An Ogunquit landmark since 1961, Billys is where you go for boiled lobsters and steamers if youre tying up in Perkins Cove. Seals can sometimes be seen but they like to sun and rest on the more isolated islands. Scout rocky, rather than sandy, beaches, since sea glass often ends up wedged in among the rocks. Well head over to Cape Porpoise Harbor and Bumpkin Island to enjoy the seals that call that area home. Rocky jetties, pounding surf, the smell of salt water, and beach roses galore oh, and also terrific people watching. PO Box 171 Ambajejus Lake All of your picnicking needs in one cute little store fresh bread, nice wine selection, local produce. Palace Playland - Proudly Maine's beachfront amusement park. Our Programs. Served with an orange slice, pineapple chunk, cherry, and a sprinkle of what witty servers will say is beach sand (its nutmeg). They will shed their antlers in November or December and grow new, larger antlers in the spring. Named for the architectural gem of a cribstone bridge that connects Orrs and Bailey islands a one-of-a-kind cobwork of granite slabs Morses restaurant is a landmark in its own right. Ride the Ferris wheel at Palace Playland for a birds-eye view of the iconic Old Orchard Beach pier. 9. 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. The best time for whale watching is mid-April to October. $65, plus lunch. This snug state park in Cape Elizabeth is really two beaches in one. 111 Perkins Cove Rd., Ogunquit. Address: Marginal Way 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. Though distinctly different in design, the two parks complement each other so well, they feel like one. We did the nature (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? 40 Bowery Beach Rd., Cape Elizabeth. Whale watching in Maine is kind of a big deal. 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. 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. Humpbacks and minkes are the whales most often spotted, but blue whales and right whales make occasional appearances as well. 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.. 50 Perkins Cove Rd. Report inappropriate content 1-8 of 8 replies Sorted by 1 h0trudderedbum Phippsburg, Maine Level Contributor 351 posts 1. 207-967-4461. More than once, a bench has been washed out to sea by storms that can wreak havoc on the path. 18 Colony Beach Ocean Ave. Pebbly/sandy, free parking, no facilities. If you see a sick, injured, or dead seal in Maine, please call the Maine Marine Animal Reporting Hotline at (800) 532-9551. So where in Maine is the best puffin habitat for puffin watching? , Livermore, P.O. Explore Boon Island Lighthouse and Nubble Lighthouse on this tour that cruises up the coastline. Maine Moose watching trips offered daily! Less dazzling ceramic bits and pieces of frozen Charlottes antique porcelain dolls are also fun to collect. 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. 9. Maines southern coast offers the American summer vacation at its beach-blanket best. 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. Beach ecosystems are fragile, and visitors should never walk across vegetated areas. The National Marine Fisheries Service recommend that any stranded animal be left alone. Come to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Fresh (round!) This tour has it all Walkers Point, Seals, Cape Porpoise, Goat Island Lighthouse, and if time permits, Goose Rocks Beach. 9. 2. Steller sea lions also occur on the West Coast, but the eastern . 207-967-2321. Wave action also breaks down the bedrock alongside beaches, rolls stones until theyre smooth, and washes away mud and sand. 207-646-7088. Pinnipeds. You can walk to the end of State Pier and usually see them or take a Casco Bay Lines ferry, or one of the other tours available in Portland, to see them out in the bay. Our daily, two hour long, sunset tours are one of the best ways to see seals in southern Maine in June-August! Pete Erskine, co-owner of Mexicali Blues, one-time summer person turned year-round resident of South Bristols Rutherford Island. 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? 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. Ive been lucky enough to experience the magic of the cove since childhood. A noreaster removed enough sand from the beach to uncover the wreck for the first time in modern memory. When the tides out, tidepoolers mingle with surfers and plein-air painters. Their morning lunch cruise includes an hour-plus stop on the island of Frenchboro. 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. Best Places To See Wildlife In Southern Maine Eastern Egg Rock No, that's not a penguin you're seeing. 22 Fortunes Rocks Beach Fortunes Rocks Rd. The huge kitsch clearinghouse at Lands End is worth visiting if only for the decadent homemade fudge. Portland, ME 04101 3. