The tight-knit summer community combined with the pristine sheltered harbor has been creating fond memories for generations. The best times to spot moose are at dusk and dawn from mid-May through July and again in the fall during their breeding season. Come see us at the Visitor Center Monday to Friday, from 8:00-4:30. Heavy use. Palace Playland - Proudly Maine's beachfront amusement park. Most of Maines beaches are shingle beaches, particularly northeast of Portland, and many of those shingles were deposited there by the Laurentide Ice Sheet, which scraped them up inland as it moved across the continent some 15,000 years ago. Coast Guardcertified captains from Old Orchard Beach Parasailing & Jet Ski (5 Bay Ave., Saco; 855-359-2759) head a ways off the OOB shorefront with groups of up to six, and the parasail itself accommodates up to three for what is basically a tranquil, 15-minute aerial cruise with lighthouse and Ferris wheel views ($90 per person, extra if you want pics or to wear a GoPro camera). When the tides out, tidepoolers mingle with surfers and plein-air painters. 207-363-1333. 21 Timber Point Timber Point Rd. 207-371-2616, Every year, I return to this spot. , Bingham, PO Box 773 This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. Admire the endangered birds from a distance, stay out of signed restricted areas, and fill any beach holes (since chicks can tumble in). Nothing fancy just fresh local seafood served a variety of ways at a family-friendly restaurant (its also carnivore friendly: steak and chicken are on the menu). Sandy, paid parking, lifeguards, showers and toilets. All the potato donuts are tasty, but dont sleep on this summers customer-chosen flavor, honey lavender. It is illegal under the Marine Mammal Protection Act to handle these animals. 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. Heavy use. And of course, where there are crowds, there are gift shops. Five Islands Lobster Company 38 Main St., Milbridge. 207-646-5575. 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. Frye Island is the only island on this list that is not off the coast of Maine. } Address: Sandy, paid parking, lifeguards, toilets. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-113316404', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');New England Aquarium without going inside. View our Privacy Policy. Maines southern coast offers the American summer vacation at its beach-blanket best. First, you need to understand glacial rebound. Boat traffic is minimal, and sightings of bald eagles, ospreys, and other raptors are common. Maines southern coast offers the American summer vacation at its beach-blanket best. 77. (207) 502-8040, Map Marker Deer Isle Jazz Festival , Greenville, 119 Cedar St. 207-833-2313. 207-367-2788. 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. Alternatively, you may use. A third-generation, family-owned business, Huot Seafood Restaurant in Sacos beachside village of Camp Ellis still uses Doris Huots batter An outpost of Portland Paddle offers paddleboard and kayak rentals and tours, plus theres a snack bar, picnic areas with grills, and a playground for the kiddos. Although all are classified as humid continental, small differences exist among regions. A good pair of binoculars is a great way to enjoy them while still giving them enough distance so as not to disturb them. Easterseals Southern California | Augmentative & Alternative The institute also tends to a hatchery that produces soft-shell seed clams to replenish clamflats in Maine, New Hampshire, and Canada. Across the street is Camden Harbor Park, designed by the Olmsted Brothers. On some days, you may be lucky enough to see the Humpback breeching right next to your boat, butitisnt the only whale youll spot on your tour. Bird Flu May Have Caused Seal Strandings in Maine - The New York Times 207-967-6065. These little-visited, adjoining parcels are protected, respectively, by the Maine Audubon Society and the Nature Conservancy. The Can-Am Crown is an international sled dog race with a 29-year history, held in Fort Kent, Maine. Explore gentle wooded trails at Kennebunkports lovely Edwin L. Smith Preserve. Vazquez Mexican Food $65, plus lunch. Our daily, two hour long, sunset tours are one of the best ways to see seals in southern Maine in June-August! Moderate use. Like any wild animal, seals are where you find them, so no guarantees. About half that is along the water itself, running parallel to muddy flats and steep, short cliffs. Less dazzling ceramic bits and pieces of frozen Charlottes antique porcelain dolls are also fun to collect. There are definitely seals at the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? 208. 12. Self-consciously vintage, this rebooted 1950s motor-court motel has guest rooms, housekeeping cottages, and a boutique ambiance, with a saltwater pool, luxe linens, and flat-screens. Battie 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. Southern Maine Coasts Saco and Biddeford add oceanside haunts and typical Downtown Maine attractions to visit. Seals like to "haul out" to rest, sun themselves on rocky ledges or rocky shorelines on islands. 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. The huge kitsch clearinghouse at Lands End is worth visiting if only for the decadent homemade fudge. 