This is our most adventurous tour and has something to offer for everyone! 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. 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. 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. has seven rooms with a B&B vibe and a cozy British-style pub. .eb-p {float: right; width:70%; margin-left:2%;} Sandy, no parking (bike in is best), no facilities. Photographed by Freddy Bloy. FAST FACTS ABOUT OGUNQUIT'S MARGINAL WAY, MAINE'S MOST BELOVED SHORELINE STROLL. Morses Cribstone Grill 16 Middle Beach Beach Ave. Pebbly, paid (limited) parking, no facilities. Maines Holy Donut micro-chain has a Scarborough outpost a few miles from the towns best beaches. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. Grab a towel and come with us. 119 Cedar St. Stroll to the top on the gently graded Carriage Trail or scramble up the steep Mt. Fall is when the impressive antlers of the bull moose are fully formed. Plus, the map displays our unique regions, cities, counties, convenient roads, and things to doso you'll have no problem picking points of interest and planning vacation routes. 207-367-5500. In the early part, puffins are all about taking care of business, flying sorties from the island to the water and back to feed their young. In the warmer months, Finback, Right, and Minke whales as well as the Humpback migrate to the feeding grounds off the coast of Maine. Thank you! Take a Hardy Boat Cruise, based in New Harbor, around the island, and watch these birds swim and romp in their natural habitat. They can also take out chunks of wall and pathway, and storm damage can make for tricky footing. Watch for wading birds. On Sundays, hit up the Kittery Community Market for picnic supplies, live music, and a kids corner with art and science projects. No trip to Maine would be complete without visiting Acadia National Park. A good pair of binoculars is a great way to enjoy them while still giving them enough distance so as not to disturb them. Historically, harbor seals pupped in Massachusetts, and there are increasing sightings of very small pups here in May and June. 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. As it turns out, theyve been in social networks a lot longer than we have. , 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. 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. 37 Beach Ave., Kennebunk. Marine Mammals on the West Coast - NOAA Fisheries 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. Late spring means seal pupping season in mid-coast Maine. 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. Books, Books, Books , Bingham. Two miles of moderately challenging trails weave through this 71-acre property on a peninsula between Seal Cove and Long Cove on the Damariscotta River. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2019-2022 Dunes on the Waterfront. Atlantic Ave., Camden. 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. .page .lead { width: 100%; padding: 0; } SMOKING (anything) is prohibited at state parks and by most town-run beaches. By following the directions at that number, your call will be directed to the appropriate responder. We're a non-profit and community-based organization dedicated to seabird conservation and preserving Maine's coast in hopes that we can preserve the habitats of Atlantic seabirds and other wildlife. Admire the endangered birds from a distance, stay out of signed restricted areas, and fill any beach holes (since chicks can tumble in). The pretty dunes are speckled with beach grasses and songbirds, and the rocky headlands are great for clambering and, when the tide is low, scouring the tide pools for limpets, periwinkles, and the occasional starfish. 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 result: a perfectly crisp coating that keeps clams from losing flavor to the fryer. Moderate use. Photographs: Michael D. Wilson (ice cream, punch, lobster roll, taffy, clams, beach glass); Mark Fleming (fries, donuts). You get all this while enjoying your own personal front-row seat! Travelers from all over the world flock to the Southern Maine coast for the ideal summer vacation. Mammals. Another itinerary question-Moosehead Lake? Hundreds of Seals Are Dying on the New England Coast Bowdoins environmental research station sits on 118 acres of varied terrain jutting into Harpswell Sound. Box 633 Interactive Maine Map: Small Towns, Cities, & Regions - Visit Maine 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). Heavy use. The Nubble Light is a beacon for photographers and lighthouse lovers visiting Yorks Sohier Park. Seaplane service throughout Maine & New England. Sandy, paid parking, concessions, showers and toilets. As intimate and adventurous as a small music festival gets highly recommended. The ship skeleton made its most recent and most publicized appearance, following one of the winter storms the media dubbed a bomb cyclone.. If you see a sick, injured, or dead seal in Maine, please call the Maine Marine Animal Reporting Hotline at (800) 532-9551. We did the nature (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? To report seal strandings south of Maine, please call the NOAA Fisheries Stranding Hotline: (866 . On the way out, Kettle Cove Creamery and Caf is a stone-cold classic for cones and lobster rolls. Bayview Takeout Deer Isle Jazz Festival Kennebunkport is famous for its many craft fairs and festivals includingChristmas Preludeand an art, food and wine Kennebunkport Festival each June. Maine artists loom large: through the end of August, youll find the abstract landscapes of John Marin and the stylized portraits of Will Barnet. If you do a search for puffin images you may, like a lot of folks, imagine puffins are related to penguins. 