Moderate use. The Southern Maine Coast region is a year-round vacation spot with miles of sandy beaches, many hotels, motels and inns, excellent restaurants, and both indoor and outdoor activities for every season. Late spring means seal pupping season in mid-coast Maine. Little Coveside might have the finest deck dining in the state, overlooking the harbors gnarly little outcrop islands and often hosting some al fresco troubadour. Photographs: Michael D. Wilson (ice cream, punch, lobster roll, taffy, clams, beach glass); Mark Fleming (fries, donuts). Camdens one literary town. While all of Maines wildlife is spectacular, nothing quite compares to the whale. Tours in July and August. Sandy, paid parking, concessions, showers and toilets. Harborside Cottages, nestled over small, working New Harbor, has been in business since 1950. Males weigh from 120 to over 300 pounds and run about five to six feet in length; females are slightly smaller. That means the southern coast has seen a gentle rise in apparent sea level (picture a slightly tilted plane with the sea in a higher position than the shore), so wave action preferentially piles up sand-size grains of sediment on the land (those same grains have a tougher time accumulating if the planes tilt is reversed). New this summer: a breezy rooftop deck overlooking rocks and sea. Open 364 days a year, the institute offers tours and a marine-life touch tank. They dont offer tours, but the folks at World Within Sea Kayaking (at the Ogunquit River Inn) rent kayaks and SUPs that paddlers can launch out the back door, into the lower Ogunquit River, at high tide. Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. Plummer Point Preserve 3 York Harbor Beach Rte. For example, Mehlhorn says, people tend to overlook brown pieces of sea glass but hold it up to the light and what appears brown can truly be dark red. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2019-2022 Dunes on the Waterfront. Since the last retreat of the ice sheet, Dykstra says, the coast of Maine has been slowly rising . Park at Josephine Newman Audubon Sanctuary, off Rte. HERES WHAT LITTLE WE KNOW ABOUT IT. Give this Article . Cliff House. The vibe is rustic elegance, and the back patio overlooks the working harbor. Brian Beal, Jonesport native and director of research at the Downeast Institute for Applied Marine Research & Education. Thats what geologists call a beach made primarily of pebbles and/or cobbles (the former measure 4 to 6.4 centimeters across, the latter 6.4 to 25.6 anything bigger is a boulder). 19 Cleaves Cove Beach Halcyon Way. Across the street is Camden Harbor Park, designed by the Olmsted Brothers. The island is teeming with thousands of birds. Maine Moose watching trips offered daily! Hope it helps. Get free ice cream with your kids meals at Kens Place, a locally beloved, counter-service seafood joint near Scarboroughs Pine Point Beach. Our midwestern kids have never seen seals other than the zoo.Is there a place either in Boston, Acadia, or somewhere along the way that we could find them? , Greenville, Maine's Lakes and Mountains Birding Trail, Plan an East Coast Whale Watching Trip: Public & Private Viewing Coastal Cruises From May to October, Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Races, Finding Acadias Early Birds: A Special Maine Birding Excursion, 2023 Spring Birds of Acadia, with Puffin Cruise. .eb-hero-content p { width: 80%; } If you love whales, this is your chance to see these incredibly intelligent mammals up close! Visit the Easterseals Store. In Thurstons screened dining room, you see lobsterboats coming and going, some of them unloading their catch on the wharf just below your perch. Maine is one of the few states in the U.S. with a sizable moose population. Its anchored York Beach since 1868, but the Bluff feels like a clean, contemporary conference hotel albeit with huge balconies overlooking Short Sands Beach. Come see us at the Visitor Center Monday to Friday, from 8:00-4:30. Share your pride in Easterseals with branded products from the Easterseals store. York Harbors -mile shoreline path an out-and-back walk from York Harbor Beach doesnt have its neighbors notoriety, in part because its more rugged (a mix of paved segments with railings and unimproved trail) and in part because decades of landowner squabbles have kept access in flux. 8 Western Ave, Kennebunk, ME 04043, USA Moderate use. does not look like an American town at all in place or in architecture. Explore Boon Island Lighthouse and Nubble Lighthouse on this tour that cruises up the coastline. Pat Lacey, Down East reader. . Sandy, no parking (bike in is best), no facilities. Aragosta A huge population of migrating birds makes Maine one of the best places to see wildlife if youre a bird enthusiast. Fun and Sun, $30 kids, $50 teens and adults. 