6 Cape Neddick Beach Shore Rd. 207-303-0137. 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. They can also take out chunks of wall and pathway, and storm damage can make for tricky footing. Featured Attractions 591 Shore Rd., Ogunquit. PO Box 171 Ambajejus Lake Pete Erskine, co-owner of Mexicali Blues, one-time summer person turned year-round resident of South Bristols Rutherford Island. Youll need a wet suit (because brrrr), and the steep swells can be elusive, but Maines surfing community is passionate and welcoming. Whales can be seen up and down Maines coastline, but are best viewed by booking a whale watching boat tour. 21 Timber Point Timber Point Rd. Neither the tower nor keepers house is open to the public, but the views are spectacular. 12 Old Orchard St. 207-934-2328. 30 Higgins Beach Ocean Ave. Sandy, paid parking, showers and toilets. 29 Eastern Ave. 207-282-1642. 543 Shore Rd., Ogunquit. 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 museums permanent collection (selections of which fill out an exhibit this fall) prominently features artists like Robert Laurent, Isabella Howland, and others associated with Ogunquits early20th-century art-colony heyday. Moderate use. .eb-image-left {float:left; margin:7px 14px 7px 0; width:45%; max-width:400px;} Moderate use. Acadia National Park. Hope it helps. Heavy use. Try the house specialty, a none-too-sweet blueberry martini. At Acadia you will occasionally see harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) and gray seals (Halichoerus grypus) just offshore and in the area harbors. Save. Home to rare plants like beach-head iris and birds-eye primrose, the islands managed by The Nature Conservancy. 11 Crescent Beach Gold Ribbon Dr. Pebbly/sandy, paid parking, lifeguards, toilets. Spanning 47,000 acres, Acadia offers more than 150 miles of hiking trails . Deer Isle Granite Museum Ride a rollercoaster at Sacos Funtown Splashtown. The Best Places To See Puffins In Maine We traveled to Maine several years ago and stayed at a private vacation rental near Bar Harbor. The health risk posed by avian flu to the general public is low; however, precautions are recommended. Do you like visiting historical places where history comes alive? Heavy use. Oh, and we GUARANTEE that you see seals or you get YOUR MONEY BACK! 80 Beach Ave., Kennebunk. Seaside Inn. , Millinocket, PO Box 160 Get a deck seat and dont skip the fruity, blood-red rum punch, the tastiest cocktail youre likely to sip through a straw this summer. 17 Post Rd., Wells. You may even have the opportunity to see birds that dont normally visit the mainland. 2 Western Ave. 207-967-3321. } Steller sea lions also occur on the West Coast, but the eastern . 96 Seguinland Rd., Georgetown. When you look out on the Jonesport and Beals harbor, you see only working lobsterboats. Dont leave logs on the beach or fires unattended. 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. The seals congregate in the Kennebec rivermouth every spring to gorge on returning baitfish that swim upriver. Its cottages stud the nearby shore and forest. Alternatively, you may use. They will shed their antlers in November or December and grow new, larger antlers in the spring. Walk the coastal trail, explore the childrens garden, and admire Portland Head Light at Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth. Maine is the only place in the United States where you can see puffins in the wild. PO Box 773 This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Adventure type: Seal watching Duration: 2 hours Location: Kennebunk Boat: We use the same high-performance custom RIB boat for all our tours Meeting location: 8 Western Ave. inside Coastal Maine Kayak and Bike Everyone Loves Seals! Been looking online - there is one at Bar Harbor and another on the Cape. The vibe is rustic elegance, and the back patio overlooks the working harbor. Planning a trip with the kids and dont want to leave spotting a moose to chance? Pick your own strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and even tomatoes at Spiller Farm in Wells. Plummer Point Preserve For example, Mehlhorn says, people tend to overlook brown pieces of sea glass but hold it up to the light and what appears brown can truly be dark red. 17 Goochs Beach Beach Ave. Sandy, paid parking, lifeguards, toilets. Yorks sandy beaches, good surf and fantastic scenery provide visitors with fun in the sun. Maines southern coast offers the American summer vacation at its beach-blanket best. Some beaches ban DOGS or mandate leashes, while others set aside hours (often early) when four-legged friends are welcome. Audubon Center rentals, $16$45. 