In addition to two lab buildings that students use for marine and terrestrial studies visitors should be mindful of active research sites as they explore the property offers 3.6 miles of public trails that wind through spruce forests, meadows, and stands of hardwood en route to the jagged shoreline. 103. Tucked below the cliffs at about the midpoint, Little Beach is a pocket beach thats submerged at high tide. 77. Neither the tower nor keepers house is open to the public, but the views are spectacular. Is there a best time of day? Seal Island (dont let the name fool you) is the only island you can actually land on and observe puffins from behind blinds. Maine Map. 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. Kayak Excursions SUP tours, 1 hours, $50. Sandy, free parking, toilets. Moose can be spotted diving for dinner in wet boggy areas, chilling out in gravel pits, and doing some sightseeing of their own on hiking or snowmobile trails. Light use. 1. 17 Post Rd., Wells. Like all mammals, seal pups begin life drinking . 70 Rte. 111 Perkins Cove Rd., Ogunquit. You'll visi You and the whole family are invited to exscape and relax in Maine's Aroostook County. Their morning lunch cruise includes an hour-plus stop on the island of Frenchboro. Sandy, paid parking, concessions, lifeguards, toilets. 9. Storms periodically revealed the wreck for brief periods, about every 10 years. Shorebirds, waterfowl, otters, and even harbor seals abound. 207-646-0455. Ninety-two gray and harbor seals were reported stranded in Maine between May 10 and July 4. Credit. The tight-knit summer community combined with the pristine sheltered harbor has been creating fond memories for generations. Ride a restored streetcar at the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport. , Millinocket, 59 Morrill Rd Enjoy inside or from the takeout window for a picnic. }, Moose | Whales | Puffins | Birds | Wildlife Parks & Refuges. Call Doc at 207-384-5160 or visit parksandlands.com for more details. Crescent Beach itself is a mile-long half-moon scattered with skipping stones and ringed with beach roses. On Sundays, hit up the Kittery Community Market for picnic supplies, live music, and a kids corner with art and science projects. 207-563-1393. Grab a towel and come with us. Our Programs. Inland cottage resorts feature either traditional cottages or gatherings of rustic cabins. . Rangeley Lake State Park, Mount Blue State Park, Lily Bay State Park, and Peaks-Kenny State Park are all campground parks located in or near parts of Maine with ample moose-watching opportunities. Moderate use. 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. Bowdoins environmental research station sits on 118 acres of varied terrain jutting into Harpswell Sound. What a legacy Mary Louise Curtis Bok has given to the town of Camden! Designed by renowned landscape architect Fletcher Steele, the Amphitheatre, with its terraced stone seating, lush trees and lawn, and view of Camden Harbor, is well used by the town for concerts, weddings, graduation ceremonies, craft fairs, and just hanging around. Linda Mehlhorn, of South Portland, coined the term seaglunking that is sea glass + spelunking, the act of exploring beaches and waterways in search of sea glass. Tours in July and August. Copyright VisitMaine.Net 2022Images Courtesy Greg and Heather Burke unless otherwise noted. Shop Now. The ship skeleton made its most recent and most publicized appearance, following one of the winter storms the media dubbed a bomb cyclone.. 207-244-5785. Sandy, paid parking, concessions, lifeguards, showers and toilets. Take a book and a blanket and let the ocean breezes sweep your cares away. 1A. Sucking down an ice cream cone while admiring Cape Neddicks Nubble Light has been a tradition since 1967, when a stand called Browns opened up at Nubble Point. 207-967-6065. Address: Glenn Dochtermann (go ahead and call him Doc) learned to fish off the beach from his dad some 60 years ago, and hes been out surf-casting ever since for stripers, pollack, and more. Pebbly/sandy, paid parking, lifeguards, no facilities. Light use. 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. Back-door access to Goochs Beach from what is very likely Americas oldest hotel: an inn has occupied the spot since at least 1660. Moderate use. Share your pride in Easterseals with branded products from the Easterseals store. 