Miles of surf and white sand, funky beach towns with a foot in yesteryear, pockets of unspoiled splendor (if you know where to look), and more oddball family attractions than you can shake a souvenir lobster-claw at. 30 Higgins Beach Ocean Ave. Sandy, paid parking, showers and toilets. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. Address: While a big animal, the harbor seal is only about half the size of the gray seal, the . Only 2 days for park - driving only, disabled, Looking for jacuzzi room in southern maine or coastal nh. Moderate use. The island is teeming with thousands of birds. Hot tip: sub sweet potato wedges as a side and wash everything down with a slice of the otherworldly blueberry pie. In southern Maine, no place is better than Eastern Egg Rock for spotting the puffin. In Maine, please call the Maine Marine Animal Reporting Hotline at (800) 532-9551. One hard-to-miss difference is that puffins can fly and penguins cant. Do you like visiting historical places where history comes alive? Bass Harbor Island Cruises Save. 207-367-2788. Come see us at the Visitor Center Monday to Friday, from 8:00-4:30. 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. And were not using the word massive lightly. You can reach us at: 1063 McGaw Avenue, Suite 100 Irvine, CA 92614 714-834-1111 714-834-1128 (Fax) Contact Us. 42 Bayview Dr., Beals. 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. Since the last retreat of the ice sheet, Dykstra says, the coast of Maine has been slowly rising . Best Places To See Wildlife In Southern Maine Eastern Egg Rock No, that's not a penguin you're seeing. 9. 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. If you see a sick, injured, or dead seal in Maine, please call the Maine Marine Animal Reporting Hotline at (800) 532-9551. 250 Main St., Ogunquit. Is there a best time of day? Acadia National Park,a couple hours north of Portland, Maine,is one of the best places to see wildlife in Maine for many reasons other than moose. In addition there is a squadron of returning Ospreys that fish aggressively there as well. 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. I had read that September through April is the best time to see them but read reviews from July and August that said they saw plenty. Keep an open mind. Try the house specialty, a none-too-sweet blueberry martini. .eb-thumbnail {width:30%;} .eb-col img {width: 100%;} Portland to Bar Harbor - is the best way? Shorebirds, waterfowl, otters, and even harbor seals abound. Whatever your vacation preference, the Southern Maine Coast has it all especially sandy beaches and ocean views. 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. Frye Island, Sebago Lake, Cumberland County. Their morning lunch cruise includes an hour-plus stop on the island of Frenchboro. Lets start with the Project Puffin Visitor Center in Rockland. Rhumb Line Its time to lay anchor. If you do a search for puffin images you may, like a lot of folks, imagine puffins are related to penguins. Alternatively, you may use. 7 Little Beach Marginal Way, off Israel Head Rd. Maine is one of the few states in the U.S. with a sizable moose population. This gateway town provides your first taste of Maine with fresh lobsters caught right off the coast. Station Rd., Beals. Portland, ME 04101 591 Shore Rd., Ogunquit. Another itinerary question-Moosehead Lake? 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. Play Skee-Ball, Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and more at the retro Fun-O-Rama arcade pavilion on York Beach. Located within Acadia National Park, the lighthouse is a favorite of photographers, who typically shoot from the rocky shore below. Grab a towel and come with us. Fall is when the impressive antlers of the bull moose are fully formed. A third-generation, family-owned business, Huot Seafood Restaurant in Sacos beachside village of Camp Ellis still uses Doris Huots batter Bass Harbor Head Light Ride the Ferris wheel at Palace Playland for a birds-eye view of the iconic Old Orchard Beach pier. This is family-friendly educational activity at its finest and most massive. 207-646-5575. 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. Sandy, paid parking, lifeguards, showers and toilets. Moderate use. Head to the shore and keep an eye out for adorable harbor seal pups or spot the majestic bald eagle as you kayak in Frenchman Bay. 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. PO Box 773 Photographed by Freddy Bloy. . Enjoy inside or from the takeout window for a picnic. P.O. 20 Goose Rocks Beach Kings Hwy. Where is the best place to see seals in the wild. Some beaches (Goose Rocks and Long Sands among them) allow FIRES (conditions obliging), but town permits are a must. While wildlife watching is something visitors can enjoy throughout the state, here are two of Maines most beloved wildlife and human life - destinations. 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. 70 Rte. 2 Seapoint/Crescent Beach Rte. 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. Across the street is Camden Harbor Park, designed by the Olmsted Brothers. So what is a puffin? 12 Wells Beach Mile Rd. Coveside That means the southern coast has seen a gentle rise in apparent sea level (picture a slightly tilted plane with the sea in a higher position than the shore), so wave action preferentially piles up sand-size grains of sediment on the land (those same grains have a tougher time accumulating if the planes tilt is reversed). The cliffs rise nearly 50 feet in spots, and the waves can put on a show. In Thurstons screened dining room, you see lobsterboats coming and going, some of them unloading their catch on the wharf just below your perch. 