Required fields are marked *. 30 Higgins Beach Ocean Ave. Sandy, paid parking, showers and toilets. Visit Katahdin Air. Check out the National Park Service for more information. 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. Every time it happens. Been ahotel on this spot since 1872, but generations of modernization and expansion have rendered it quite contemporary. Tickets a la carte, $25$40. If you show up during peak hours, expect to wait for a table but its worth it. So what is a puffin? Books, Books, Books Hot tip: sub sweet potato wedges as a side and wash everything down with a slice of the otherworldly blueberry pie. It is illegal under the Marine Mammal Protection Act to handle these animals. 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. Gray seals, Halichoerus gypus, are the largest seal found in the area, with males growing to 8 feet . June and July are the best months to see puffins, but the general season is May through August. Any help would be appreciated. A third-generation, family-owned business, Huot Seafood Restaurant in Sacos beachside village of Camp Ellis still uses Doris Huots batter 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. Pat Lacey, Down East reader. Males weigh from 120 to over 300 pounds and run about five to six feet in length; females are slightly smaller. Heavy use. National Marine Fisheries Service Law Enforcement division has established the following toll-free number for reporting potential violations: 1-800-853-1964. 207-361-1000. , Livermore, P.O. Five Islands Lobster Company You dont see a mast. Plus, theres room to roam. (207) 502-8040, 8 Western Ave. inside Coastal Maine Kayak and Bike. Deer Isle Jazz Festival White Barn Inn. Look out for the worlds largest mammals aboard one of southern Maines whale watch boats, and get ready to be splashed! 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. 207-244-7600. 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). Later in the day its time to kick back with some me time on the rocks or rafting together on the water. Golden Road .page .lead { padding: 0 20px 0 20px; } 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. .eb-image-left {float:left; margin:7px 14px 7px 0; width:45%; max-width:400px;} 207-303-0137. When you visit the Museums of Old, Read More Experience the 9 Buildings of the Museums of Old York MaineContinue, The Maine Waterfront Dining Experience Food and water. 250 Main St., Ogunquit. 2. You get all this while enjoying your own personal front-row seat! Alternatively, you may use. MOVE OVER, OGUNQUIT, YORK'S GOT A DRAMATIC CLIFF WALK OF ITS OWN. 26 Old Orchard Beach Rte. 207-729-5181. }, Moose | Whales | Puffins | Birds | Wildlife Parks & Refuges. 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. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. The VisitMaine.Net team is the small team of authors and editors that research and write our in-depth guides throughout the site and update past articles to make sure it's still super valuable to you. To report any stranded marine mammal, or if a seal appears to be abandoned, appears on a crowded beach, or shows signs of illness or injury, notify the Maine Marine Animal Reporting Hotline, 1-800-532-9551. See what 40,000 pounds ofcandy looks like at Yummies Candy & Nuts in Kittery. The Wells National Estuarine Reserve at Laudholm Farm and the Rachel Carson Wildlife Refuge are ideal for nature lovers, and those that enjoy a good walk by the seaside and in one of Maines largest salt water marshes. Ride a rollercoaster at Sacos Funtown Splashtown. Visit Fort McClary State Historic Site, also in Kittery, where an 18th-century fort overlooks the Piscataqua River. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. A good pair of binoculars is a great way to enjoy them while still giving them enough distance so as not to disturb them. Josephine Newman Audubon Sanctuary and the Berry Woods Preserve Pebbly/sandy, paid parking, lifeguards, no facilities. 8 Western Ave, Kennebunk, ME 04043, USA 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. They dont offer tours, but the folks at World Within Sea Kayaking (at the Ogunquit River Inn) rent kayaks and SUPs that paddlers can launch out the back door, into the lower Ogunquit River, at high tide. $10 admission, $9 students and seniors. 2. Sandy, no parking (bike in is best), no facilities. With a box of chocolatepeanut butter in hand, stroll out on the rocks, have a seat, and indulge in the fudge and the view. These little-visited, adjoining parcels are protected, respectively, by the Maine Audubon Society and the Nature Conservancy. The 17th running of the islands scrappy jazz fest is spread out across three venues: the Stonington Opera House(1 Opera House Ln., Stonington), The Reach Center for the Performing Arts (249 North Deer Isle Rd., Deer Isle), and gWatson Gallery (68 Main St., Stonington). Give this Article . It is very unusual to see whales from shore. Hollis Burgess, writing in The Rudder magazine, 1917. As well, we work closely with our colleagues of the Marine Mammals of Maine who attend to response and rescue in southern Maine and have a new facility in Harpswell