The institute also tends to a hatchery that produces soft-shell seed clams to replenish clamflats in Maine, New Hampshire, and Canada. 207-244-7600. 51 Main St., Stonington. 7 Little Beach Marginal Way, off Israel Head Rd. 1 Marina Way Portland, ME 04101 When you look out on the Jonesport and Beals harbor, you see only working lobsterboats. Light use. 96 Seguinland Rd., Georgetown. (Vaping, if not banned, is still obnoxious.). Pete Erskine, co-owner of Mexicali Blues, one-time summer person turned year-round resident of South Bristols Rutherford Island. 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. Maines southern coast offers the American summer vacation at its beach-blanket best. More than once, a bench has been washed out to sea by storms that can wreak havoc on the path. Sandy, free (limited) parking, lifeguards, showers and toilets. Lands End Seals can sometimes be seen but they like to sun and rest on the more isolated islands. Shop Now. . Channel your inner pirate at Schooner Miniature Golf, in Saco, where youll putt around (and aboard) a 75-foot windjammer. See these historic lighthouses first-hand. Steve Dunne ran the place from 1993 to 2014, then opened his own stand across the way, serving generous scoops of Shains of Maine right in between Short and Long Sands beaches. A great spot for a none-too-challenging family hike. Birds are the main source of the flu, and seals in the region have caught the flu from passing birds before. 15. 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. } The tight-knit summer community combined with the pristine sheltered harbor has been creating fond memories for generations. 207-204-8888. southernmainekayaks.com. Maine is the only place in the United States where you can see puffins in the wild. .eb-thumbnail { width: 99%; } .eb-image-left {float:left; margin:7px 14px 7px 0; width:45%; max-width:400px;} I'd drive either way. "Seal Island" (don't let the name fool you) is the only island you can actually land on and observe puffins from behind blinds. Whales can be seen up and down Maines coastline, but are best viewed by booking a whale watching boat tour. 30 Higgins Beach Ocean Ave. Sandy, paid parking, showers and toilets. In its first year with new director Michael Mansfield (most recently of the Smithsonian Museum of American Art), Ogunquits nationally recognized art museum has an impressive slate of summer and fall exhibitions. Including approximately 5,000 pairs of puffins, 1,000 pairs of razorback auks and 500 pairs of common murres. 1 Fort Foster Beach Pocahontas Rd. Heavy use. 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. John Steinbeck, writing in Travels With Charley, 1962. Moderate use. , Bingham, PO Box 773 Linking Perkins Cove to Ogunquit Beach, themile-and-a-quarter paved walkway traces its origins to 1925. 100 % of Cadillac Mountain Passes Sold 2 Days in Advance? 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. THERES A SHIPWRECK BURIED BENEATH YORKS SHORT SANDS BEACH. Your email address will not be published. 240 Bayview Rd., Orrs Island. Puffins arent the only birds that Maine can boast. The institute also tends to a hatchery that produces soft-shell seed clams to replenish clamflats in Maine, New Hampshire, and Canada. TheTown of Ogunquithas been attracting visitors to Southern Maine for years. Address: From $129. Across the street is Camden Harbor Park, designed by the Olmsted Brothers. As any puffin can tell you, its worth the trip. Southern Maine Coasts Saco and Biddeford add oceanside haunts and typical Downtown Maine attractions to visit. 207-497-5769. The manager of South Berwicks Vaughan Woods State Park and Kitterys Fort McClary State Historic Site, Doc leads a series of free (with paid park admission) drop-in surf-casting clinics at coastal state parks. Seal Island (dont let the name fool you) is the only island you can actually land on and observe puffins from behind blinds. 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. Bass Harbor is almost exclusively a working harbor its all lobsterboats and fishing boats and nearly all the small businesses in town are fishermen. Five Islands Lobster Company 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. Another itinerary question-Moosehead Lake? The seals disperse when the baitfish run disappears, usually about the time the stripers start returning, ie early June or thereabouts. Box 633 5. Coastal Maine Kayak & Bike, kayak or SUP tours, 3 hours, $85. , Greenville. A ship called Industry ran ashore at Short Sands Beach, according to records some believe the wreck is Industrys remains. (207) 502-8040, 8 Western Ave. inside Coastal Maine Kayak and Bike. This gateway town provides your first taste of Maine with fresh lobsters caught right off the coast. 