40 Bowery Beach Rd., Cape Elizabeth. Marine Mammals on the West Coast - NOAA Fisheries 14. I'd drive either way. From $179. 207-729-5181. The refuge is located along 50 miles of Maines picturesque coastline in York and Cumberland counties. Peek over marine scientists shoulders as they research lobsters, mussels, scallops, and other shellfish. Books, Books, Books 25 Ferry Beach State Park Bay View Rd. For the best visibility, time your. Many of the small islands off the coast of Maine are filled top to bottom with these charming little birds. 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. Saturday storm will cause major travel problems in southern Maine This gateway town provides your first taste of Maine with fresh lobsters caught right off the coast. 18 Colony Beach Ocean Ave. Pebbly/sandy, free parking, no facilities. View our other locations. Hollis Burgess, writing in The Rudder magazine, 1917. 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. Join us on Adventure Seal Watch that you won't soon forget. Light use. Started by a Mexican family who first came Down East to feed migrant wild-blueberry harvesters, Vazquez has the most authentic Mexican street food in the state: freshly made tortillas, beef tacos, chicken chimichangas, empanadas, and, sometimes, flan oh, man! Seals like to "haul out" to rest, sun themselves on rocky ledges or rocky shorelines on islands. Old Orchard Beachhosts oceanside lodgings and attractions including the famous Pier, oceanfront amusement parks, restaurants, shopping and a 7-mile beach sandy beach consistently ranked as Maines best beach by Maines largest newspaper. If you do a search for puffin images you may, like a lot of folks, imagine puffins are related to penguins. 50 Perkins Cove Rd., Ogunquit. Seals can sometimes be seen but they like to sun and rest on the more isolated islands. 214 Nubble Rd. 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/. But researchers haven't yet confirmed the origin this time. Sandy, paid parking, concessions, showers and toilets. Maine | History, Facts, Map, & Points of Interest | Britannica National Marine Fisheries Service Law Enforcement division has established the following toll-free number for reporting potential violations: 1-800-853-1964. Hit the Scoop Deck near Wells Beach to choose from among a whopping 72 flavors of ice cream. 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. Mammals are the class of animals that have fur or hair and produce milk for their young. Shes been at it 50 years, so we asked her for some tips. 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. 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. Explore gentle wooded trails at Kennebunkports lovely Edwin L. Smith Preserve. Sandy, paid parking, lifeguards, toilets. Unless youre in Maine and you know exactly when and where to look. You ll have the opportunity to safely and comfortably view these magnificent creatures and other wildlife as you learn about moose habits and habitat from a knowledgeable guide. 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. While sightings are not common, moose have been known to roam the park and reveal themselves to visitors. Puffins arent the only birds that Maine can boast. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-113316404', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');New England Aquarium without going inside. Check out the National Park Service for more information. The OOB pier is one of the great American boardwalks and a slice of southern Maine at its unassuming best. Its pricey, but so picturesque. Moderate use. 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. On Sundays, hit up the Kittery Community Market for picnic supplies, live music, and a kids corner with art and science projects. 207-799-5871. maine.gov/crescentbeach. 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. The southernmost section, known as the Main Beach, has copious concessions and spots to rent everything from beach chairs to bodyboards, along with warm(-ish) commingled waters where the Ogunquit River spills into the sea. And of course, where there are crowds, there are gift shops. A ship called Industry ran ashore at Short Sands Beach, according to records some believe the wreck is Industrys remains. Heavy use. This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. If you want to see a moose on your trip to coastalMaine, Acadia National Park is your best bet. 1447 Five Islands Rd., Georgetown. 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 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. Edna St. Vincent Millay, Camden poet, Renascence, 1912. We have on goal: to help you fall more in love with the state of Maine! Their population is greatest in the Western Lakes and Mountains regions, the Kennebec Valley, the Maine Highlands, and Aroostook County. 