Tag: Summer

Summer: People love puffins, maybe it is their colorful coats or perhaps their comical ways but, puffins are highly sought after and loved. If you love puffins or are just curious about what all the craze is about than you should go on a puffin cruise. The Hardy Boat Cruise line out of New Harbor offers some great encounters with these colorful creatures. The cruise goes through Eastern Egg Rock which is the breeding ground for these clown like birds. Along the way it is not uncommon to have whales, seals and porpoises give guest a show. The cruise is narrated which is interesting considering the history of these cute little creatures. Almost wiped out of existence in the early 1800’s Puffins are now protected and this preserve is quite a show from April to August which is during their breeding season. If you are in the Bar Harbor area there are trips to Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge which also host a huge colony of Atlantic Puffins. People fall in love with Puffins after seeing them in their natural habitats so check them out and go on a Puffin watch this summer and see what the fuss is all about.

Summer: There are some opportunities that you just can’t pass up and going on a diving trip is one of them. Diving is a great way to see what life is really like in the waters of Maine. Diving off Monhegan Island is popular with divers because of the beautiful underwater terrain and the abundance of marine life. It is not uncommon for divers to be swimming along with seals in this area. There are plenty of dive charter companies that can accommodate most skill levels from basic to advance. Some of these charter companies even offer shark cage dives. Divers go down in a submersed cage and view sharks that are common to Maine waters like blue sharks. Another very popular dive spot is the wreckage site of the Empire Knight off of Boon Island Ledge. This dive site offers a fully intact vessel that is full of marine life. Other popular places to check out are the Nubble Light again, diving in this area offers a chance for viewing tons of marine life and swimming with the seals. Piscataqua River offers a train wreckage dive site that has grown in popularity. If you are not a diver but, think this sounds interesting there are dive classes which can be taken through dive retailers and charter companies. Getting certified is not as hard as you think and could unlock a world that you thought never existed under the Maine sea.

Summer: It always amazes me whenever I go to Peaks Island how lucky we are in Maine to have communities like this and how they thrive year round. The trip from the Casco Bay Ferry terminal is only a 10 minute ride, but something transforming happens once you set foot on the island. It is as if you are entering a protected world and the island has a certain appeal that keeps people returning year after year. Peaks Island is an easy island to explore. If you don’t want to take your car on the ferry, which I recommend you don’t, you can discover quite a bit on foot or you can rent a bike and ride around for the day enjoying all the sights the island has to offer. Another great visit is Monhegan Island which is 10 miles off the coast in the Mid-coast area. Known as an artist haven, this island offers quiet reprieve from the busy days we all face. The island is a scenic wonderland and if you don’t have your own boat, there is the ferry and several private charter companies that will bring you there. Seguin Island is also a fun destination. Located in the mid-coast area just outside of Georgetown, Seguin Island features a lighthouse that was commissioned by George Washington in 1795. The island is a day stop in your boat so pack a picnic lunch and a blanket and go enjoy the island, the lighthouse and the views that go from Pemaquid Point to Mount Washington. It’s a wonderful place to spend the day with family and friends. The coast of Maine is spotted with islands and exploring them can be fun and exciting, you never know what you will discover.

Summer: Camden is such a great place to spend time and one of my favorite things to do is to enjoy the sights and sounds of the harbor is sitting on the deck of the Waterfront Restaurant. Located in the heart of town on Bayview Drive you can find the Waterfront tucked between quaint shops and swanky condos. The whole front of the restaurant is literally a dock with awnings and great views of all the boats coming in and out of the harbor. Another great place to check out while you are in town is to spend some time on Lait Beach just down the road from the Waterfront. This is a quiet beach that you could almost miss if you didn’t know it was there. With a swing set and a couple of picnic tables on a grassy hill leading down to a small beach this is the best spot to watch the yachts entering Camden’s busy harbor. Most people don’t know about this beach so it’s never crowded and is a great place to relax from the bustle of town. If you are looking for a way to enjoy the water without going for a swim than you should take a harbor to harbor sea kayaking tour from Camden Harbor to Rockport Harbor. You will paddle past Curtis Island with its own working lighthouse, Indian Island, Beauchamp Point straight into beautiful Rockport Harbor. Round trip the paddle takes approximately 3.5 hours and is full of beautiful scenery and surprises like seals and other sea life along the way. This trip is also a great way to enjoy all the amazing homes that line the rocky coastline of Camden and Rockport. With so many things to do, Camden will become one of your regular stops when you are in the mid-coast area.