11 Crescent Beach Gold Ribbon Dr. Pebbly/sandy, paid parking, lifeguards, toilets. Thanks so much. Frye Island, Sebago Lake, Cumberland County. Races start at 10:30AM - registration accepted up to 1 hour before the race. Southern Maine, a million miles from the daily grind, is only a short distance from you. Bayview Takeout Thank you! From $159. 12 West Side Rd., South Bristol. @media screen and (min-width: 480px) { If you do a search for puffin images you may, like a lot of folks, imagine puffins are related to penguins. Address: 207-563-1393. Tours in July and August. 10 North Beach Ocean Ave. Sandy, paid parking, lifeguards, toilets. Maine Moose watching trips offered daily! 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. Box 633 Photograph by Benjamin Williamson, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close, Acadia National Park in Winter is a Little-Visited Marvel, Campobello Island Is Neither Here nor There, At Sunday River, The Best Doughnuts You Can Buy On a Ski Trail, Lynne Drexler Saw the World Through Kaleidoscope Eyes. Our Programs. Sandy, paid parking, concessions, lifeguards, toilets. Served with an orange slice, pineapple chunk, cherry, and a sprinkle of what witty servers will say is beach sand (its nutmeg). Its wicked cheap too. 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. Explore Boon Island Lighthouse and Nubble Lighthouse on this tour that cruises up the coastline. Any suggestions? 80 Beach Ave., Kennebunk. 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). .page .lead { padding: 0 20px 0 20px; } Including approximately 5,000 pairs of puffins, 1,000 pairs of razorback auks and 500 pairs of common murres. M.C. 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. The age class of harp seal we tend to see are the juveniles, who are around 12-14 months old . Dont show up without calling or going online to check out local parking regulations first. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Aragosta 207-646-0455. . 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. 27 Pine Point Beach Rte. One hard-to-miss difference is that puffins can fly and penguins cant. This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. Peek over marine scientists shoulders as they research lobsters, mussels, scallops, and other shellfish. I have been going to southern Maine with my family my entire life, and this view and landscape is one of my absolute favorites. Maine has three well-defined climatic zones: central, southern interior, and northern. The shopping in the Old Port is fun at boutiques along cobblestone streets. 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). The best time to spot sea glass, Mehlhorn says, is at sunset. Maple Hill Farm Inn and Conference Center. Multiple outfitters in the Kennebunks can guide short paddles along the tidal Mousam River, which wends through the Rachel Carson Wildlife Refuge to meet the sea at Parsons Beach. $6 Maine residents, $8 non-residents. .eb-col img {width: 100%;} I'd drive either way. So where in Maine is the best puffin habitat for puffin watching? Travelers from all over the world flock to the Southern Maine coast for the ideal summer vacation. Our boat puts you up close and personal with all of what the ocean has to offer. While sightings are not common, moose have been known to roam the park and reveal themselves to visitors. Report inappropriate content 1-8 of 8 replies Sorted by 1 h0trudderedbum Phippsburg, Maine Level Contributor 351 posts 1. Beach ecosystems are fragile, and visitors should never walk across vegetated areas. $10 admission, $9 students and seniors. Watch for wading birds. 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. So what is a puffin? Moderate use. 7. Kennebunkport is famous for its many craft fairs and festivals includingChristmas Preludeand an art, food and wine Kennebunkport Festival each June. Voted #1 in New England by Yankee Magazine for the best chance of finding Moose! Heavy use. White Barn Inn. 17 Goochs Beach Beach Ave. Sandy, paid parking, lifeguards, toilets. 2 Seapoint/Crescent Beach Rte. 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. 70 Rte. 1 Bypass, Kittery. Their morning lunch cruise includes an hour-plus stop on the island of Frenchboro. Kitterys Route 1 is filled with outlet stores of every kind imaginable and famous Kittery Trading Post. 207-833-2313. .eb-thumbnail {width:25%;} 207-646-6263. The captain will make every effort to take requests and will tailor the tour according to the weather. 2 Western Ave. 207-967-3321. Built by a Connecticut bridge company in 1898, its a remnant of the golden age of Atlantic beach towns, when seaside boardwalks and pleasure piers sprang up from Atlantic City to Daytona Beach. We are a small family run outfit that specializes in personalized one-on-one guided trips. Vazquez Mexican Food 24 Hills Beach Rte. The Nubble Light is a beacon for photographers and lighthouse lovers visiting Yorks Sohier Park. The seals congregate in the Kennebec rivermouth every spring to gorge on returning baitfish that swim upriver. In Thurstons screened dining room, you see lobsterboats coming and going, some of them unloading their catch on the wharf just below your perch. Join us today! 