does not look like an American town at all in place or in architecture. Whale watching in Maine is kind of a big deal. 207-439-9324. 207-563-1393. Open 364 days a year, the institute offers tours and a marine-life touch tank. Oh, and we GUARANTEE that you see seals or you get YOUR MONEY BACK! During the summer season in the Southern Coast of Maine, you can overhear many visitors speaking English, French, various European languages, and even Jamaican. rolls from Reillys Bakery in Biddeford, Kates Homemade Butter from Arundel, and fresh, hand-picked lobster meat: the unconventional rolls at this classic Kennebunk seafood stand, right on the Lanigan Bridge over the Kennbunk River, have racked up awards and accolades (expect a line). 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. A large number of seal pups appear each year on New England beaches, apparently stranded, but these pups are often only temporarily abandoned by their mothers, who are feeding nearby. Hollis Burgess, writing in The Rudder magazine, 1917. Watch for wading birds. 398 Rte. HERES WHAT LITTLE WE KNOW ABOUT IT. 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. Many of the small islands off the coast of Maine are filled top to bottom with these charming little birds. Its a great place to spot wading birds and waterfowl and avoid people. Birds are the main source of the flu, and seals in the region have caught the flu from passing birds before. Inland cottage resorts feature either traditional cottages or gatherings of rustic cabins. The island is teeming with thousands of birds. Dont bring Fido without checking. 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. But dont worry about that last part. 14 Parsons Beach Rte. Moderate use. 207-967-4243. gokennebunks.com, This snug state park in Cape Elizabeth is really two beaches in one. I have been going to southern Maine with my family my entire life, and this view and landscape is one of my absolute favorites. What not to do on the southern Maine seashore. Pebbly/sandy, paid parking, lifeguards, no facilities. BYOB and snag a weathered picnic table at the end of the pier. Any suggestions? My family and I will be visiting Acadia and (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? A good pair of binoculars is a great way to enjoy them while still giving them enough distance so as not to disturb them. 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. Tucked below the cliffs at about the midpoint, Little Beach is a pocket beach thats submerged at high tide. Served with an orange slice, pineapple chunk, cherry, and a sprinkle of what witty servers will say is beach sand (its nutmeg). .eb-linked-heading {border:none; text-decoration:none; color:inherit;} Boat traffic is minimal, and sightings of bald eagles, ospreys, and other raptors are common. Moderate use. 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. 375 Seguinland Rd., Georgetown. Its cottages stud the nearby shore and forest. Places to Go in Maine - Maine's Prettiest Harbors - Down East Magazine It is very unusual to see whales from shore. Join us on Adventure Seal Watch that you won't soon forget. Thanks so much. They will shed their antlers in November or December and grow new, larger antlers in the spring. 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 . 207-729-5181. Is there a best time of day? Including approximately 5,000 pairs of puffins, 1,000 pairs of razorback auks and 500 pairs of common murres. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2019-2022 Dunes on the Waterfront. Address: 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. Lets start with the Project Puffin Visitor Center in Rockland. 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. 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. By following the directions at that number, your call will be directed to the appropriate responder. Driving from NJ where to stop for a night, Boston to Acadia via the coast and White Mountains. The formal trail dates to Yorks days as a posh summer colony and crosses right through the yards of some of the towns most historic homes (be respectful, obvs). 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. 10 Snow Canning Rd., Scarborough. Play Skee-Ball, Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and more at the retro Fun-O-Rama arcade pavilion on York Beach. Other puffin-preferred places on the Maine coast include eastern Egg Rock in the MidCoast & Islands region, and Seal Island and Matinicus Rock at the mouth of Penobscot Bay. Eli Strauss, owner of Bass Harbor Island Cruises. Island Grocery 2. 