Bath

Along Front and Centre streets, in the heart of Bath's historic district are some charming 19th-century Victorian homes. Among them are the 1820 Federal-style Pryor House, at 360 Front St., the 1810 Greek Revival-style mansion at 969 Washington St., covered with gleaming white clapboards, and the Victorian gem at 1009 Washington St., painted a distinctive shade of raspberry. All three operate as inns.

Bath has been a shipbuilding center since 1607. The venerable Bath Iron Works completed its first passenger ship in 1890 and is still building ships today, turning out frigates for the U.S. Navy. It's a good idea to avoid U.S. 1 on weekdays from 3:15 to 4:30 PM, when a major shift change takes place. The massive exodus can tie up traffic for miles.