111 Perkins Cove Rd., Ogunquit. .eb-linked-heading {border:none; text-decoration:none; color:inherit;} Meeting location: 8 Western Ave. inside Coastal Maine Kayak and Bike. Maines southern coast offers the American summer vacation at its beach-blanket best. 207-644-8552. There are actually two. This is our most adventurous tour and has something to offer for everyone! Join us on Adventure Seal Watch that you won't soon forget. Grab a towel and come with us. Moderate use. .eb-p {float: right; width:70%; margin-left:2%;} 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. Sandy, paid parking, concessions, lifeguards, toilets. Follow Harbor Dr. to Lighthouse Rd. Island Grocery The process for seal pups to learn to be on their own, away from their mother can be exhausting. 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. We traveled to Maine several years ago and stayed at a private vacation rental near Bar Harbor. 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. Spring is harbor seal pupping season in northern New England. 207-230-8495. Blue A great spot for a none-too-challenging family hike. 1945 Harpswell Islands Rd., Bailey Island. 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. 207-497-3301. Carson was author of Silent Spring and a Maine Summer resident. Christi / Flickr. It is thought that females from Massachusetts migrate to quiet islands in New Hampshire and southern Maine to pup. I'd drive either way. Copyright VisitMaine.Net 2022Images Courtesy Greg and Heather Burke unless otherwise noted. Southern Maines best kept secret! Sandy, paid parking, concessions, lifeguards, toilets. Its not every day you see a moose. Sandy, paid parking, concessions, lifeguards, showers and toilets. What not to do on the southern Maine seashore. 9 Footbridge Beach Ocean St. Sandy, paid parking, concessions, lifeguards, toilets. Tiny taffy kisses are made fresh daily and come in old-school flavors like molasses, licorice, and peppermint. Light use. Like all mammals, seal pups begin life drinking . Located right along the coast, Portland has some of the best chefs inspired by Maine seafood and local farm raised food. 140 Ocean Ave., Kennebunkport. 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). 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. Moderate use. Great Wass Island Preserve Get outside on your next vacation, and visitsome of the best places to see wildlife in southern Maine. From $189. . Seals Seals are the most commonly-seen marine mammals along the shores of Maine. It's hard enough to find them by going ten miles out to sea. 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. 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. Box 633 View our Privacy Policy. Golden Road .eb-p {float: right; width:65%; margin-left:2%; margin-top:-9px;} Whoever has once visited this delightful region will never forget it, as the scenery is not surpassed in any part of Maine, and it is a veritable yachtsmans paradise. 32 Kettle Cove Kettle Cove Rd. Dont leave logs on the beach or fires unattended. Its anchored York Beach since 1868, but the Bluff feels like a clean, contemporary conference hotel albeit with huge balconies overlooking Short Sands Beach. 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. 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. You'll visi You and the whole family are invited to exscape and relax in Maine's Aroostook County. You may even have the opportunity to see birds that dont normally visit the mainland. 100 % of Cadillac Mountain Passes Sold 2 Days in Advance? Visit the Easterseals Store. } If so,where would a good area be? 92 Pine Point Rd., Scarborough. The best time to spot sea glass, Mehlhorn says, is at sunset. Pick your own strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and even tomatoes at Spiller Farm in Wells. Hollis Burgess, writing in The Rudder magazine, 1917. 105 Coveside Rd., South Bristol. All of your picnicking needs in one cute little store fresh bread, nice wine selection, local produce. 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. 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! Who needs a pontoon boat when youre naturally buoyant? Little Coveside might have the finest deck dining in the state, overlooking the harbors gnarly little outcrop islands and often hosting some al fresco troubadour. 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. 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. Catch the weekly Thursday night fireworks at Old Orchard Beach. 2. Ride a rollercoaster at Sacos Funtown Splashtown. Admire the endangered birds from a distance, stay out of signed restricted areas, and fill any beach holes (since chicks can tumble in). Light use. No trip to Maine would be complete without visiting Acadia National Park. Maine has a wide . 207-730-1926. What is your time frame? 12 Old Orchard St. 207-934-2328. From Kittery to Old Orchard Beach, the Southern Maine Coast is the perfect vacation getaway. 2 Western Ave. 207-967-3321. Maines southern coast offers the American summer vacation at its beach-blanket best. Pinnipeds. 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. Kennebunkport is famous for its many craft fairs and festivals includingChristmas Preludeand an art, food and wine Kennebunkport Festival each June. Deer Isle Jazz Festival Youll experience one of Maines oldest lighthouses, including a trip to the top of the tower and a visit to the restored keeper's house. 9. .eb-image-left {width:100%; max-width:400px;} My family and I will be visiting Acadia and (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? The stand goes through 250,000 pounds of potatoes a season. 12 West Side Rd., South Bristol. Storms periodically revealed the wreck for brief periods, about every 10 years. 27 Pine Point Beach Rte. $10 admission, $9 students and seniors. 8 Beach St., York Beach. 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.