 |
Maine's Southern Coast
 The largest state in New England, Maine is divided into eight regions, including the greater Portland and Casco Bay area located in the southeast part of the state. Portland is Maine’s largest city – big enough to support a diverse cultural scene, but small enough not to feel overwhelming.
Portland is not only a popular tourist destination; it also consistently ranks high on the lists of most livable U.S. cities. It is not hard to understand why. In addition to offering excellent museums, various performing arts centers, and a number of popular festivals, it is also home to a thriving restaurant scene, and a vibrant shopping environment.
Add to this the many parks, nature preserves, deserted beaches, saltwater marshes, and landmark lighthouses, and you begin to understand what makes Portland such a special place.
No trip to Maine’s capital city is complete without a visit to one of Casco Bay’s Calendar Islands, named so because an early explorer mistakenly thought there was one island for every day of the year. The United States Coastal Pilot today lists 136 islands.
Boats depart daily from the Casco Bay Ferry terminal year-round. Because the islands vary greatly in size and personality, we’ve asked HomeAway Casco Bay homeowners to describe what they find most enchanting about the region.
Live the Destination
HomeAway Homeowners
Share Local Southern Maine Insights
Portland & Casco Bay
Located on Casco Bay, Harpswell is a 10-mile peninsula that reaches into the Bay from Brunswick
Submitted by Peter Taylor, property 139499
The best coastal hiking trail on Casco Bay is the Cliff Trail in Harpswell, Maine. No other trail in Maine has the spectacularly beautiful views that you'll see along the Cliff Trail. It is a loop of approximately three miles through scenic forest.
First you walk along the edge of a salt marsh, then you cross a babbling brook called Strawberry Creek, then begin a gentle uphill climb through the woods.
All of a sudden, you'll be looking out from the top of the cliff for which the trail is named. You'll have a view of unspoiled bay with a small island, all surrounded by wooded hills. It's a perfect spot for a picnic.
Sit on the rocks, enjoy the view, and bask in the sun. You're unlikely to see another person on your hike. Access to the Cliff Trail is behind the Harpswell Town Office building at 263 Mountain Road in Harpswell. Park behind the building, and you'll see a sign for the Cliff Trail.
From our backyard, guests can watch lobster boats pull lobster traps. You can also see seals and porpoises. Guests can launch their kayak and explore miles of beautiful bays, inlets, and ocean. There's a small beach just up the road. It's common to see 30 or 40 seals in Harpswell Sound.
 Best "secret" family beach on Casco Bay is Cedar Beach in Harpswell. It's a wonderful, sandy beach (rare in Maine!) that's perfect for kids. My wife, daughter, and I like to go there to swim, build sand castles, and find snails and hermit crabs. It's only known by locals and some lucky visitors. (To get there, take Route 24 South and turn left onto Robinhood Rd. Park, walk around the gate onto Cedar Beach Road, and continue to the beach. Seafood restaurants and a small grocery store are nearby for lunch or picnic supplies.)
Submitted by Charles Mott, property 153212
When I'm in Maine, I enjoy taking a leisurely drive up Coastal Route 1 to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. It's about 150 miles, and I try to allow at least 4 hours so I can enjoy the quaint towns with their antique and specialty shops along the way. Puffin Cruises are available in Boothbay Harbor and New Harbor. These are port towns that are short distances from Coastal Route 1. Whale and seal cruises are also available at ports along the way.
Portland is Maine's largest city and offers an eclectic mixture of sights and activities. Cruises are available at numerous places along the waterfront. These include seal, whale, harbor, lighthouse, island and Casco Bay tours. As would be expected, there is plenty of opportunity for shopping and good dining in Portland. Several lighthouses are in Portland, the most notable being the Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth. Portland also offers numerous museums, art galleries and historic sites.
There is an abundance of hiking, biking, canoeing, fishing and other outdoor activity available in Maine. The Casco Bay area is a convenient destination and enjoys a very moderate climate during the summer season. These factors, along with the wonderful views and the overall serenity make Casco Bay a great location for your summer vacation.
Submitted by Ann & Barry White, property 142039
 Consider going off-island into Brunswick for a movie at the wonderful Eveningstar Theatre (a 60's throwback), located on the Tontine Mallon Maine Street. The intimate setting offers both traditional theatre seating, as well as comfy couches in which to relax and watch first rate, (not mass market) movies.
After the movie, head down the street (toward Bowdoin College) to Cote’s “shack,” and sample some yummy homemade ice cream.
Head on back to the island for some board games with family and friends, watch the sunset, and come to an understanding of why mid-Coast Maine is the ideal location for a retreat from the fast-paced lifestyle we are all so accustomed to these days.
 Submitted by Marci Gagnon, property 87019
Relax and enjoy authentic waterfront living in Maine!
One of the Major Casco Bay Islands
Submitted by Ron Hutchins, property 118009
Somebody once said..."If you are lucky enough to live on the ocean, you are lucky enough".
Well, that's exactly how we feel about our beautiful spot on Bailey Island in Casco Bay.
We are on the eastern shore of the island; an island that is only 2 1/2 miles long. Our island is the third in a string of three, connected to the mainland by bridges out into Casco Bay.
 As you cross over the very first bridge from the mainland, you'll drive another 17 miles to the very end of the road - mile "0" - to stay at one of our small cabins. If you are standing on one of our decks, the view is of wide-open ocean as far as the eye can see. On a perfect day you can actually see the curve of the earth on the ocean's horizon.