13 Drakes Island Beach Drakes Island Rd. Pick your own strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and even tomatoes at Spiller Farm in Wells. While a big animal, the harbor seal is only about half the size of the gray seal, the . A gospel-tinged bluesy act with virtuosic pedal steel. Sandy, paid parking, lifeguards, toilets. By Tuesday, Marine Mammals of Maine had responded to about three dozen dead seals on beaches from Cape Elizabeth south to York. Places to Go in Maine - Maine's Prettiest Harbors - Down East Magazine Schoodic Institutes Seth Benz will lead this special bird tour designed to enhance your enjoyment o Register today for Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park's first Bird Tour of 2023! Setting sail from Kennebunkport, First Chance offers whale watches of varying lengths and intensity aboard Nick's Chance, as well as lobster tours and educational tours of Maine's marine culture aboard Kylie's Chance. Atlantic Ave., Camden. Linking Perkins Cove to Ogunquit Beach, themile-and-a-quarter paved walkway traces its origins to 1925. I will be in Bar Harbor from 4 Oct thru 8 Oct. 8. And were not using the word massive lightly. Thurstons Lobster Pound 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. Explore Maine using our interactive map that features local businesses, guides, restaurants, lodging and more. Former state rep Josiah Chase almost turned his oceanfront parcel into a cottage subdivision, but a civic-minded pal, architect F. Raymond Brewster, convinced him to donate it to the town instead. Their morning lunch cruise includes an hour-plus stop on the island of Frenchboro. } Inland cottage resorts feature either traditional cottages or gatherings of rustic cabins. Where there are Maine beaches, there are estuaries, and southern Maines quiet, wildlife-rich tidal creeks reward exploration particularly for those who prefer protected waters to open-ocean paddling. Is there a best time of day? Baxter State Park and Lazy Tom Bog are great places to begin your search. This amusement park hosts an expansive arcade, Kiddieland, & Galaxy Coaster and carousel as well as Fireworks every Thusday night by the Pier. From Portlandswaterfront, there is easy access to Casco Bay ferries, water taxis, and boat tours to nearby islands including Peaks Island, Diamond Island, and Long Island. Light use. Ride a restored streetcar at the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport. Youll see Goat Island Light in Cape Porpoise and then travel to Goose Rocks for more seals and back down the coast to Wells. 20 Goose Rocks Beach Kings Hwy. Camden Hills State Park, 280 Belfast Rd., Camden. We are a small family run outfit that specializes in personalized one-on-one guided trips. The seals disperse when the baitfish run disappears, usually about the time the stripers start returning, ie early June or thereabouts. Dont bring Fido without checking. 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. 50 Perkins Cove Rd. Its made-to-order (takes about 6 minutes when the staff breaks out the machine) and you can enjoy a cone in an Adirondack chair on the sunny deck. Maple Hill Farm Inn and Conference Center. 18 Colony Beach Ocean Ave. Pebbly/sandy, free parking, no facilities. 207-371-2303. 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. Seaside Inn. Things To Do On The Southern Maine Coast Region - VisitMaine.Net 59 Morrill Rd 2391 Harpswell Islands Rd., Bailey Island. 9. State biologists estimate there are roughly 75,000 moose roaming Maines rugged landscapethe largest concentration in the country next to Alaska. 207-244-7600. The Best Places To See Puffins In Maine Since the last retreat of the ice sheet, Dykstra says, the coast of Maine has been slowly rising . Old Village Inn. FAST FACTS ABOUT OGUNQUIT'S MARGINAL WAY, MAINE'S MOST BELOVED SHORELINE STROLL. You get all this while enjoying your own personal front-row seat! Its a great place to spot wading birds and waterfowl and avoid people. 15 Mothers Beach Beach Ave. Sandy, paid parking, lifeguards, toilets. Miles of surf and white sand, funky beach towns with a foot in yesteryear, pockets of unspoiled splendor (if you know where to look), and more oddball family attractions than you can shake a souvenir lobster-claw at. 207-730-1926. Whoever has once visited this delightful region will never forget it, as the scenery is not surpassed in any part of Maine, and it is a veritable yachtsmans paradise. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. Best Places To See Wildlife in Southern Maine, A Dunes Day Trip: Things to Do in Kennebunkport, Maine, 4 Different Kinds of Things to Do in Maine in the Winter . The Strausses share stories about their community and the fishing way of life, and they stop to haul a lobster trap. Where is the best place to see seals in the wild. 207-646-0455. 37 Beach Ave., Kennebunk. Saturday storm will cause major travel problems in southern Maine Its anchored York Beach since 1868, but the Bluff feels like a clean, contemporary conference hotel albeit with huge balconies overlooking Short Sands Beach. From $299. .eb-col h4 { line-height: 1.1em; margin: 0 0 20px 0; color: inherit; font-weight: bold; } Get free ice cream with your kids meals at Kens Place, a locally beloved, counter-service seafood joint near Scarboroughs Pine Point Beach. Isle au Haut, Isle Au Haut, ME, USA. Spanning 47,000 acres, Acadia offers more than 150 miles of hiking trails . 28 Ferry Beach Ferry Rd. 7. 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). A ship called Industry ran ashore at Short Sands Beach, according to records some believe the wreck is Industrys remains. The Best Whale Watching in Maine - US News & World Report document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2019-2022 Dunes on the Waterfront. I appreciate your time. Immerse yourselves in the history and lore, that include rescues, heroism, Sailor the bell ringing dog, even an 1896 murder/suicide. 