Seniors Explore Biddeford

Senior travelers find that Biddeford, the principal commercial center of York County, whose population runs just over 20,000, is located 15 miles southwest of Portland.

Twin city of Saco, Biddeford includes the resort community of Biddeford Pool, Fortunes Rocks and Granite Point.

Seniors can enjoy the annual La Kermesse Franco-Americaine Festival that celebrates the town’s heritage. A Kermesse is a local, annual outdoor fair or festival. First visited by Europeans in 1616, this is the site of one of the earliest European settlements in the United States.

Historically, Abenaki Indians, whose main village was upriver at Pequawket (now Fryeburg), hunted and fished in the area. The first European to settle at Biddeford was physician Richard Vines in the winter of 1616-17 at Winter Harbor, as he called Biddeford Pool. The town came to be known as Biddeford in 1718 and was incorporated as a city in 1855.

Senior Visitors Enjoy Biddeford

 The locals as well senior visitors can enjoy The Five Points Shopping Center and the Biddeford Shopping Center. Parks like the Clifford Park and the Saint Louis Field come with various recreational facilities. One can also plan a day trip to the Saco Museum.

Freddy Beach, Fortunes Rocks Beach and the Hills Beach are popular destinations.  The University of New England-University Campus is located in Biddeford. Other institutes offering higher educational facilities include Northern Essex Community College, the University of Southern Maine, the University of New Hampshire-Main Campus and Saint Joseph’s College.

Seniors will enjoy a visit to the Biddeford City Theater, a historic, restored Victorian opera house that is a non-profit community theater. In 1996 the theater celebrated its 100th year anniversary and was awarded a gift of new seats from the city of Biddeford.

 Seniors Visit Biddeford Mills Museum

TripAdvisor wants you not to miss Fortunes Rocks Beach, Mulligans Restaurant and Marden’s Surplus and Salvage. I’d head there first myself since I enjoy looking over old salvage. Ask my wife…I have collected a ton of salvage over my lifetime. A stop at a some of the local town breweries would come in a short second.

Another worthwhile stop would be at the Biddeford Mills Museum. At one time, the textile mills in Biddeford were considered the heart of the York County region. Situated on the banks of the Saco River, the extensive mill district hummed with activity.

The Saco River became the focus of industry from the earliest European settlements along its Biddeford banks. The earlier industries were lumber harvesting, grist mills and ship-building, with Biddeford emerging as a culturally vibrant textile hub.

So set your GPS toward the beautiful state of Maine and and enjoy Biddeford. -jeb