92 Pine Point Rd., Scarborough. 96 Seguinland Rd., Georgetown. Its pricey, but so picturesque. Sandy, paid (limited) parking, no facilities. Seaplane service throughout Maine & New England. Moderate use. Admire the endangered birds from a distance, stay out of signed restricted areas, and fill any beach holes (since chicks can tumble in). You may even have the opportunity to see birds that dont normally visit the mainland. Heavy use. In 2007, archaeologists measured the hull and took samples of the wood. Since many moose tip the scales at 1,000 pounds or more, with antlers spanning six feet, its no wonder making visual contact with a Maine moose is a once-in-a-lifetime wildlife viewing experience. , Greenville, 119 Cedar St. 15 Mothers Beach Beach Ave. Sandy, paid parking, lifeguards, toilets. 207-730-1926. This snug state park in Cape Elizabeth is really two beaches in one. $65, plus lunch. The ship skeleton made its most recent and most publicized appearance, following one of the winter storms the media dubbed a bomb cyclone.. By following the directions at that number, your call will be directed to the appropriate responder. From Kittery to Old Orchard Beach, the Southern Maine Coast is the perfect vacation getaway. Where is the best place to see seals in the wild. Downeast Institute for Applied Marine Research and Education Peek over marine scientists' shoulders as they research lobsters, mussels, scallops, and other shellfish. 11. The stand goes through 250,000 pounds of potatoes a season. Bowdoin College Coastal Studies Center IF NOTHING SAYS Maine to you quite like the mingled scents of salt water and sunscreen, the crisp tug of a wetsuit around your torso, or the damp slap of flip-flops on a wooden boardwalk, you are far from alone. Thats why you can find pink-granite stones in spots where the local granite outcrops are all gray, says Jon Dykstra, a retired geologist on the board of the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust. 31 Crescent Beach State Park Rte. Back-door access to Goochs Beach from what is very likely Americas oldest hotel: an inn has occupied the spot since at least 1660. Vazquez Mexican Food Travelers from all over the world flock to the Southern Maine coast for the ideal summer vacation. Sitting right on the dock alongside Camden Harbor, Rhumb Line combines the carefree spirit of Jimmy Buffett with fresh, simply prepared Maine seafood and killer craftcocktails. Seeing Seals with Portland Paddle. No trip to Maine would be complete without visiting Acadia National Park. On the shoreline, you see a village that probably looks very similar to what it was in the 1930s and 1940s. 4. .eb-image-left {float:left; margin:7px 14px 7px 0; width:45%; max-width:400px;} The southernmost section, known as the Main Beach, has copious concessions and spots to rent everything from beach chairs to bodyboards, along with warm(-ish) commingled waters where the Ogunquit River spills into the sea. See what 40,000 pounds ofcandy looks like at Yummies Candy & Nuts in Kittery. 10. 20 Goose Rocks Beach Kings Hwy. Maine Map. I live in Maine and have July and the first half of August off. 207-563-1393. 207-244-7463. Sandy, paid parking, lifeguards, toilets. 9. Our daily, two hour long, sunset tours are one of the best ways to see seals in southern Maine in June-August! Head to the shore and keep an eye out for adorable harbor seal pups or spot the majestic bald eagle as you kayak in Frenchman Bay. Hours and hours of walking here, and probably hundreds of photos. Moderate use. Seals are swimming around the harbor. Its time to lay anchor. And if you're into loons, in July 2015, Maine Audubon Society volunteers counted more than 3,000 loons on 300 lakes and ponds the largest population of common loons in the US after Minnesota and Wisconsin. Moderate use. Dawn breaks over Five Islands Harbor, in Georgetown. Battie Trail (each