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2019-2022 Dunes on the Waterfront. Call Doc at 207-384-5160 or visit parksandlands.com for more details. Your email address will not be published. There are definitely seals at the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Where should we go to see whales, seals, puffins without a (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Maine has a wide . However, these actions usually do more harm than good. Frye Island is the only island on this list that is not off the coast of Maine. .page .content .inner { padding: 20px; } All the potato donuts are tasty, but dont sleep on this summers customer-chosen flavor, honey lavender. 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! 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. not unlike when you push your hand into a mattress and then release the pressure. Along most of Maines coast, this rebound has exceeded or kept pace with naturally (and gradually) rising sea levels. Pick your own strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and even tomatoes at Spiller Farm in Wells. 207-244-7600. Multiple species visit the state's waters, including humpback, finback, minke and pilot. Oh, and we GUARANTEE that you see seals or you get YOUR MONEY BACK! Linda Mehlhorn, of South Portland, coined the term seaglunking that is sea glass + spelunking, the act of exploring beaches and waterways in search of sea glass. , Bingham. Sandy, free parking, toilets. In Thurstons screened dining room, you see lobsterboats coming and going, some of them unloading their catch on the wharf just below your perch. The best times to spot moose are at dusk and dawn from mid-May through July and again in the fall during their breeding season. Harborside Cottages, nestled over small, working New Harbor, has been in business since 1950. 6 Cape Neddick Beach Shore Rd. Inland cottage resorts feature either traditional cottages or gatherings of rustic cabins. (Vaping, if not banned, is still obnoxious.). 207-967-6065. Many of the small islands off the coast of Maine are filled top to bottom with these charming little birds. Ride a restored streetcar at the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. Moderate use. Sandy, free (limited) parking, no facilities. 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. Maines Holy Donut micro-chain has a Scarborough outpost a few miles from the towns best beaches. Downeast Institute for Applied Marine Research and Education Peek over marine scientists' shoulders as they research lobsters, mussels, scallops, and other shellfish. } I'd drive either way. Perkins Cove Check out the National Park Service for more information. .eb-col img {width: 100%;} To report seal strandings south of Maine, please call the NOAA Fisheries Stranding Hotline: (866) 755-6622. .eb-linked-heading {border:none; text-decoration:none; color:inherit;} I have been going to southern Maine with my family my entire life, and this view and landscape is one of my absolute favorites. Get outside on your next vacation, and visitsome of the best places to see wildlife in southern Maine. , Millinocket. Bass Harbor Head Light From $399. 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. 119 Cedar St. 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. Baxter State Park and Lazy Tom Bog are great places to begin your search. 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! Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. But dont worry about that last part. 207-967-3331. For the best visibility, time your. Address: Getting pulled behind a speedboat is more relaxing than it sounds when youre drifting 1,200 feet above the waves. You may even have the opportunity to see birds that dont normally visit the mainland. Destination dining where you might least expect it. 2. On the way out, Kettle Cove Creamery and Caf is a stone-cold classic for cones and lobster rolls. It books up fast. Gray seals, Halichoerus gypus, are the largest seal found in the area, with males growing to 8 feet . Due to its location along the Atlantic Flyway, Monhegan Islandis a particularly busy bird habitat during spring and fall. 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. 100 % of Cadillac Mountain Passes Sold 2 Days in Advance? Its one of those rites of passage youd have to be a moose to fully appreciate. 207-833-2313. View our Privacy Policy. PARKING often requires a trip to the town office for a permit. One hard-to-miss difference is that puffins can fly and penguins cant. FromKitterytoOld Orchard Beach, the Southern Maine Coast is the perfect vacation getaway. Driving from NJ where to stop for a night, Boston to Acadia via the coast and White Mountains. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. 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. Admire the endangered birds from a distance, stay out of signed restricted areas, and fill any beach holes (since chicks can tumble in). .eb-p {width:100%; margin-top:0;} Several Maine State Park Campgrounds make good basecamps for regional moose watching. 