13 Drakes Island Beach Drakes Island Rd. Reid State Park Light use. Channel your inner pirate at Schooner Miniature Golf, in Saco, where youll putt around (and aboard) a 75-foot windjammer. It's a storm with major impacts for southern Maine, with an estimated snowfall rate of 1 inch . Get outside on your next vacation, and visitsome of the best places to see wildlife in southern Maine. , Greenville. }, Moose | Whales | Puffins | Birds | Wildlife Parks & Refuges. Thats what geologists call a beach made primarily of pebbles and/or cobbles (the former measure 4 to 6.4 centimeters across, the latter 6.4 to 25.6 anything bigger is a boulder). Visit Katahdin Air. This snug state park in Cape Elizabeth is really two beaches in one. .eb-p {float: right; width:70%; margin-left:2%;} Enjoy inside or from the takeout window for a picnic. 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. 8 Islands Off The Coast Of Maine You Need To Visit ASAP - OnlyInYourState Robert F. Bukaty/Associated Press Park at Josephine Newman Audubon Sanctuary, off Rte. 50 Perkins Cove Rd. We are a small family run outfit that specializes in personalized one-on-one guided trips. The path connects (awkwardly, via the beach and social trails the Cliff Walk ranger can steer you) to the -mile Fishermans Walk from the harbor to the Wiggly Bridge, the worlds smallest suspension bridge.. 92 Pine Point Rd., Scarborough. #5 in Best Maine Beaches. Seal Watching in Kennebunkport, Maine | New England EcoAdventures 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. 15. Like all mammals, seal pups begin life drinking . . Maine is a destination for birdwatchers during all four seasons. Visitors can view a live camera feed of puffin activity and learn about conservation efforts to protect puffins and other seabirds of Maine. 28 Ferry Beach Ferry Rd. 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. 207-497-3301. The one and a half hour tour departs New Harbor for Eastern Egg . Stay off the GRASS! Meeting location: 8 Western Ave. inside Coastal Maine Kayak and Bike. Sandy, paid parking, lifeguards, toilets. However, these actions usually do more harm than good. Pebbly/sandy, paid parking, toilets. 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. 1 Fort Foster Beach Pocahontas Rd. 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. A brilliant display on a warm spring day. It is against the law to handle a marine mammal without proper authorization, and their sharp (dog-like) teeth can be very dangerous. Address: Where receptacles are available, dont fill them with huge bags or large items like broken umbrellas or chairs. Down south, though, glacial rebound has been more subdued these last couple thousand years. Seals Seals are the most commonly-seen marine mammals along the shores of Maine. See what 40,000 pounds ofcandy looks like at Yummies Candy & Nuts in Kittery. 207-799-3134. The institute also tends to a hatchery that produces soft-shell seed clams to replenish clamflats in Maine, New Hampshire, and Canada. 6. $65, plus lunch. I will be in Bar Harbor from 4 Oct thru 8 Oct. Take a book and a blanket and let the ocean breezes sweep your cares away. While all of Maines wildlife is spectacular, nothing quite compares to the whale. Explore the tidewater on a paddling day trip. THE GEOMETRIC confusion of silhouetted rooflines, a sunrise or sunset streaking the backdrop orange and pink, the spring tide surging through the spindly forest of pilings: you can keep your Portland Head Light for our money, the Old Orchard Beach pier is the states most compelling man-made landmark. 207-204-8888. southernmainekayaks.com. TheTown of Ogunquithas been attracting visitors to Southern Maine for years. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. Been ahotel on this spot since 1872, but generations of modernization and expansion have rendered it quite contemporary. @media only screen and (min-width: 1024px){ Bass Harbor natives Kim and Eli Strauss offer passengers their insiders view of Mount Desert Islands hardest-working harbor. Cliff House. 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. 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. Maine is one of the few states in the U.S. with a sizable moose population. After watching and learning about the lighthouse, seabirds, and seals youll have a little fun with the boat in front of Kennebunk Beach. Downeast Institute for Applied Marine Research and Education 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. 