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. Saturday storm will cause major travel problems in southern Maine } View our Privacy Policy. Pick your own strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and even tomatoes at Spiller Farm in Wells. You name, it you can enjoy it in Wells. . Old Village Inn. Our tribute to the eight port towns and peaceful coves we never tire of gazing at. Driving from NJ where to stop for a night, Boston to Acadia via the coast and White Mountains. Though distinctly different in design, the two parks complement each other so well, they feel like one. Anyone can access the link you share with no account required. One hard-to-miss difference is that puffins can fly and penguins cant. Seal Watching in Kennebunkport, Maine | New England EcoAdventures 207-303-0137. So where in Maine is the best puffin habitat for puffin watching? 70 Rte. 23 Biddeford Pool Beach Rte. The most dramatic finding was in Saco, where there was a report of a dead seal on the beach early Monday morning. 207-646-5575. If you come right now and for about the next month or so you can see dozens of seals fishing in the mouth of the Kennebec River at Popham Village in Phippsburg for free from the beach. Boat traffic is minimal, and sightings of bald eagles, ospreys, and other raptors are common. Easterseals Southern California. 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. Seaside Inn. Yorks sandy beaches, good surf and fantastic scenery provide visitors with fun in the sun. 207-729-5181. Their morning lunch cruise includes an hour-plus stop on the island of Frenchboro. 10 Snow Canning Rd., Scarborough. 1447 Five Islands Rd., Georgetown. .eb-col { width: 31%; float: left; margin: 7px 2% 0 0;} Infections are more likely. 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. 543 Shore Rd., Ogunquit. Getting to know the seals of the Maine coast Plus, theres room to roam. This tour has it all Walkers Point, Seals, Cape Porpoise, Goat Island Lighthouse, and if time permits, Goose Rocks Beach. But the most important difference is that puffins like to hang out in Maine. 92 Pine Point Rd., Scarborough. .eb-p {width:100%; margin-top:0;} Males weigh from 120 to over 300 pounds and run about five to six feet in length; females are slightly smaller. Shes been at it 50 years, so we asked her for some tips. We are a small family run outfit that specializes in personalized one-on-one guided trips. 29 Eastern Ave. 207-282-1642. Take the Mt. Open 364 days a year, the institute offers tours and a marine-life touch tank. The Colony Hotel. 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! They will shed their antlers in November or December and grow new, larger antlers in the spring. , Millinocket, 59 Morrill Rd Its slightly ramshackle look complements OOBs come-one-come-all vibe this is a beach where you can attack a hunk of fried dough while wading in a Speedo and nobody looks at you twice, and the pier is the charmingly ragtag monument it deserves. Built in 1883, the downtown inn, a half-mile from Ogunquit Beach, Battie The Best Places To See Puffins In Maine Where is the best place to see seals in the wild. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); VisitMaine.Net The unofficial guide to experiencing Maine. Robert F. Bukaty/Associated Press PO Box 171 Ambajejus Lake Battie Trail (each isa half-mile). The best time to spot sea glass, Mehlhorn says, is at sunset. Brian Beal, Jonesport native and director of research at the Downeast Institute for Applied Marine Research & Education. 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. Lands End Seals like to "haul out" to rest, sun themselves on rocky ledges or rocky shorelines on islands. . Moderate use. Rhumb Line ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-113315485', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Boston in July. Eli Strauss, owner of Bass Harbor Island Cruises. 5. 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. A gospel-tinged bluesy act with virtuosic pedal steel. Heavy use. From $129. PO Box 773 Get answers to your questions about Maine. It is not unusual for a seal pup to be left alone on the beach by its mother for up to 24 hours. Getting pulled behind a speedboat is more relaxing than it sounds when youre drifting 1,200 feet above the waves. } 8 Beach St., York Beach. . There are actually two. Sandy, paid parking, lifeguards, toilets. In southern Maine, not all the best places to see wildlife are remote islands or national parks. A visit tohistoric Yorkwill show you some of Southern Maines fascinating history including the oldest jail in the country at Old York. Take a book and a blanket and let the ocean breezes sweep your cares away. 207-204-8888. southernmainekayaks.com. Explore gentle wooded trails at Kennebunkports lovely Edwin L. Smith Preserve. When the tides out, tidepoolers mingle with surfers and plein-air painters. Heavy use. Sandy, paid parking, concessions, lifeguards, toilets. 