What to do in Boothbay Harbor?

I%26#39;ve gotten such great recommendations for our upcoming trip that I thought I%26#39;d try again.

We%26#39;re spending two days, two nights in BBH in early June. What kind of things will be open? I thought about a day-long cruise but don%26#39;t want to miss out on other things, if there%26#39;s a lot to do.

We%26#39;re two laid-back people who are up for anything -- Hiking, shopping, fishing, boating, etc. Thanks!!

What to do in Boothbay Harbor?

One thing we have done a few times in boothbay harbor that has proven to be a lot of fun is sea kayaking..

boats and guided tours are available right in town at ';Tidal Transit';....the guides are very friendly and helpful and it is a lot of fun

Otherwise, I would think just about all activities in boothbay should be up and running by early june..

boat trips, clambake trips etc

What to do in Boothbay Harbor?

Perhaps you would enjoy the Coastal Botanical Garden. Nature trails, outdoor sculpture...perhaps a lecture or workshop.

www.mainegardens.org

Thanks for the suggestions! We%26#39;re assuming the weather will be cool (50s or low 60s) on the shore in early June.

Would kayaking be a little cold? We%26#39;ve never done it.

Sailing sounds fun, too, but we can%26#39;t decide what time of day would be best. We%26#39;d love to see wild life, if possible...

I am guessing that early June will have you here before Windjammer Days:%26#39;http://www.boothbayharbor.com/windjammers.htm

Kayaking can be cool in June, especially on/near the ocean. I wear a wet suit.

The Botanical Gardens should be great at that time. I am hoping to catch either the lady slippers blossoming or the rhododendrons - that spot is gorgeous, complete with waterfall.

The Botanical Gardens also sound nice. I%26#39;m horrible at gardening and, consequently, don%26#39;t know much about plants. How much time does the tour take? Is it just a quick walk through a few green house rooms? Are there outdoor gardens?

I%26#39;ve only been to one botanical garden before (in D.C., and there was no guided tour and only a little pamphlet). I didn%26#39;t feel like I saw/learned much, but I hope this one%26#39;s better! :)

They do have tours, but we chose to walk the trails ourselves. The map is clearly marked, and each trail highlights something different: waterfront, fairy houses, lady slippers, etc.

Hi TravellingChick,

June can be iffy weatherwise in BBH or Maine in general. It can be gorgeous, warm and sunny or cold, rainy and/or foggy. One never knows!

In any case, regardless of the weather, there%26#39;s plenty to do and see. Most places are open by June with the exception of a couple of the larger Inns which won%26#39;t open till late June.

Definitely visit the Botanical Gardens as suggested. I%26#39;m not into gardening myself, but really enjoy the walking trails. These are easy and not strenuous. Anyone can do them. They offer glimpses of the water, beautiful and unique outdoor sculptures and of course wonderful flowers and/or folliage. The Visitor%26#39;s Center offers a revolving art show, a gift shop and a great little dining area overlooking a herb garden.

The Boothbay Region Land Trust is another organization that offers lots of easy and relatively short hiking trails (most are about a mile or so roundtrip) and some offer absolutely gorgeous views of rivers, coves and open ocean. Their site is www.bbrlt.org/

A fun idea might be to take one of Captain Fish%26#39;s boat tours. They offer tours anywhere from one hour in the inner harbor, to 3 hour trips out to Bath Iron Works or Pemaquid Light. The boats are large, heated and have a rest room and snack bar serving coffee, tea, wine and beer, etc. The site is: www.boothbayboatrips.com.

Take drives out to Ocean Pt and Southport Island. Ocean Pt is only about a 10 to 15 minute drive out of town on route 96 (turn at the lights at Hannaford%26#39;s Supermarket and follow to end) and won%26#39;t disappoint. You%26#39;ll see gorgeous views of summer cottages, rocky surf, islands and 4 lighthouses. Plus all the boat traffic coming and going. Its a great place to walk or sit out on the rocks and watch the world go by. Or search for sea glass if the tide it low.

On Southport Island, check out Hendricks Head Light and beach. Take route 27 south, over the swing bridge. Go a few miles and turn right at the Southport General Store onto Beach Road. Follow to the end and there%26#39;s the beach and lighthouse. Then get back on route 27 south and follow till you see the Town Dock sign. Turn right there. You%26#39;ll see a small parking lot. Walk out on the dock and you%26#39;ll have great views of the Cuckholds Lighthouse, islands, open ocean and Cape Newagen.

Check out the very old bowling alley downtown. Browse the galleries. Take a ride out to McKnown Pt. Aquarium. Its small but a fun place to visit for 30 to 45 minutes. Plus it has views out to the harbor.

Good luck and don%26#39;t forget to post back and let us know how your visit went :).

cozyharbor

You may get lucky and find someone serving fiddleheads. These unfurled ferns are often boiled or steamed and mark the return of spring to the Maine coast. Early June may be a few weeks late for this treat though you can purchase the current crop canned. As with many aspects of Maine, your first experience may be off the charts great, or you may slowly morph to lifelong fan status.

Visit www.undergroundconsumer.com and its preseason vacation in Boothbay Harbor article for additional specific information about things to do preseason.

MyOneCent,

Funny that you mention fiddleheads. I was just reading about them tonight. Never heard of them before. Where can I find them? Are they on menu? I%26#39;m not sure that we%26#39;re planning on cooking anything while we%26#39;re on vacation... Thanks!