12 Little Island Way, Bass Harbor. The process for seal pups to learn to be on their own, away from their mother can be exhausting. 8 Ogunquit Beach Beach St. Sandy, paid parking, concessions, lifeguards, showers and toilets. The Nubble Light is a beacon for photographers and lighthouse lovers visiting Yorks Sohier Park. Atlantic Ave., Camden. 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. Frye Island, Sebago Lake, Cumberland County. Fresh (round!) Puffin Tours | Audubon Project Puffin Yes, Virginia, there is surfing in Maine. Sandy, no parking (bike in is best), no facilities. 207-883-5100. Two-hour tours leave from Vines Landing, Biddeford Pool aboard the Light Runner. Maines Holy Donut micro-chain has a Scarborough outpost a few miles from the towns best beaches. Sandy, free parking, toilets. .page .lead { padding: 0 60px 0 60px; } The best time for whale watching is mid-April to October. Our boat puts you up close and personal with all of what the ocean has to offer. A good pair of binoculars is a great way to enjoy them while still giving them enough distance so as not to disturb them. Moderate use. Seaplane service throughout Maine & New England. If you want to experience nature from the comfort of your own front porch, consider a cottage at Dunes on the Waterfront, where beachfront views will give you a front row ticket to southern Maine birds and wildlife. By Tuesday, Marine Mammals of Maine had responded to about three dozen dead seals on beaches from Cape Elizabeth south to York. Thanks so much. While wildlife watching is something visitors can enjoy throughout the state, here are two of Maines most beloved wildlife and human life - destinations. Portland, ME 04101 Interactive Maine Map: Small Towns, Cities, & Regions - Visit Maine Heavy use. During the summer season in the Southern Coast of Maine, you can overhear many visitors speaking English, French, various European languages, and even Jamaican. Approved and Prohibited Freshwater Species, Lobster Fishing License and Trap Tag Counts, Maine Lobster Research, Education, and Development Board, Maine Lobster Limited Entry and Apprentice Program, Eligibility Criteria for Maine Students Who Want to Start Lobstering, Lobster and Other Trap/Pot Gear Modification Requirements, River Herring (Alewives and Blueback Herring), Maine DMR Online Licensing System Frequently Asked Questions, Maine Diver and Dive Tender License Safety Training Requirements, On-Line Harvester Catch & Landings Reporting, Maine Harvester Landing Reporting Form Examples, Saltwater Recreational Fishing Registry (license), Tuna, Shark, and Other Large Species Information, Tips for Catch and Release of Striped Bass, Maine Saltwater Recreational Fishing Opportunities to Participate, Maine Saltwater Sport Fishing Tournaments for 2022, Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) Summary, Shellfish Closures and Aquaculture Leases Map, Maine Shellfish Dealer Certification and Inspection, Municipal Shellfish Conservation Warden Information, Phytoplankton Monitoring Form and Guides for Volunteers, Water Quality Monitoring Forms and Protocols, Maine Shellfish Dealer Sanitation and HACCP Guidelines Manual and Forms, Salmon Restoration and Conservation Program (ASRCP), "Experimental" (Limited Purpose) Lease Applications and Forms, Limited-Purpose Aquaculture (LPA) License Applications and Forms, Public Participation in Aquaculture Leasing, Atlantic Halibut Research Tags and Rewards, Maine - New Hampshire Inshore Trawl Survey, Data Dashboard, Reports, and Publications, Maine Coastal Program's Mapping Initiative, MCMI - Current Projects and Program Highlights, Habitat Restoration and Tools (Maine Stream Habitat Viewer), Job, Internship, and Volunteer Opportunities, Business and Economic Development Resources. Birds are the main source of the flu, and seals in the region have caught the flu from passing birds before. 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. This is family-friendly educational activity at its finest and most massive. Mammals. 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? A noreaster removed enough sand from the beach to uncover the wreck for the first time in modern memory. 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. Is there a best time of day? 27 Pine Point Beach Rte. Plenty of outfitters offer kayak or stand-up paddleboard rentals and tours. According to the Marine Mammals of Maine, on southern Maine beaches, many people try to help these young seals by feeding them or wrapping them up and bring them to the water. Public ALCOHOL consumption is illegal statewide, including on beaches. One hard-to-miss difference is that puffins can fly and penguins cant.