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. . 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. 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. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. Its the number one landmark on Mount Desert Islands Quiet Side, so you cant skip this one! Planning a trip with the kids and dont want to leave spotting a moose to chance? Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. A ship called Industry ran ashore at Short Sands Beach, according to records some believe the wreck is Industrys remains. See what 40,000 pounds ofcandy looks like at Yummies Candy & Nuts in Kittery. For better or for worse, the states beach-speckled southernmost 50 or so coastal miles are Maine for legions of summertime visitors. 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? 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? Partially enveloped by the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, it supports only a fraction of the tourism infrastructure that beachgoers expect out of neighboring Kennebunk, so while you wont find showers or lifeguards, you may well spot harbor seals sunning on the white sand or hermit crabs skittering around the tide pools. Gray seals are bigger; they're between 7 and 8 feet long, and can. Save. Watch purple sandpipers and puffins settle onto the rocky coastline or look for black-capped chickadees (the Maine state bird) in the forest. Late founder Billy Tower concocted this fruity sipper, so popular that the Ogunquit institution mixes it up in 5-gallon batches. In Thurstons screened dining room, you see lobsterboats coming and going, some of them unloading their catch on the wharf just below your perch. Portland Frye Island is the only island on this list that is not off the coast of Maine. 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. Several Maine State Park Campgrounds make good basecamps for regional moose watching. Visit Katahdin Air. Moderate use. Any suggestions? . Channel your inner pirate at Schooner Miniature Golf, in Saco, where youll putt around (and aboard) a 75-foot windjammer. Come to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? A 4.5-mile trail loops around the northern section of this 1,576-acre preserve, more than half of it crossing over breathtaking, wide-open coastal headlands. Whales can be seen up and down Maines coastline, but are best viewed by booking a whale watching boat tour. Sandy, paid parking, lifeguards, showers and toilets. Visit historic Wood Island Lighthouse! June and July are the best months to see puffins, but the general season is May through August. (Vaping, if not banned, is still obnoxious.). Live. Later in the day its time to kick back with some me time on the rocks or rafting together on the water. The deskbound can get a moment of zen thanks to live webcams operated by the nonprofit Marginal Way Preservation Fund. Maine's whale watching season lasts from mid-April through October. 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? 207-367-2788. When you look out on the Jonesport and Beals harbor, you see only working lobsterboats. Your email address will not be published. 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). In 2007, archaeologists measured the hull and took samples of the wood. The vibe is rustic elegance, and the back patio overlooks the working harbor. $4 Maine residents, $6 non-residents. 19 Cleaves Cove Beach Halcyon Way. 207-363-8466. 8 Ogunquit Beach Beach St. Sandy, paid parking, concessions, lifeguards, showers and toilets. 12 Wells Beach Mile Rd. An award-winning saxophonist in the bebop and swing traditions. Sandy, paid parking, concessions, lifeguards, showers and toilets. 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. 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. If you want to see a moose on your trip to coastalMaine, Acadia National Park is your best bet. I live in Maine and have July and the first half of August off. Ogunquits paved, mile-and-a-quarter seaside footpath is a classic Maine stretch of the legs. 1 Marina Way 207-230-8495. Make a reservation today! Address: Been looking online - there is one at Bar Harbor and another on the Cape. State biologists estimate there are roughly 75,000 moose roaming Maines rugged landscapethe largest concentration in the country next to Alaska. The National Marine Fisheries Service recommend that any stranded animal be left alone. More Than 3 Dozen Dead Seals Found On Southern Maine Beaches In Past 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! Light use. The 3-mile beach consists of two well-protected crescents, and the slope is gentle, making Goose Rocks a favorite of families with young kids. Union Bluff Hotel. 