22 Fortunes Rocks Beach Fortunes Rocks Rd. Several Maine State Park Campgrounds make good basecamps for regional moose watching. Watch purple sandpipers and puffins settle onto the rocky coastline or look for black-capped chickadees (the Maine state bird) in the forest. 207-729-5181. Maine Quest Adventures is a locally owned and operated Katahdin Region Outfitter. This snug state park in Cape Elizabeth is really two beaches in one. Bass Harbor natives Kim and Eli Strauss offer passengers their insiders view of Mount Desert Islands hardest-working harbor. 207-646-4909. Mt. Harbor seals range in color from brown to gray, with visible spotting, and blend in well with their surroundings when hauled out on a rock or ledge. Old Village Inn. Any help would be appreciated. Get answers to your questions about Maine. 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. Visit themainebeaches.com for more info and its never a bad idea to call the local town office with questions. 37 Beach Ave., Kennebunk. .eb-thumbnail {width:25%;} Lets start with the Project Puffin Visitor Center in Rockland. 1 Marina Way Follow Harbor Dr. to Lighthouse Rd. The path connects (awkwardly, via the beach and social trails the Cliff Walk ranger can steer you) to the -mile Fishermans Walk from the harbor to the Wiggly Bridge, the worlds smallest suspension bridge.. What not to do on the southern Maine seashore. .eb-p {width:100%; margin-top:0;} Seals like to "haul out" to rest, sun themselves on rocky ledges or rocky shorelines on islands. Perkins Cove 5. Great Wass Island Preserve The Southern Mainecoastal Wells townis popular for its beaches, but also its many antique shops, used and antique book stores. Its also easier to go seaglunking at low tide, and searching after a summer storm can pay dividends, as more glass tends to wash up then. 2. Its a short paddle to Stevens Brook, behind Footbridge Beach, and a network of tiny tidal streams in the Rachel Carson Wildlife Refuge. Pete Erskine, co-owner of Mexicali Blues, one-time summer person turned year-round resident of South Bristols Rutherford Island. Maple Hill Farm Inn and Conference Center. @media screen and (min-width: 480px) { Join us on Adventure Seal Watch that you wont soon forget. View our other locations. The one and a half hour tour departs New Harbor for Eastern Egg . Light use. And were not using the word massive lightly. , Millinocket. Catch the weekly Thursday night fireworks at Old Orchard Beach. Southern Maine, a million miles from the daily grind, is only a short distance from you. Park at Josephine Newman Audubon Sanctuary, off Rte. Served with an orange slice, pineapple chunk, cherry, and a sprinkle of what witty servers will say is beach sand (its nutmeg). BYOB and snag a weathered picnic table at the end of the pier. 3 York Harbor Beach Rte. No trip to Maine would be complete without visiting Acadia National Park. 12 West Side Rd., South Bristol. Whale watching in Maine is kind of a big deal. 9. Places to Go in Maine - Maine's Prettiest Harbors - Down East Magazine 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. PO Box 171 Ambajejus Lake Island Grocery However, with so many beautiful beaches and charming towns in southern Maine, many visitors miss the opportunity to track down these animals. Watch for wading birds. About half that is along the water itself, running parallel to muddy flats and steep, short cliffs. Its not every day you see a moose. 9 Thurston Rd., Bernard. All rights reserved. Across the street is Camden Harbor Park, designed by the Olmsted Brothers. 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. The southern and coastal regions are influenced by air masses from the south and west. In 2007, archaeologists measured the hull and took samples of the wood. has seven rooms with a B&B vibe and a cozy British-style pub. } I have been going to southern Maine with my family my entire life, and this view and landscape is one of my absolute favorites. 