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. However, these actions usually do more harm than good. Portland Hot tip: sub sweet potato wedges as a side and wash everything down with a slice of the otherworldly blueberry pie. Free admission. Maine is the only place in the United States where you can see puffins in the wild. 207-303-0137. Go before sunset, grab one of the tables on the harborside patio, sip a beer, and sigh contentedly as the sky turns red and streaky. Explore gentle wooded trails at Kennebunkports lovely Edwin L. Smith Preserve. Come to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Thirty-nine benches face the ocean, each with a sponsorship plaque that sold for $5,000 to fund trail maintenance which is necessary. Spring is harbor seal pupping season in northern New England. In addition there is a squadron of returning Ospreys that fish aggressively there as well. 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. FAST FACTS ABOUT OGUNQUIT'S MARGINAL WAY, MAINE'S MOST BELOVED SHORELINE STROLL. 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). (207) 502-8040, 8 Western Ave. inside Coastal Maine Kayak and Bike. Down south, though, glacial rebound has been more subdued these last couple thousand years. Sandy, paid parking, concessions, showers and toilets. Like any wild animal, seals are where you find them, so no guarantees. 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. I have researched, but can't really find a clear answer. , Millinocket, PO Box 160 Voted #1 in New England by Yankee Magazine for the best chance of finding Moose! Pebbly, free (limited) parking, no facilities. 207-646-5575. 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? 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). It has consistently been our best Maine canoe trip for spotting wildlife, including moose and eagles. .eb-thumbnail {width:30%;} Plus, theres always some Maine-y blueberry variation blueberry coffee cake, blueberry with lemon glaze, blueberry maple bacon. The Strausses share stories about their community and the fishing way of life, and they stop to haul a lobster trap. Late founder Billy Tower concocted this fruity sipper, so popular that the Ogunquit institution mixes it up in 5-gallon batches. 8 Islands Off The Coast Of Maine You Need To Visit ASAP - OnlyInYourState The best things to do, great lodging, unique restaurants, and more. Less dazzling ceramic bits and pieces of frozen Charlottes antique porcelain dolls are also fun to collect. Its houses are layered down to the calm water of the bay. Visit the Easterseals Store. 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. . Maines southern coast offers the American summer vacation at its beach-blanket best. PO Box 160 Seals can sometimes be seen but they like to sun and rest on the more isolated islands. One hard-to-miss difference is that puffins can fly and penguins cant. For the best visibility, time your. Bayview Takeout John Steinbeck, writing in Travels With Charley, 1962. National Marine Fisheries Service Law Enforcement division has established the following toll-free number for reporting potential violations: 1-800-853-1964. You wont find fresher lobster anywhere, so keep it simple and go for the traditional lobster dinner with corn on the cob, house-made slaw, and blueberry cake. Explore Maine using our interactive map that features local businesses, guides, restaurants, lodging and more. 207-230-8495. 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. has seven rooms with a B&B vibe and a cozy British-style pub. A good pair of binoculars is a great way to enjoy them while still giving them enough distance so as not to disturb them. 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/. Seafood Ketch The puffins have already left their nesting areas. The dusky glare helps hunters distinguish darker colors against rocks. 207-363-1333. The National Marine Fisheries Service recommend that any stranded animal be left alone. Kennebunk andKennebunkportattract the famous each summer includingformer President George Bush and his family. 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. Deer Isle Jazz Festival 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. .eb-button { color: #fff; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 1px; border: 1px solid #8d8457; width: 300px; padding: 15px 0; text-align: center; background: #8d8457; font-family: Vans-Bold,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-size: .75rem; text-decoration: none; display: block; margin: 20px 0 30px; } Youll see Goat Island Light in Cape Porpoise and then travel to Goose Rocks for more seals and back down the coast to Wells. When you look out on the Jonesport and Beals harbor, you see only working lobsterboats. First, you need to understand glacial rebound. Hit the Scoop Deck near Wells Beach to choose from among a whopping 72 flavors of ice cream. So why does Maine have so many sandy beaches down south? Some 40 percent of overnight guests more than 8 million people made a destination last year out of the sunny, seaside stretch that tourism types simply call The Maine Beaches. And who can blame them? 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. , Millinocket. I live in Maine and have July and the first half of August off. , Livermore. 