Explore Summer in Maine
In the summer of 2021, our family enjoyed an extended trip exploring the coastal towns and harbors of Maine. We found thatthe coast of Maine offered us the enjoyment of a wide variety of natural beauty,history, quaint towns, unforgettable dining, and memories that will last a lifetime. Finding your favorite Maine destination is an adventure in itself.
Bath & Boothbay Harbor Area
Bath, Maine
Our trip began by exploring Bath, Boothbay Harbor, and the surrounding areas. In the lovely coastal town of Bath, we enjoyed a stroll on Front Street, popping in the local shops, grabbed a bite at Mae’s Cafe, and visited the Maine Maritime Museum, perfect on a drizzly day.
Bristol, Maine
We took a drive out to Bristol, to the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse Park, a view we won’t soon forget. We enjoyed a tour of the lighthouse, grounds, and rocky coastline. The unique beauty and views at Pemaquid Park, for an afternoon, made great memories for all.
Boothbay Harbor, Maine
Boothbay Harbor is a must-see along the Maine coast. The small town is chock full of shops and classic Maine bites. We most enjoyed Coastal Prime at the Boothbay Harbor Oceanside Resort – You must try the Avocado Sushi Bomb! Take the kids, or yourself, to the Downeast Ice Cream Factory for a scoop, or two, of their fresh homemade ice cream, made daily, ranked #1 by TripAdvisor and Best in US, Top 14 Ice Cream Shops in the U.S.
Camden, Maine
There are many small islands with villages like Vinalhaven which can be accessed via boat sprinkled along the coastline of Maine. We found that Camden, Maine was worth checking out, a small town with a great harbor life. Enjoy the graceful harbor seals sunning themselves on the rocks or swimming alongside your boat. It can be very busy in the summer months, so make reastaurant reservations as soon as you can when visiting. Expore the Camden Hills State Park for a hike of just drive up for a spectacular view from the mountain top. Nearby towns including Rockland and Rockport along the Maine coastline make for more great exploring in the area, all with their own special sites to see.
Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park
By far, our favorite places to explore in Maine were Mount Desert Island and the Southwest Harbor area, including Acadia National Park. The summer in Downeast Maine makes for the perfect place to get out and explore. The mountains, hiking trails, and the coastal harbors, for us, checked all the boxes. With a wide range of opportunities offering spectacular views, our family had many memorable adventures, enjoying the fresh cool air, the beautiful natural beauty of the landscape mixed with forests, the unique North Atlantic coastline, and views from mountain tops.
Acadia National Park
To visit Acadia National Park, get your Park Pass at www.nps.gov. Annual and daily passes are available and required to see many of the desirable parks in the area. While there is much to see outside of the national park areas, you won’t want to miss the cruise along Ocean Drive, where you’ll want to pull off along the way and take in the beauty of the magnificent coastline. Cadillac Mountain Summit, reaching 1,530 feet, is another must-see as the highest point in Acadia Park with a stunning view, but be sure to register your vehicle and visit in advance. The park is very busy in the summer months; plan accordingly.
Good Eats and Exploring
We’ll let you be the judge of the best blueberry pie in Maine, but we found our favorite on Mount Desert Island, in Southwest Harbor. We highly recommend that you try as many as possible because the wild blueberries in Maine are perfection. We found a hidden gem, Pie Lady, selling her homemade blueberry pies in Southwest Harbor. Look for her signs along the road, follow, pull up along the drive, and pick up your pie. Swing into Peter Trout’s Tavern for one kickin’ chicken sandwich. Anywhere you are along the coast of Maine, you’ll have opportunities to savor the incredible, fresh lobster. Enjoy a lobster roll along the way, or if you’d like to have your own lobster boil, find a local lobster co-op close by for the freshest lobster and best prices from local fishermen, straight from the docks. We enjoyed Thurston’s For Lobster on Mount Desert Island.
After all the decadent treats to enjoy, you’ll want to get out and explore and burn some of those calories off. Go for a hike on one of the many well-maintained and marked trails, go sailing, go for a cruise on your boat, go for a bike ride, or tour the harbor by kayak. If you love the outdoors, you will love Mount Desert Island, a perfect blend of harbor life, mountains, and quaint small towns.
Contact Troyer Yachts
There are so many lovely areas to explore in Maine that it can be overwhelming to narrow down which destinations to hit. These are just a few of the highlights we experienced, but there are many, many more. If you have further interest, we would be happy to forward our notes on marinas, dockage, restaurants, and parks, and connect you with a local who specializes in helping you connect the dots. Please contact us here for more information.
Happy Travels! -Andrew Troyer
