Wanderlusting near the most photographed Light House of them all.

You’re never far from where I am
Like a lighthouse, bring me home
You’re never far from me
Let your spirit glow ~ Demi Lovato

May you never, EVER, have to depend on a weatherman for truth. My friend and I had planned a week out to go to Maine and beaching it. The weather forecasted to be muggy, cloudy, and quite a bit cooler then it has been. Shrugging at the weather, we figured it would be a perfect day to to go to a light house and explore. Make Lemonade out of lemons after all.

Boy were the weather people wrong! I won’t say we were because you can not ignore the magnificence that is Portland Head Light, but holy sun was it hot out!

Sweat, running make-up, and messy hair did not deter us. Armed with our iced maple lattes from Frontisde, we took Fort Williams and the cliff walk to Portland Head Light like the athletic fashionistas we are!

It was truly an exquisite day despite the almost hundred degree temps. I had last been to Fort Williams Park back in January so the weather was truly a one-eighty.

At 90 acres of vast land including grassy hills, a beach area, and the million year old rocks that have come to define the Maine coast there was definitely much to see and do while there.

While it was only an operational military base for roughly sixty years from 1898 to to 1962, you can still see and even explore some of the many facades and foundations left behind. One such historical building actually had no military baring, not in the traditional sense. The Goddard Mansion built by Colonel John Goddard was built in 1853 long before Fort William’s officially became a military base. Aside from Portland Headlight, it is probably the most visited building in the park despite its dilapidated appearance.

I have always been enamored with this piece of architecture and the history of the mansion despite the now ruined remains. Up until 2009 you could still walk around the buildings facade, imagining what it might have been like in the late eighteen hundreds. Alas now you have to stand on the outside, but you can still imagine, alas just without debris falling on your head.

The Cliff walk connects the recreational areas of Fort Williams Park to the main attraction, what could arguably be the most photographed lighthouse in the world: Portland Head Light. Directed by General Washington himself the lighthouse was commissioned in 1787 and completed in 1791 after Treasure secretary, Alexander Hamilton at the dictation of congress appropriated funds for the light houses completion.

Standing at one hundred and one feet above water, it is an example of New England’s majesticness and ruggedness. A symbol of triumph and history.

As my friend and I walked along the cliff walk we ended up making a detour so we could get some more unique pictures. It ended up being an adventure as people actually followed us down on our little detour. But it was so worth the picture taking.

While Fort Williams Park receives annually a million visitors, I couldn’t help bask in the serenity to it all. I try to avoid the park, because of the tourist trap it seems to be. But being there yesterday, I wasn’t bothered by throngs and throngs of crowds as my friend and I explored, even taking a dip in the water. I also found some well cooked sea glass and pottery! My first pieces from Portland Headlight!

Fort Williams with all of its richness in history and lore, has a magnetic pull that even Two Lights doesn’t have. And just maybe, maybe it is worming its way into my heart.