Pemaquid Beach derives its name from the historic settlement originally called Pemaquid from 1632 to 1765, before Bristol's incorporation honoring the English port city. This quarter-mile crescent of fine white sand contains mica minerals that create a distinctive glimmer, located on the Pemaquid Peninsula where English traders established a year-round fur trading post as early as 1625, surviving the 1632 raid by pirate Dixie Bull and the 1635 Great Colonial Hurricane that sank the galleon Angel Gabriel offshore.
The family-friendly beach offers swimming, sunbathing, and beachcombing in clear waters with gentle waves suitable for all skill levels, featuring an ADA-compliant 6-foot wide boardwalk for wheelchair access. Visitors can explore nearby Pemaquid Point Lighthouse featured on the Maine state quarter and Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site with archaeological remains and a reconstructed fort, while the beach's facilities include restrooms, outdoor showers, picnic tables, and a beach shop for rentals.
Beachgoers can dine at Mimi's on the Beach for waterfront dining from seafood to burgers, Pemaquid Seafood for fresh lobster rolls and fried clams at the working co-op dating to 1947, or The Contented Sole for woodstone pizza and seafood on the waterfront deck with entertainment.