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. Marine Wildlife - Acadia National Park (U.S. National Park Service) John Steinbeck, writing in Travels With Charley, 1962. . Portland Unless youre in Maine and you know exactly when and where to look. (207) 502-8040, 8 Western Ave. inside Coastal Maine Kayak and Bike. Seals - Maine Forum - Tripadvisor Theyre really not. 15. Enjoy shopping andlovely diningin quaint Perkins Cove, take a coastal walk along the Marginal Way, or relax with an evening ofsummer stock Theaterat the Ogunquit Playhouse. This gateway town provides your first taste of Maine with fresh lobsters caught right off the coast. .eb-col img { width: 100%; } I appreciate your time. Started by a Mexican family who first came Down East to feed migrant wild-blueberry harvesters, Vazquez has the most authentic Mexican street food in the state: freshly made tortillas, beef tacos, chicken chimichangas, empanadas, and, sometimes, flan oh, man! Sandy, paid parking, concessions, showers and toilets. When you look out on the Jonesport and Beals harbor, you see only working lobsterboats. Box 633 From $145. These are the most vital elements for our health and wellbeing our need for them, Read More Amazing Waterfront Restaurants in MaineContinue, If you ask a local in Kennebunk or Kennebunkport, whats the best way to see this coastal village, theyll tell you to get on, Read More Locals Guide to the Best Kennebunkport Boat ToursContinue, If youre looking for things to do in Kittery Maine, we have the top places to visit right here! Another itinerary question-Moosehead Lake? 543 Shore Rd., Ogunquit. $65, plus lunch. Sandy, paid parking, no facilities. A gospel-tinged bluesy act with virtuosic pedal steel. Cliff House. Birds are the main source of the flu, and seals in the region have caught the flu from passing birds before. This humble one-room museum on Stoningtons main drag is centered around a working model of one of the granite quarries that once operated on the surrounding islands basically, the most elaborate educational train set youve ever encountered. Maine has a wide . 1 Fort Foster Beach Pocahontas Rd. Its time to lay anchor. Brian Beal, Jonesport native and director of research at the Downeast Institute for Applied Marine Research & Education. } 105 Coveside Rd., South Bristol. 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. And of course, where there are crowds, there are gift shops. Immerse yourselves in the history and lore, that include rescues, heroism, Sailor the bell ringing dog, even an 1896 murder/suicide. 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. #5 in Best Maine Beaches. 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. 4. No, thats not a penguin youre seeing. You were very helpful. 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. Vazquez Mexican Food Get outside on your next vacation, and visitsome of the best places to see wildlife in southern Maine. We have on goal: to help you fall more in love with the state of Maine! Wildlife watching in Maine presents a world of diversity and endless opportunities for discovery and recreation. @media only screen and (min-width: 1024px){ Instructors at Black Point Surf Shop (134 Black Point Rd., Scarborough; 207-939-6016) lead 90-minute tutorials by appointment ($90 for one person, $140 for two, with discounts if you BYO gear); Liquid Dreams Surf Shop (171 Long Beach Ave., York; 207-351-2545; 696 Main St., Ogunquit; 207-641-2545) has a whole catalog of 3-day beginners programs ($170), kids clinics and mini-camps ($50$90); private lessons ($70$105), and ladies nights ($40); Maines original surf shop, Wheels N Waves (365 Post Rd., Wells; 207-646-5774) offers multiple 2-hour tutorials daily in summer ($40$90, depending on group size and gear needs). 20 Goose Rocks Beach Kings Hwy. Address: Tickets a la carte, $25$40. 207-833-2313. Make faces at the monkeys (not the white tiger) at Yorks Wild Kingdom. The Colony Hotel. 30 Higgins Beach Ocean Ave. Sandy, paid parking, showers and toilets. Recent Increase in Seal Deaths in Maine Linked to Avian Flu 240 Bayview Rd., Orrs Island. 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. Heavy use. Seals are swimming around the harbor. Best place to see seals? - Acadia National Park Forum 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. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-113315820', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');New England Aquarium in Boston: https://www.neaq.org/animal/northern-fur-seal/, https://www.neaq.org/animal/atlantic-harbor-seal-2/. Maine | History, Facts, Map, & Points of Interest | Britannica Look out for the worlds largest mammals aboard one of southern Maines whale watch boats, and get ready to be splashed! In Thurstons screened dining room, you see lobsterboats coming and going, some of them unloading their catch on the wharf just below your perch. 