Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The puffins have already left their nesting areas. 207-833-2313. Their population is greatest in the Western Lakes and Mountains regions, the Kennebec Valley, the Maine Highlands, and Aroostook County. Heavy use. 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. Dont show up without calling or going online to check out local parking regulations first. Look out for the worlds largest mammals aboard one of southern Maines whale watch boats, and get ready to be splashed! Moderate use. While sightings are not common, moose have been known to roam the park and reveal themselves to visitors. That's about the best I can do with so little info. Sandy, paid parking, concessions, lifeguards, toilets. Like any wild animal, seals are where you find them, so no guarantees. A visit tohistoric Yorkwill show you some of Southern Maines fascinating history including the oldest jail in the country at Old York. The dusky glare helps hunters distinguish darker colors against rocks. 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. National Marine Fisheries Service Law Enforcement division has established the following toll-free number for reporting potential violations: 1-800-853-1964. .page .lead { width: 100%; padding: 0; } 39 Wildflower Ln., Beals. 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). The ship skeleton made its most recent and most publicized appearance, following one of the winter storms the media dubbed a bomb cyclone.. The first town, upon entering the Southern Maine Coast isKittery. Visit historic Wood Island Lighthouse! 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. 1447 Five Islands Rd., Georgetown. Thats enough to start their own moose lodge. Kennebunk Been looking online - there is one at (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? The huge kitsch clearinghouse at Lands End is worth visiting if only for the decadent homemade fudge. Old Village Inn. Visitors can view a live camera feed of puffin activity and learn about conservation efforts to protect puffins and other seabirds of Maine. 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. BYOB and snag a weathered picnic table at the end of the pier. 14 Parsons Beach Rte. Save. Plummer Point Rd., off Rte. 207-967-6065. Since the last retreat of the ice sheet, Dykstra says, the coast of Maine has been slowly rising . $35$40 for 2-hour rentals. Pebbly/sandy, paid parking, toilets. Do you consider yourself a history buff? 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. It was amazing! The Best Places To See Puffins In Maine Explore Maine using our interactive map that features local businesses, guides, restaurants, lodging and more. One hard-to-miss difference is that puffins can fly and penguins cant. Address: Where is the best place to see seals in the wild. Robert F. Bukaty/Associated Press We are a small family run outfit that specializes in personalized one-on-one guided trips. 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. Saturday storm will cause major travel problems in southern Maine 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. Eli Strauss, owner of Bass Harbor Island Cruises. Crescent Beach itself is a mile-long half-moon scattered with skipping stones and ringed with beach roses. 6. 207-967-4243. gokennebunks.com Crescent Beach State Park Magic hour at Crescent Beach. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-57646747', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Bar Harbor and another on the Cape. This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. Sandy/pebbly, paid parking, no facilities. Our tribute to the eight port towns and peaceful coves we never tire of gazing at. Hundreds of Seals Are Dying on the New England Coast New this summer: a breezy rooftop deck overlooking rocks and sea. Boat traffic is minimal, and sightings of bald eagles, ospreys, and other raptors are common. Frye Island is the only island on this list that is not off the coast of Maine. Wave action also breaks down the bedrock alongside beaches, rolls stones until theyre smooth, and washes away mud and sand. 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. From $299. Mammals: Species Information: Wildlife: Fish & Wildlife: Maine Dept of 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. All of your picnicking needs in one cute little store fresh bread, nice wine selection, local produce. , Greenville. It's hard enough to find them by going ten miles out to sea. Plus, theres room to roam. Seeing Seals with Portland Paddle. 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). Saturday storm will cause major travel problems in southern Maine Address: The lobsterboats bobbing off the wharf are your first indication that youre in for some of the freshest crustaceans served in Maine its never tanked, and you can pick your own bug. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. 207-236-3109. 2 Seapoint/Crescent Beach Rte. .page .content .inner { padding: 20px 10px 20px 20px; } Moderate use. 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. .page .content .inner { padding: 20px; } 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. Atlantic Ave., Camden. 8 Western Ave, Kennebunk, ME 04043, USA 1. Marginal Way Hot tip: sub sweet potato wedges as a side and wash everything down with a slice of the otherworldly blueberry pie. Christi / Flickr. In addition there is a squadron of returning Ospreys that fish aggressively there as well. more. No, thats not a penguin youre seeing. Blue On some days, you may be lucky enough to see the Humpback breeching right next to your boat, butitisnt the only whale youll spot on your tour. } Would it be worthwhile to do a kayak tour to see seals? 100 % of Cadillac Mountain Passes Sold 2 Days in Advance? @media only screen and (min-width: 600px){ During the summer season in the Southern Coast of Maine, you can overhear many visitors speaking English, French, various European languages, and even Jamaican. 13 Drakes Island Beach Drakes Island Rd. 