allowing for temporary holding before transporting animals to a rehab facility. State biologists estimate there are roughly 75,000 moose roaming Maines rugged landscapethe largest concentration in the country next to Alaska. A ship called Industry ran ashore at Short Sands Beach, according to records some believe the wreck is Industrys remains. Visitors can view a live camera feed of puffin activity and learn about conservation efforts to protect puffins and other seabirds of Maine. As intimate and adventurous as a small music festival gets highly recommended. } Address: Its houses are layered down to the calm water of the bay. The Nubble Light is a beacon for photographers and lighthouse lovers visiting Yorks Sohier Park. 17. Whale watching in Maine is kind of a big deal. 208. Desert Island or mainland ports like Jonesport, Cutler, Bar Harbor, Millbridge, Stonington, Rockland, Boothbay Harbor, New Harbor and Port Clyde. At Acadia you will occasionally see harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) and gray seals (Halichoerus grypus) just offshore and in the area harbors. When you look out on the Jonesport and Beals harbor, you see only working lobsterboats. It's hard enough to find them by going ten miles out to sea. This summer, hell be at Sacos Ferry Beach on July 19, Cape Elizabeths Crescent Beach on July 26, and Fort McClary on September 23 (plus Reid, Popham Beach, and Wolfes Neck state parks, farther down the coast, in August). All rights reserved. Sandy/pebbly, paid parking, no facilities. 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). Pebbly, free (limited) parking, no facilities. .eb-col h4 { line-height: 1.1em; margin: 0 0 20px 0; color: inherit; font-weight: bold; } 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. 6. If you need more adrenaline, theyll kill the engine and let you parachute into the drink. Stonington . The low-pressure system will strengthen into a nor'easter as it moves away from Maine tomorrow. 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. Moderate use. But dont worry about that last part. Its not every day you see a moose. The institute also tends to a hatchery that produces soft-shell seed clams to replenish clamflats in Maine, New Hampshire, and Canada. Though distinctly different in design, the two parks complement each other so well, they feel like one. Its time to lay anchor. To up your chances of seeing a moose in Maine, or to put your wildlife photography skills to the test, contact one of the outfitters that specialize in moose watching tours, also known as moose safaris. The result: a perfectly crisp coating that keeps clams from losing flavor to the fryer. Light use. 119 Cedar St. All the potato donuts are tasty, but dont sleep on this summers customer-chosen flavor, honey lavender. 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. In 2007, archaeologists measured the hull and took samples of the wood. John Steinbeck, writing in Travels With Charley, 1962. 207-646-5139. ogunquit.org, Although it still welcomes plenty of beachgoers in midsummer, Goose Rocks Beach, in Cape Porpoise, has a touch of wildness to it. I'd drive either way. Old Village Inn. Would it be worthwhile to do a kayak tour to see seals? Try the house specialty, a none-too-sweet blueberry martini. 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. Its wicked cheap too. .eb-hr {margin-top: 110px;} Mt. The entire Kennebunkport Coastline in an epic 1 Hour adventure. Marginal Way Sandy, paid parking, no facilities. 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). Seals like to "haul out" to rest, sun themselves on rocky ledges or rocky shorelines on islands. PO Box 171 Ambajejus Lake 9. Inland cottage resorts feature either traditional cottages or gatherings of rustic cabins. Get answers to your questions about Maine. However, these actions usually do more harm than good. Light use. 22 Fortunes Rocks Beach Fortunes Rocks Rd. Having had their fill while filling camera disks and memory banks the whales head south in October to warmer waters. 207-363-1333. 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. Battie Road. Light use. There are definitely seals at the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? 1447 Five Islands Rd., Georgetown. 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 . Fall is when the impressive antlers of the bull moose are fully formed. Edna St. Vincent Millay, Camden poet, Renascence, 1912. A great spot for a none-too-challenging family hike. Seafood Ketch Our Programs. 50 Perkins Cove Rd., Ogunquit. This does not include mammals, such as seals and whales, that must live in ocean environments or domestic mammals like cattle, dogs, and people. Many of the small islands off the coast of Maine are filled top to bottom with these charming little birds. You can share 5 more gift articles this month.. Park at Josephine Newman Audubon Sanctuary, off Rte. Several Maine State Park Campgrounds make good basecamps for regional moose watching. Crescent Beach itself is a mile-long half-moon scattered with skipping stones and ringed with beach roses. 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. . Hope it helps.