207-644-8552. Edna St. Vincent Millay, Camden poet, Renascence, 1912. Thanks so much. Saturday storm will cause major travel problems in southern Maine 16 Middle Beach Beach Ave. Pebbly, paid (limited) parking, no facilities. 207-646-7088. They can also take out chunks of wall and pathway, and storm damage can make for tricky footing. You can walk to the end of State Pier and usually see them or take a Casco Bay Lines ferry, or one of the other tours available in Portland, to see them out in the bay. If so,where would a good area be? THERES A SHIPWRECK BURIED BENEATH YORKS SHORT SANDS BEACH. The age class of harp seal we tend to see are the juveniles, who are around 12-14 months old . 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. 207-646-5575. Downeast Institute for Applied Marine Research and Education Peek over marine scientists' shoulders as they research lobsters, mussels, scallops, and other shellfish. If you love seals, beautiful scenery, or just want to be on the ocean, this is the tour for you! Its cottages stud the nearby shore and forest. At Acadia you will occasionally see harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) and gray seals (Halichoerus grypus) just offshore and in the area harbors. The OOB pier is one of the great American boardwalks and a slice of southern Maine at its unassuming best. First, you need to understand glacial rebound. Sandy, free (limited) parking, no facilities. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); VisitMaine.Net The unofficial guide to experiencing Maine. Desert Island or mainland ports like Jonesport, Cutler, Bar Harbor, Millbridge, Stonington, Rockland, Boothbay Harbor, New Harbor and Port Clyde. Sandy, paid parking, lifeguards, showers and toilets. Thirty-nine benches face the ocean, each with a sponsorship plaque that sold for $5,000 to fund trail maintenance which is necessary. All of your picnicking needs in one cute little store fresh bread, nice wine selection, local produce. , Livermore, P.O. Afternoons are devoted to seal and bird watching around the entrance of Blue Hill Bay and Bass Harbor Head Light. Spring is harbor seal pupping season in northern New England. FAST FACTS ABOUT OGUNQUIT'S MARGINAL WAY, MAINE'S MOST BELOVED SHORELINE STROLL. 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). Been looking online - there is one at (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? .eb-col a { text-decoration: none; } 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. It's hard enough to find them by going ten miles out to sea. Kennebunk andKennebunkportattract the famous each summer includingformer President George Bush and his family. A ship called Industry ran ashore at Short Sands Beach, according to records some believe the wreck is Industrys remains. 25 Ferry Beach State Park Bay View Rd. I'd drive either way. Humpbacks and minkes are the whales most often spotted, but blue whales and right whales make occasional appearances as well. Hit the Scoop Deck near Wells Beach to choose from among a whopping 72 flavors of ice cream. 26 Old Orchard Beach Rte. Its one of those rites of passage youd have to be a moose to fully appreciate. But over the years, we've had good luck at the Indian Point Blagdon Preserve, especially at low tide. , Livermore. Live. Your email address will not be published. An award-winning saxophonist in the bebop and swing traditions. Maines coastal islands are the only place in the U.S. where youll find nesting sites for Atlantic puffins. 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. Alternatively, you may use. Save. 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. 207-967-4243. gokennebunks.com Crescent Beach State Park Magic hour at Crescent Beach. Free admission. 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. Admire the endangered birds from a distance, stay out of signed restricted areas, and fill any beach holes (since chicks can tumble in). To report seal strandings south of Maine, please call the NOAA Fisheries Stranding Hotline: (866 . Atlantic Ave., Camden. Moderate use.