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. .eb-p {width:100%; margin-top:0;} But the real draw, as far as were concerned, is the creamy and house-made frozen custard. 12. It is illegal under the Marine Mammal Protection Act to handle these animals. Walk the coastal trail, explore the childrens garden, and admire Portland Head Light at Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth. By Tuesday, Marine Mammals of Maine had responded to about three dozen dead seals on beaches from Cape Elizabeth south to York. Creature Feature: Harbor Seal - Natural Resources Council Of Maine Plus, theres always some Maine-y blueberry variation blueberry coffee cake, blueberry with lemon glaze, blueberry maple bacon. As it turns out, theyve been in social networks a lot longer than we have. 207-371-2990. Take the Mt. Impeccable service has set this high-end classic apart since 1973, but the property has welcomed guests since it was a Civil Warera boarding house. 16. 28 Ferry Beach Ferry Rd. 207-371-2616, Every year, I return to this spot. Pebbly/sandy, paid parking, lifeguards, no facilities. Deer Isle Jazz Festival Its not every day you see a moose. Theyre really not. Places to Go in Maine - Maine's Prettiest Harbors - Down East Magazine 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. , Millinocket, PO Box 160 Bowdoins environmental research station sits on 118 acres of varied terrain jutting into Harpswell Sound. Like any wild animal, seals are where you find them, so no guarantees. But dont worry about that last part. 207-244-5785. Maine is the only place in the United States where you can see puffins in the wild. . Another itinerary question-Moosehead Lake? A great spot for a none-too-challenging family hike. Whales can be seen up and down Maines coastline, but are best viewed by booking a whale watching boat tour. Birds are the main source of the flu, and seals in the region have caught the flu from passing birds before. 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? .eb-image-left {width:100%; max-width:400px;} 11. Its a short paddle to Stevens Brook, behind Footbridge Beach, and a network of tiny tidal streams in the Rachel Carson Wildlife Refuge. 207-883-5100. 9 Footbridge Beach Ocean St. Sandy, paid parking, concessions, lifeguards, toilets. Carson was author of Silent Spring and a Maine Summer resident. For the best visibility, time your. Cliff House. We, and friends, have also often seen them on some of the tours offered by the Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company, especially some of their non-whale tours that stay closer to shore (I'd check their website). 207-439-9324. 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). Box 633 Golden Road The seals congregate in the Kennebec rivermouth every spring to gorge on returning baitfish that swim upriver. The Strausses share stories about their community and the fishing way of life, and they stop to haul a lobster trap. Races start at 10:30AM - registration accepted up to 1 hour before the race. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. The one and a half hour tour departs New Harbor for Eastern Egg . It is thought that females from Massachusetts migrate to quiet islands in New Hampshire and southern Maine to pup. Its time to lay anchor. 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. A seal in Casco Bay, near Portland, Maine. 24 Hills Beach Rte. However, with so many beautiful beaches and charming towns in southern Maine, many visitors miss the opportunity to track down these animals. You dont see a mast. $4 Maine residents, $6 non-residents. 92 Pine Point Rd., Scarborough. These little-visited, adjoining parcels are protected, respectively, by the Maine Audubon Society and the Nature Conservancy. Play Skee-Ball, Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and more at the retro Fun-O-Rama arcade pavilion on York Beach. Multiple species visit the state's waters, including humpback, finback, minke and pilot. 1A. In Maine, please call the Maine Marine Animal Reporting Hotline at (800) 532-9551. Late founder Billy Tower concocted this fruity sipper, so popular that the Ogunquit institution mixes it up in 5-gallon batches. A good pair of binoculars is a great way to enjoy them while still giving them enough distance so as not to disturb them. You could make an easy and pleasant daytrip to Popham now and watch them from the beach, or wait a few weeks until Spinney's Restaurant is open and you can watch them while you eat! THERES A SHIPWRECK BURIED BENEATH YORKS SHORT SANDS BEACH. This wildlife conservation center in Gray holds a special place in the hearts of those whove been there. 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. 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/. Camden Hills State Park, 280 Belfast Rd., Camden. North from Perkins Cove to Beach St., with multiple access points along the way. Ogunquits 3-mile marquee attraction is the Platonic ideal of a New England beach, with sand as fine and soft as anyplace north of Daytona, beach grasses swaying on the dunes, and a vibrant (if sometimes crowded) scene on the sand. 2391 Harpswell Islands Rd., Bailey Island. 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. 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. Sandy, paid parking, concessions, lifeguards, showers and toilets. . The Can-Am Crown is an international sled dog race with a 29-year history, held in Fort Kent, Maine. Coveside MOVE OVER, OGUNQUIT, YORK'S GOT A DRAMATIC CLIFF WALK OF ITS OWN. 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. Many of the small islands off the coast of Maine are filled top to bottom with these charming little birds. Moderate use. 207-244-7463. Maine Quest Adventures is a locally owned and operated Katahdin Region Outfitter. 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. Hollis Burgess, writing in The Rudder magazine, 1917. Sandy, paid parking, concessions, lifeguards, toilets. seals - Maine Forum - Tripadvisor Oh, and we GUARANTEE that you see seals or you get YOUR MONEY BACK! Best Places To See Wildlife in Southern Maine - Dunes On The Waterfront 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. .eb-col img { width: 100%; }