207-967-4243. gokennebunks.com Crescent Beach State Park Magic hour at Crescent Beach. Seeing Seals with Portland Paddle. Although all are classified as humid continental, small differences exist among regions. Heavy use. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2019-2022 Dunes on the Waterfront. 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. From the majestic moose to the huge humpback, Maine has long been known for its vast and unique wildlife. This does not include mammals, such as seals and whales, that must live in ocean environments or domestic mammals like cattle, dogs, and people. 207-729-5181. However, with so many beautiful beaches and charming towns in southern Maine, many visitors miss the opportunity to track down these animals. .eb-col img { width: 100%; } 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. Rhumb Line 3. FAST FACTS ABOUT OGUNQUIT'S MARGINAL WAY, MAINE'S MOST BELOVED SHORELINE STROLL. See what 40,000 pounds ofcandy looks like at Yummies Candy & Nuts in Kittery. Do you like visiting historical places where history comes alive? ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-113317266', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');cruise with Acadian Boat Tours out of Atlantic Oceanside in Bar Harbor and it goes right past Egg Head Light and there were SO many seals hanging out by the light house. Been looking online - there is one at Bar Harbor and another on the Cape. Fresh (round!) Where receptacles are available, dont fill them with huge bags or large items like broken umbrellas or chairs. Shes been at it 50 years, so we asked her for some tips. 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. Hello! A few doors apart are three indie bookstores: cozy Owl & Turtle Bookshop Caf (33 Bay View St.; 207-230-7335), with a fine collection of fiction, nonfiction, and childrens books; Shermans Maine Coast Book Shop (14 Main St., Camden; 207-236-2223), with a large selection of Maine books and souvenirs; and the charming Stone Soup Books, a nook of a secondhand store tucked above Marriners Restaurant (35 Main St., Camden; 207-763-3354). Gray seals are bigger; they're between 7 and 8 feet long, and can. 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. Boat traffic is minimal, and sightings of bald eagles, ospreys, and other raptors are common. Inn by the Sea. Photographs: Michael D. Wilson (ice cream, punch, lobster roll, taffy, clams, beach glass); Mark Fleming (fries, donuts). Bass Harbor Head Light Spanning 47,000 acres, Acadia offers more than 150 miles of hiking trails . Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close. The ship skeleton made its most recent and most publicized appearance, following one of the winter storms the media dubbed a bomb cyclone.. .eb-hero-content p { width: 80%; } Our daily, two hour long, sunset tours are one of the best ways to see seals in southern Maine in June-August! Ogunquits paved, mile-and-a-quarter seaside footpath is a classic Maine stretch of the legs. MOVE OVER, OGUNQUIT, YORK'S GOT A DRAMATIC CLIFF WALK OF ITS OWN. Several Maine State Park Campgrounds make good basecamps for regional moose watching. Sandy, paid (limited) parking, no facilities. Follow Harbor Dr. to Lighthouse Rd. Afternoons are devoted to seal and bird watching around the entrance of Blue Hill Bay and Bass Harbor Head Light. It is thought that females from Massachusetts migrate to quiet islands in New Hampshire and southern Maine to pup. 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. Down south, though, glacial rebound has been more subdued these last couple thousand years. . } 207-967-4243. gokennebunks.com, This snug state park in Cape Elizabeth is really two beaches in one. The low-pressure system will strengthen into a nor'easter as it moves away from Maine tomorrow. If you love seals, beautiful scenery, or just want to be on the ocean, this is the tour for you! @media screen and (min-width: 900px) { Really, is there a bigger thrill than seeing one of earths largest creatures majestically break the ocean surface, pause for a moment for wows and camera clicks, then return to the mysteries of the deep? 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. A seaside destination resort within walking distance of Crescent Beach and Kettle Cove, with stylish rooms, legendary service, a trendsetting seafood restaurant, and a garden pool, bocce court, and fire pit that attract families. The one and a half hour tour departs New Harbor for Eastern Egg . Visitors can view a live camera feed of puffin activity and learn about conservation efforts to protect puffins and other seabirds of Maine. 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 . Station Rd., Beals.