isa half-mile). Blue PO Box 773 We traveled to Maine several years ago and stayed at a private vacation rental near Bar Harbor. Whales can be seen up and down Maines coastline, but are best viewed by booking a whale watching boat tour. Five Islands Lobster Company From moose, white-tailed deer, black bears, bald eagles and mountain lions to porcupines, coyotes, hawks, owls, turtles and many others, you can see them all up-close and safe. When you cross the Maine, Read More 21 Best Things to Do in Kittery MaineContinue, The Perfect Family Beachfront Vacation York Beach is an idealMaine vacationspot for beach walks, kite flying, playing in the sand, visiting the famous Nubble, Read More Your Guide to Motels in York Beach MaineContinue, Wells is a well-loved vacation town in Maine. 1 Marina Way Theyll be back up again before you know it. The lobsterboats bobbing off the wharf are your first indication that youre in for some of the freshest crustaceans served in Maine its never tanked, and you can pick your own bug. Southern Maine Coasts Saco and Biddeford add oceanside haunts and typical Downtown Maine attractions to visit. You have the opportunity to witness wildlife anywhere that you travel. Re: seals 8 years ago Save What is your time frame? Thirty-nine benches face the ocean, each with a sponsorship plaque that sold for $5,000 to fund trail maintenance which is necessary. .eb-col { width: 31%; float: left; margin: 7px 2% 0 0;} The trip departs daily at 5:30pm, and trips end in late August. Shop Now. Gray seals, Halichoerus gypus, are the largest seal found in the area, with males growing to 8 feet . 207-967-4243. gokennebunks.com, This snug state park in Cape Elizabeth is really two beaches in one. 27 Pine Point Beach Rte. The shopping in the Old Port is fun at boutiques along cobblestone streets. Another itinerary question-Moosehead Lake? Visit Katahdin Air. Do you consider yourself a history buff? Theres an independent spirit that comes along with that, and its fundamental to the culture of the town. Visit Fort McClary State Historic Site, also in Kittery, where an 18th-century fort overlooks the Piscataqua River. Built in 1883, the downtown inn, a half-mile from Ogunquit Beach, One of southern Maines consistently excellent restaurants, Mark Gaier and Clark Frasiers 12-year-old seaside eatery manages to thread the needle of upscale ($30 dinner entres that wow, like an Indian-spiced braised lamb shank) and approachable (Thursday burger nights in the shoulder seasons, when a creatively topped burger and a local pint run you $13). Several Maine State Park Campgrounds make good basecamps for regional moose watching. Established in 1966 to protect sensitive salt marshes and estuaries for migratory birds, Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge was named for the world-renowned marine biologist, author and environmentalist. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. BYOB and snag a weathered picnic table at the end of the pier. Fresh (round!) The institute also tends to a hatchery that produces soft-shell seed clams to replenish clamflats in Maine, New Hampshire, and Canada. Sandy, free (limited) parking, no facilities. Check out the replica of the Maine Lobsterman (there are identical statues around Maine and in Washington, DC), originally modeled on local fisherman H. Elroy Snoody Johnson. Expect to carry out your TRASH. Plenty of outfitters offer kayak or stand-up paddleboard rentals and tours. Dont disturb piping plover or least tern HABITAT. 207-204-8888. southernmainekayaks.com. Moderate use. Experience the 9 Buildings of the Museums of Old York Maine, Locals Guide to the Best Kennebunkport Boat Tours. Planning a trip with the kids and dont want to leave spotting a moose to chance? Its one of those rites of passage youd have to be a moose to fully appreciate. 207-367-2788. Easterseals Southern California. Sandy, paid parking, no facilities. At the right time of year, you can spot as many as twenty moose in one outing. }, Moose | Whales | Puffins | Birds | Wildlife Parks & Refuges. Moderate use. . However, these actions usually do more harm than good. You could make an easy and pleasant daytrip to Popham now and watch them from the beach, or wait a few weeks until Spinney's Restaurant is open and you can watch them while you eat! Immerse yourselves in the history and lore, that include rescues, heroism, Sailor the bell ringing dog, even an 1896 murder/suicide. The center is the landing spot for Project Puffin, an ongoing partnership of the Audubon Society, local businesses and private donors to bring puffins and other rare birds back to their historic nesting grounds. From $129. 