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. A good pair of binoculars is a great way to enjoy them while still giving them enough distance so as not to disturb them. Dont leave logs on the beach or fires unattended. Explore the tidewater on a paddling day trip. For better or for worse, the states beach-speckled southernmost 50 or so coastal miles are Maine for legions of summertime visitors. But over the years, we've had good luck at the Indian Point Blagdon Preserve, especially at low tide. It is thought that females from Massachusetts migrate to quiet islands in New Hampshire and southern Maine to pup. Atlantic Ave., Camden. Moderate use. Pebbly/sandy, paid parking, lifeguards, no facilities. I will be in Bar Harbor from 4 Oct thru 8 Oct. Many of the small islands off the coast of Maine are filled top to bottom with these charming little birds. While wildlife watching is something visitors can enjoy throughout the state, here are two of Maines most beloved wildlife and human life - destinations. Planning a trip with the kids and dont want to leave spotting a moose to chance? Old Village Inn. You have the opportunity to witness wildlife anywhere that you travel. Kittery Inn and Suites. Frye Island, Sebago Lake, Cumberland County. The southern and coastal regions are influenced by air masses from the south and west. 15. Downeast Institute for Applied Marine Research and Education 16. Grab a towel and come with us. Experience the 9 Buildings of the Museums of Old York Maine, Locals Guide to the Best Kennebunkport Boat Tours. So what is a puffin? 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. 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. Sitting right on the dock alongside Camden Harbor, Rhumb Line combines the carefree spirit of Jimmy Buffett with fresh, simply prepared Maine seafood and killer craftcocktails. Self-consciously vintage, this rebooted 1950s motor-court motel has guest rooms, housekeeping cottages, and a boutique ambiance, with a saltwater pool, luxe linens, and flat-screens. 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. , Greenville, 119 Cedar St. You'll visi You and the whole family are invited to exscape and relax in Maine's Aroostook County. Battie Road. Seaside Inn. During the summer season in the Southern Coast of Maine, you can overhear many visitors speaking English, French, various European languages, and even Jamaican. 8 Western Ave., Kennebunk. .page .lead { padding: 0 20px 0 20px; } The OOB pier is one of the great American boardwalks and a slice of southern Maine at its unassuming best. Fresh flowers in each room, an exquisite restaurant, and complimentary bikes and canoes are a few of the perks From $348. Great Wass Island Preserve 12 Old Orchard St. 207-934-2328. Inn by the Sea. 10. Seals are the most commonly-seen marine mammals along the shores of Maine. Eli Strauss, owner of Bass Harbor Island Cruises. Hot tip: sub sweet potato wedges as a side and wash everything down with a slice of the otherworldly blueberry pie. 2391 Harpswell Islands Rd., Bailey Island. $35$40 for 2-hour rentals. Instructors at Black Point Surf Shop (134 Black Point Rd., Scarborough; 207-939-6016) lead 90-minute tutorials by appointment ($90 for one person, $140 for two, with discounts if you BYO gear); Liquid Dreams Surf Shop (171 Long Beach Ave., York; 207-351-2545; 696 Main St., Ogunquit; 207-641-2545) has a whole catalog of 3-day beginners programs ($170), kids clinics and mini-camps ($50$90); private lessons ($70$105), and ladies nights ($40); Maines original surf shop, Wheels N Waves (365 Post Rd., Wells; 207-646-5774) offers multiple 2-hour tutorials daily in summer ($40$90, depending on group size and gear needs). From $299. 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. Lets start with the Project Puffin Visitor Center in Rockland. 39 Wildflower Ln., Beals. 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/. By following the directions at that number, your call will be directed to the appropriate responder. Bass Harbor natives Kim and Eli Strauss offer passengers their insiders view of Mount Desert Islands hardest-working harbor. Take a book and a blanket and let the ocean breezes sweep your cares away. It was amazing! Including approximately 5,000 pairs of puffins, 1,000 pairs of razorback auks and 500 pairs of common murres. Visit Fort McClary State Historic Site, also in Kittery, where an 18th-century fort overlooks the Piscataqua River. PO Box 160 Late spring means seal pupping season in mid-coast Maine. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Light use. 4 Long Sands Beach Long Beach Ave. Sandy, paid parking, lifeguards, toilets. Sandy, paid parking, concessions, showers and toilets. Machias Seal Island is a bit out of the way and youll need to book a guided tour to get there, but if youre a committed puffin fan, the effort will justify the experience. Mammals. The age class of harp seal we tend to see are the juveniles, who are around 12-14 months old . What not to do on the southern Maine seashore. 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. Seeing Seals with Portland Paddle. If so,where would a good area be? You were very helpful. Answer 1 of 5: Is it possible to see Seals in October? Although all are classified as humid continental, small differences exist among regions.