on the Piscataqua river with lovely views of Portsmouth and New Castle, NH. First visit was peaceful and serene. Sat and watched the boats coming and going from Pepperell cove and took in the view. Second visit rode bikes there from Portsmouth to observe a revolutionary war reenactment. Very educational and enlightening. A beautiful place.

Water views, historic site, old buildings. Really pretty at dusk. Right on the water. Nice for kids.