17. 26 Old Orchard Beach Rte. Home to rare plants like beach-head iris and birds-eye primrose, the islands managed by The Nature Conservancy. 207-244-7600. Named for the architectural gem of a cribstone bridge that connects Orrs and Bailey islands a one-of-a-kind cobwork of granite slabs Morses restaurant is a landmark in its own right. So what is a puffin? 207-729-5181. Bayview Takeout Grab a towel and come with us. Ogunquit Beachis a peninsula beach with water on three sides and was rated by Good Housekeeping as one of the top ten beaches in the United States. The OOB pier is one of the great American boardwalks and a slice of southern Maine at its unassuming best. Ogunquits paved, mile-and-a-quarter seaside footpath is a classic Maine stretch of the legs. Unless youre in Maine and you know exactly when and where to look. Sandy, paid parking, lifeguards, showers and toilets. 111 Perkins Cove Rd., Ogunquit. Take a book and a blanket and let the ocean breezes sweep your cares away. A great spot for a none-too-challenging family hike. Anyone can access the link you share with no account required. The park is home to animals that have been injured, orphaned or are too dependent on humans to be released back into the wild. The low-pressure system will strengthen into a nor'easter as it moves away from Maine tomorrow. Local officials have said that its typically buried beneath 6 or 7 feet of sand. , Bingham. Puffins arent the only birds that Maine can boast. I'd drive either way. Inn by the Sea. 9. From $179. .eb-col img {width: 100%;} 1945 Harpswell Islands Rd., Bailey Island. Sandy, paid parking, concessions, lifeguards, toilets. , Millinocket. Edna St. Vincent Millay, Camden poet, Renascence, 1912. Hardy Boat Cruises, based in New Harbor on Maine's Pemaquid Peninsula, runs a Puffin Watch cruise in the Spring with Audubon naturalists starting in early June (and without Audubon naturalists beginning in mid-May). Bass Harbor Island Cruises Camden Hills State Park is laced with miles of trails, nearly all leading to incredible views of Penobscot Bay, but if you only have time for one mountain, make it Battie. The lobster rolls are hefty and served on a pile of crinkle-cut chips, and the fried seafood served in the adjacent Love Nest grill stacks up to any shack on the coast (dont skimp on the house-made dill tartar sauce). See these historic lighthouses first-hand. To report seal strandings south of Maine, please call the NOAA Fisheries Stranding Hotline: (866) 755-6622. Tickets a la carte, $25$40. 1447 Five Islands Rd., Georgetown. Taffy technicians have been stretching masses of boiled sugar at the Goldenrod, in York Beach, since 1896 today, passersby watch through the windows as mechanical pulling machines do their thing. Ashley Billman, Down East reader. Eli Strauss, owner of Bass Harbor Island Cruises. Races start at 10:30AM - registration accepted up to 1 hour before the race. Dont leave logs on the beach or fires unattended. Ride the Ferris wheel at Palace Playland for a birds-eye view of the iconic Old Orchard Beach pier. Look out for the worlds largest mammals aboard one of southern Maines whale watch boats, and get ready to be splashed! Driving from NJ where to stop for a night, Boston to Acadia via the coast and White Mountains. 12. See if you can spot the differences between these whale species. .eb-p {float: right; width:70%; margin-left:2%;} Well head over to Cape Porpoise Harbor and Bumpkin Island to enjoy the seals that call that area home. 207-646-4909. Maines southern coast offers the American summer vacation at its beach-blanket best. 18 Colony Beach Ocean Ave. Pebbly/sandy, free parking, no facilities. The southern coasts best breaks are at Scarboroughs Higgins Beach, Yorks Long Sands Beach, and Wells Beach, and each has surf shops that offer rentals and lessons for newbies. Theyre really not. 240 Bayview Rd., Orrs Island. All I could see from where I stood / Was three long mountains and a wood, / I turned and looked the other way, / And saw three islands in a bay. Plus, theres room to roam. 8 Ogunquit Beach Beach St. Sandy, paid parking, concessions, lifeguards, showers and toilets. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. Battie Grab a towel and come with us. $10 admission, $9 students and seniors. } 2. Live. Kennebunkport is famous for its many craft fairs and festivals includingChristmas Preludeand an art, food and wine Kennebunkport Festival each June. But dont worry about that last part. Any suggestions? Pebbly/sandy, paid parking, lifeguards, no facilities. Watch for wading birds. Maines southern coast offers the American summer vacation at its beach-blanket best. See Bernard Langlaiss whimsical wooden creatures in the seaside sculpture garden at the Ogunquit Museum of American Art come Wednesday mornings for kiddie story time and crafts. All the way out on Bailey Island, where the road abruptly cuts off at a cement barrier and the land literally ends, sweeping views of Casco Bay draw a steady stream of travelers. Do you like visiting historical places where history comes alive? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Less dazzling ceramic bits and pieces of frozen Charlottes antique porcelain dolls are also fun to collect. not unlike when you push your hand into a mattress and then release the pressure. Along most of Maines coast, this rebound has exceeded or kept pace with naturally (and gradually) rising sea levels. An award-winning saxophonist in the bebop and swing traditions. 207-646-5139. ogunquit.org, Although it still welcomes plenty of beachgoers in midsummer, Goose Rocks Beach, in Cape Porpoise, has a touch of wildness to it. 16. . Chef Devin Finigan cut her teeth at some of the countrys finest restaurants (including Thomas Kellers Per Se and Blue Hill at Stone Barns in the Hudson Valley) before opening Aragosta in Stonington in 2013. It is against the law to handle a marine mammal without proper authorization, and their sharp (dog-like) teeth can be very dangerous. For better or for worse, the states beach-speckled southernmost 50 or so coastal miles are Maine for legions of summertime visitors. 207-967-6065. Get answers to your questions about Maine. Where is the best place to see seals in the wild. On Sundays, hit up the Kittery Community Market for picnic supplies, live music, and a kids corner with art and science projects. PO Box 171 Ambajejus Lake Participants technically need a saltwater fishing license and are encouraged to bring their own rod and tackle (particularly hooks, sinkers, and bait) but Doc shows up with enough rods and reels for a crowd, plus a few buckets of mackerel. A third-generation, family-owned business, Huot Seafood Restaurant in Sacos beachside village of Camp Ellis still uses Doris Huots batter Many of the small islands off the coast of Maine are filled top to bottom with these charming little birds. Stroll to the top on the gently graded Carriage Trail or scramble up the steep Mt. The most important step members of the public can take to assist investigators is to immediately report any sightings of seals in distress or dead stranded seals. Impeccable service has set this high-end classic apart since 1973, but the property has welcomed guests since it was a Civil Warera boarding house. Due to its location along the Atlantic Flyway, Monhegan Islandis a particularly busy bird habitat during spring and fall. 5 Short Sands Beach Ocean Ave. Sandy, paid parking, lifeguards, showers and toilets. Get a deck seat and dont skip the fruity, blood-red rum punch, the tastiest cocktail youre likely to sip through a straw this summer. Its a short paddle to Stevens Brook, behind Footbridge Beach, and a network of tiny tidal streams in the Rachel Carson Wildlife Refuge. Multiple species visit the state's waters, including humpback, finback, minke and pilot. 