14. Camden Harbor Park and Amphitheatre Maine Quest Adventures is a locally owned and operated Katahdin Region Outfitter. Their population is greatest in the Western Lakes and Mountains regions, the Kennebec Valley, the Maine Highlands, and Aroostook County. 7. From Kittery to Old Orchard Beach, the Southern Maine Coast is the perfect vacation getaway. 3 York Harbor Beach Rte. Moderate use. .eb-thumbnail {width:25%;} }, Moose | Whales | Puffins | Birds | Wildlife Parks & Refuges. It books up fast. On the shoreline, you see a village that probably looks very similar to what it was in the 1930s and 1940s. This gateway town provides your first taste of Maine with fresh lobsters caught right off the coast. 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). PO Box 160 Deer Isle Granite Museum 27 Pine Point Beach Rte. If you show up during peak hours, expect to wait for a table but its worth it. . Josephine Newman Audubon Sanctuary and the Berry Woods Preserve 207-967-4461. Thanks so much. 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. Marine Wildlife - Acadia National Park (U.S. National Park Service) .page .content .inner { padding: 20px 10px 20px 20px; } , Greenville. While wildlife watching is something visitors can enjoy throughout the state, here are two of Maines most beloved wildlife and human life - destinations. There were lots of gulls and a few bald eagles as well. 207-646-0455. 26 Old Orchard Beach Rte. Expect about an hour of instruction and another hour of fishing. Address: Old Village Inn. Ferry out to the 19th-century Wood Island Lighthouse in Biddeford Pool, part of a guided tour offered by the Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse. Maines Birding Trail highlights the best spots to watch feathered friends of all types. Puffin Tours | Audubon Project Puffin Birds are the main source of the flu, and seals in the region have caught the flu from passing birds before. 14 Parsons Beach Rte. 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. The entire Kennebunkport Coastline in an epic 1 Hour adventure. Maine is one of the few states in the U.S. with a sizable moose population. An Ogunquit landmark since 1961, Billys is where you go for boiled lobsters and steamers if youre tying up in Perkins Cove. If youre hoping to encounter wildlife, the Allagash is where you want to be. Wave action also breaks down the bedrock alongside beaches, rolls stones until theyre smooth, and washes away mud and sand. .eb-col h4 { line-height: 1.1em; margin: 0 0 20px 0; color: inherit; font-weight: bold; } .eb-button-wide { width:100%; } 207-244-5785. Gray seals, Halichoerus gypus, are the largest seal found in the area, with males growing to 8 feet . Get outside on your next vacation, and visitsome of the best places to see wildlife in southern Maine. Maine has a wide . It is very unusual to see whales from shore. 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. They provided 2 kayaks and we were right on the water where we could kayak out to a mussel bar and sea seals. Youll need a wet suit (because brrrr), and the steep swells can be elusive, but Maines surfing community is passionate and welcoming. Since the last retreat of the ice sheet, Dykstra says, the coast of Maine has been slowly rising . 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. Visit Fort McClary State Historic Site, also in Kittery, where an 18th-century fort overlooks the Piscataqua River. Seeing Seals with Portland Paddle. Well head over to Cape Porpoise Harbor and Bumpkin Island to enjoy the seals that call that area home. 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. Tiny taffy kisses are made fresh daily and come in old-school flavors like molasses, licorice, and peppermint. 9. Heavy use. Bird Flu May Have Caused Seal Strandings in Maine - The New York Times During the summer season in the Southern Coast of Maine, you can overhear many visitors speaking English, French, various European languages, and even Jamaican. 207-244-7600. Where should we go to see whales, seals, puffins without a (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? 20 Goose Rocks Beach Kings Hwy. 207-729-5181. Also, because this island is so notable for its bird populations, you can meet and swap stories with fellow bird watchers from across the country. Free admission. Places to Go in Maine - Maine's Prettiest Harbors - Down East Magazine Battie Road. If so,where would a good area be? 1 Fort Foster Beach Pocahontas Rd. 51 Main St., Stonington. Hot tip: sub sweet potato wedges as a side and wash everything down with a slice of the otherworldly blueberry pie. It's a storm with major impacts for southern Maine, with an estimated snowfall rate of 1 inch . Marine Mammal Strandings Allied Whale College of the Atlantic 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. Sandy, free parking, toilets. There were also hiking trails close by where we found wild blueberries. The dusky glare helps hunters distinguish darker colors against rocks.