591 Shore Rd., Ogunquit. Morses Cribstone Grill Such places have always threaded the needle between glamorous and honky-tonk, and so it is with OOB: in the interwar years, you wore a jacket to see Duke Ellington or Count Basie in the pier ballroom; these days, you wear a tank top to hear a musical comedian working blue at Hooligans. Seaside Inn. Expect about an hour of instruction and another hour of fishing. Pick your own strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and even tomatoes at Spiller Farm in Wells. Yes, Virginia, there is surfing in Maine. Ninety-two gray and harbor seals were reported stranded in Maine between May 10 and July 4. Credit. All the potato donuts are tasty, but dont sleep on this summers customer-chosen flavor, honey lavender. Spanning 47,000 acres, Acadia offers more than 150 miles of hiking trails . Marine Wildlife - Acadia National Park (U.S. National Park Service) The shopping in the Old Port is fun at boutiques along cobblestone streets. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Visitors can view a live camera feed of puffin activity and learn about conservation efforts to protect puffins and other seabirds of Maine. Light use. Theres an independent spirit that comes along with that, and its fundamental to the culture of the town. There were also hiking trails close by where we found wild blueberries. The Port can only be found in the coast of Southern Maine; a distinctive coastal blend of food, shopping, and beaches combine with beautiful scenery and charming hotels and BnBs for a memorable visit. Rhumb Line 17. 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. The southern and coastal regions are influenced by air masses from the south and west. @media only screen and (min-width: 600px){ Keep an eye out for fieldstone walls still running throughout the area reminders of the lands agricultural past and enjoy a quiet stretch of coastline that, more often than not, youll have all to yourself. A brilliant display on a warm spring day. Give this Article . For a little more seclusion, though, visitors can follow the footpaths to adjacent, undeveloped Kettle Cove (which also has its own parking area), a pebblier pocket beach flanked by dramatic granite shelves. 9. Destination dining where you might least expect it. Their combined trail network offers 6 miles of mostly gentle hiking through cattail marshland and quiet mixed forest, with periodic lookouts taking in the Sasanoa River and Robinhood Cove (watch for ospreys soaring overhead). The Can-Am Crown is an international sled dog race with a 29-year history, held in Fort Kent, Maine. Seal Island (dont let the name fool you) is the only island you can actually land on and observe puffins from behind blinds. .page .lead { padding: 0 20px 0 20px; } Downeast Institute for Applied Marine Research and Education Peek over marine scientists' shoulders as they research lobsters, mussels, scallops, and other shellfish. It's hard enough to find them by going ten miles out to sea. The deskbound can get a moment of zen thanks to live webcams operated by the nonprofit Marginal Way Preservation Fund. . Aragosta State biologists estimate there are roughly 75,000 moose roaming Maines rugged landscapethe largest concentration in the country next to Alaska. 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. You can reach us at: 1063 McGaw Avenue, Suite 100 Irvine, CA 92614 714-834-1111 714-834-1128 (Fax) Contact Us. The best time to spot sea glass, Mehlhorn says, is at sunset. Very cool! 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. Immerse yourselves in the history and lore, that include rescues, heroism, Sailor the bell ringing dog, even an 1896 murder/suicide. Address: Make a reservation today! Fall is when the impressive antlers of the bull moose are fully formed. recipe from 1935. Youll need a wet suit (because brrrr), and the steep swells can be elusive, but Maines surfing community is passionate and welcoming. 207-371-2303. Then, you can catch a puffin tour boat from Mt. 14. I have taken small groups of tweens/teens to Boston and we've always stopped at the seal tank outside the aquarium to watch the seals swim and play. 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. 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. 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). 1945 Harpswell Islands Rd., Bailey Island. 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. Another itinerary question-Moosehead Lake? White Barn Inn. Maine Quest Adventures is a locally owned and operated Katahdin Region Outfitter. Wildlife watching in Maine presents a world of diversity and endless opportunities for discovery and recreation. The captain will make every effort to take requests and will tailor the tour according to the weather. I appreciate your time. Join us on Adventure Seal Watch that you wont soon forget. 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. It is thought that females from Massachusetts migrate to quiet islands in New Hampshire and southern Maine to pup. 92 Pine Point Rd., Scarborough. Inn by the Sea.