2 Railroad Ave. 207-363-2621. . Get outside on your next vacation, and visitsome of the best places to see wildlife in southern Maine. Light use. Address: , Greenville. .page .lead { width: 100%; padding: 0; } Kids will certainly dig it, and the surrounding placards and artifacts tell the story of the Maine granite used to build everything from Sing Sing prison to Rockefeller Center. Light use. The process for seal pups to learn to be on their own, away from their mother can be exhausting. Barnacle Billys Getting pulled behind a speedboat is more relaxing than it sounds when youre drifting 1,200 feet above the waves. The health risk posed by avian flu to the general public is low; however, precautions are recommended. We did the nature (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? A mile up the road from Pine Point Beach, Fun and Sun Rentals and Tours offers kayaks, SUPs, and car shuttles for one-way, self-guided tours through the vast Scarborough Marsh, and the neighboring Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center has canoe and kayak rentals. Heavy use. Maine artists loom large: through the end of August, youll find the abstract landscapes of John Marin and the stylized portraits of Will Barnet. 207-230-8495. Located within Acadia National Park, the lighthouse is a favorite of photographers, who typically shoot from the rocky shore below. Where receptacles are available, dont fill them with huge bags or large items like broken umbrellas or chairs. So why does Maine have so many sandy beaches down south? The southern and coastal regions are influenced by air masses from the south and west. By continuing to navigate through this site or by clicking Approve, you consent to the use of cookies on your device as described in our privacy notice. You can share 5 more gift articles this month.. Her farm-to-table approach means the menu is always in flux, but lobster figures prominently (the states most productive lobstering fleet is out her back door) and often unexpectedly par for the course is a recent dish of applewood-smoked lobster beignets, served over local greens. Address: Public ALCOHOL consumption is illegal statewide, including on beaches. 22 Fortunes Rocks Beach Fortunes Rocks Rd. Light use. Sea Kayaks were originally invented by arctic peoples such as the Greenland Inuit for seal hunting, and these quiet, sea worthy crafts give you an up close, seals eye view of the world. As it turns out, theyve been in social networks a lot longer than we have. A visit tohistoric Yorkwill show you some of Southern Maines fascinating history including the oldest jail in the country at Old York. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. 2. Frye Island is the only island on this list that is not off the coast of Maine. It begins when migrating whales arrive in spring, hungry for action and the all-you-can-eat aqua buffet of sand eels, copepods, plankton, and fish. Steller sea lions also occur on the West Coast, but the eastern . 10 North Beach Ocean Ave. Sandy, paid parking, lifeguards, toilets. Seals can sometimes be seen but they like to sun and rest on the more isolated islands. . The seals hauled up on the Cape are gray and harbor seals. The dining room at the Grey Havens Inn is open for dinner five nights a week in midsummer (white tablecloths, steak and seafood), and its worth a visit just for cocktails on the wraparound veranda overlooking the mouth of the Sheepscot River. All the potato donuts are tasty, but dont sleep on this summers customer-chosen flavor, honey lavender. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); VisitMaine.Net The unofficial guide to experiencing Maine. Adventure type: Seal watching Duration: 2 hours Location: Kennebunk Boat: We use the same high-performance custom RIB boat for all our tours Meeting location: 8 Western Ave. inside Coastal Maine Kayak and Bike Everyone Loves Seals! Sandy, paid parking, lifeguards, toilets. I appreciate your time. The age class of harp seal we tend to see are the juveniles, who are around 12-14 months old . Whale watching in Maine is kind of a big deal. 51 Main St., Stonington. . It's hard enough to find them by going ten miles out to sea. Seals Seals are the most commonly-seen marine mammals along the shores of Maine. 119 Cedar St. Old Village Inn. 23 Biddeford Pool Beach Rte. Machias Seal Island is a bit out of the way and youll need to book a guided tour to get there, but if youre a committed puffin fan, the effort will justify the experience. Colonial or post-colonial shipbuilders launched the vessel either a sloop or a schooner, probably about 60 feet long, judging from the hull fragment thats left on the beach. } 77. If youre hoping to encounter wildlife, the Allagash is where you want to be. Pay a visit to the Maine Wildlife Park where youre guaranteed to spot a moose, among many other kinds of fascinating creatures, at this special wildlife sanctuary.