207-729-5181. Built by architect John Calvin Stevens in the oh-soNew England Shingle style in 1914, the Colony is a landmark with ocean views and a straight-up beach of its own, right across the street. Brian Beal, Jonesport native and director of research at the Downeast Institute for Applied Marine Research & Education. At Acadia you will occasionally see harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) and gray seals (Halichoerus grypus) just offshore and in the area harbors. Sandy, free (limited) parking, lifeguards, showers and toilets. Stay off the GRASS! 1. Driving from NJ where to stop for a night, Boston to Acadia via the coast and White Mountains. Sandy, paid parking, concessions, showers and toilets. Of course, Dykstra says, specific local conditions currents, the shape of a coastline, wave directionality can monkey with this process, which is why a single mile of Kennebunk coastline can host a shingle beach right between two sandy ones. $6 Maine residents, $8 non-residents. .page .lead { padding: 0 60px 0 60px; } 25 Ferry Beach State Park Bay View Rd. You can reach us at: 1063 McGaw Avenue, Suite 100 Irvine, CA 92614 714-834-1111 714-834-1128 (Fax) Contact Us. 207-833-7775. 398 Rte. 3 York Harbor Beach Rte. Moderate use. There were also hiking trails close by where we found wild blueberries. 6. This wildlife conservation center in Gray holds a special place in the hearts of those whove been there. Maine's whale watching season lasts from mid-April through October. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-60977754', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');cruise off shore. . When you look out on the Jonesport and Beals harbor, you see only working lobsterboats. } Where should we go to see whales, seals, puffins without a (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? A visit tohistoric Yorkwill show you some of Southern Maines fascinating history including the oldest jail in the country at Old York. Bass Harbor natives Kim and Eli Strauss offer passengers their insiders view of Mount Desert Islands hardest-working harbor. 100 % of Cadillac Mountain Passes Sold 2 Days in Advance? more. #5 in Best Maine Beaches. 9 Thurston Rd., Bernard. PO Box 773 The best time to spot sea glass, Mehlhorn says, is at sunset. @media screen and (min-width: 480px) { Located within Acadia National Park, the lighthouse is a favorite of photographers, who typically shoot from the rocky shore below. Puffin Tours | Audubon Project Puffin 103. 8 Western Ave, Kennebunk, ME 04043, USA @media only screen and (min-width: 600px){ Then, you can catch a puffin tour boat from Mt. Shop Now. The park is home to animals that have been injured, orphaned or are too dependent on humans to be released back into the wild. Many of the small islands off the coast of Maine are filled top to bottom with these charming little birds. .page .content .inner { padding: 20px; } With a box of chocolatepeanut butter in hand, stroll out on the rocks, have a seat, and indulge in the fudge and the view. Audubon Center rentals, $16$45. Light use. Late spring means seal pupping season in mid-coast Maine. To report seal strandings south of Maine, please call the NOAA Fisheries Stranding Hotline: (866) 755-6622. As any puffin can tell you, its worth the trip. 14. Coastal Maine Kayak & Bike, kayak or SUP tours, 3 hours, $85. Tucked below the cliffs at about the midpoint, Little Beach is a pocket beach thats submerged at high tide. In the warmer months, Finback, Right, and Minke whales as well as the Humpback migrate to the feeding grounds off the coast of Maine. Planning a trip with the kids and dont want to leave spotting a moose to chance? Best Places To See Wildlife in Southern Maine - Dunes On The Waterfront Theyll be back up again before you know it. The deskbound can get a moment of zen thanks to live webcams operated by the nonprofit Marginal Way Preservation Fund. THE GEOMETRIC confusion of silhouetted rooflines, a sunrise or sunset streaking the backdrop orange and pink, the spring tide surging through the spindly forest of pilings: you can keep your Portland Head Light for our money, the Old Orchard Beach pier is the states most compelling man-made landmark. Tiny taffy kisses are made fresh daily and come in old-school flavors like molasses, licorice, and peppermint. Very cool! 15. Just over the bridge from Jonesport on Beals, Bayview delivers on the promise of its name plus, its lobster roll was voted number one in Maine and Massachusetts by USA Today readers. 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. Though distinctly different in design, the two parks complement each other so well, they feel like one. Ten of these species occur on the West Coast: Guadalupe fur seals and nine cetaceans, including two distinct population segments (DPS) of humpback whale and the Western North Pacific DPS of gray whale. Miles ofsandy beaches check, amusement parks , Read More Guide to Wells Maine Condominium ResortsContinue, Your email address will not be published. Head north, and the crowds thin out at Footbridge and North beaches with their own parking and access, theyre technically extensions of Ogunquit Beach, and a beachcomber can spend a lovely afternoon wandering there and back. 2 Railroad Ave. 207-363-2621. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-113315485', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Boston in July.