The breathtaking sunrise will cleanse the soul. Watch the lobster boats pass by just beyond your reach. Walk the ledges or try your luck fishing right in front of your cabin.
Stroll to the nearby Land's End Fisherman's Monument - a dedication to all men of the sea. Shop in the gift shop there and be sure to take home some of the homemade fudge - it's the best!
A few things you can do on Bailey Island: snorkle, scuba, sail, kayak, fish, eat and drink.
 Take a tour boat ride to Eagle Island - the summer home of world explorer Admiral Perry. Tour the island and actually take a walk through his home! The artifacts he has collected will astound you.
Just a short car ride away and a perfect rainy day trip is L.L. Bean. The real thing - not an outlet.
You can also visit Boothbay Harbor, and go on a whale watch, or if you wonder what a Maine fishing village was really like 50-75 years ago... grab a berth on the "Balmy Days" and go to Monhegan Island, where time has seemed to have stood still. Boothbay Harbor also offers one of the most diverse shopping experiences - gifts and art from Maine and around the world.
Located at the tip of Phippsburg peninsula near Bath, Maine
Submitted by Marty Rounds, property 113495
Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy kayaking, striped bass fishing (some of the best in the northeast), walking and running on the beach, swimming, and exploring Fort Popham and Fort Baldwin.
Nearby Brunswick hosts Bowdoin College with its Maine State Music Theatre Program. A variety of restaurants and antique shops can be found in nearby towns of Bath, Brunswick and Wiscassett. And the city of Portland, with all its wonderful culture, is just an hour away.
One of the Major Casco Bay Islands
Submitted by Charlotte Hedge, property 43906
 Island Getaway – five miles off the coast of Portland, Maine - suggests just what you would imagine: peacefulness, serenity, and tranquility, in one of nature's most beautiful surroundings. The island is accessible only by boat!
Walk the beaches, gather sea glass, seashells and driftwood. Bicycle the island and enjoy the cleanest, purest air that you have ever known while taking in the beauty of the colorful gardens, coastal sites such as lobster boats and traps, sailboats, kayaks, and of course the ever friendly islanders waving as you ride by.
 Walk the paths that open to the private coves known only to the local islanders and picnic in a spot where you may be the only one in sight. Relax on the porch of our home, "CView", and watch the deer on the ledges or the fox in the front lawn, listen to the ever many birds sing, or the tree frogs in the early evening.
Watch the lobster boats gather their bounty, then feast that evening on the freshest seafood around.
If you do want to leave the island (very few do), ferry over to Portland to one of the best small cities in the US. Walking tours, trolleys, and duck boats are all available to show you the town and all it has to offer, including art galleries, cultural events, some of the best restaurants in the country, shopping (LL Bean & Freeport are only 25 minutes from Portland). Or, hop on a boat and see the other islands of Casco Bay.
One of the Major Casco Bay Islands
Submitted by Lynn O’Neill, property 119460
Chill out and take in the water view on Orr's Island. Favorite activities within the area: walking the Bowdoin College waterfront trails, kayaking in Harpswell Sound, and enjoying a bite to eat at Cooks!
 Orr's Island is located on Harpswell Sound in Casco Bay. It feels remote, yet it’s convenient to all of Brunswick, Freeport and Portland activities.
One of the Major Casco Bay Islands
Submitted by
Lesley Walters, property 59308
 Drive across the Maine border and you'll see a sign: Maine, The Way Life Should Be.
Beaches, lobsters, lighthouses and L.L. Bean, right? But the reality is hours of traffic with no beach in sight. That's not to say it doesn't exist. Board a ferry out of Portland to Peaks Island, and a sweet oasis awaits.
It may be the year 2007, but on Peaks Island, it's 1953. Families and traditions are still very important here. There are second, third and fourth generation islanders. Some live here year round, some just for summers.
 It's always the same scene year after year. Children on bikes playing with friends until dark. Dogs fetching driftwood sticks on the beach. The thunk of tennis balls hitting racquets. Beginner sailors down by the Club flipping sails from side to side catching the wind. Bobbing kayakers paddling in formation making their way from cove to cove. The laughter and squeals heard on the beach. The squawking of seagulls hovering over a lobster boat hauling tonight's dinner. The incredible sunsets of crushed tangerine and sea rose pink. The fog horns’ throaty lullaby as a thick blanket of fog rolls over the island tucking all in for the night.
The only thing tough about being here is figuring out what to do. Bicycle or walk around the island? Have a picnic on the backshore or lunch at the pub down front? Sea glass collecting on Centennial beach or bird watching while hiking through the Indian trails or visiting the World War II bunkers? Fishing from the rocks or horseback riding on the beach? Or maybe a day on the water? The ferries or a schooner? The mailboat run or a sunset cruise?
In the end, one of the best summer activities is just laying in a hammock watching the cloud formations…
 Submitted by Carolyn Shilling Gill, property 150569
Woodsea Place is a dream come true: a log cabin on Peak’s Island in Maine, with privacy and space for all - and right near a sandy beach.
 Smell the ocean air, relax on the farmer's porch protected from the elements, or lounge on the sunny patio as you enjoy the koi pond.
What is the weather like on the island, you ask? Ask the sign:
What is the weather like on the island…
Southeastern Coastal Maine
Submitted by Ed Curtis, property 159411
The Village of York Harbor, Maine is in a beautiful seaside location. It has a pretty harbor, and ready access to excellent Atlantic beaches as well as art, history, boating, fishing, hiking, swimming, surfing, antiquing, discount shopping and all the charms of New England.
We have a great beach a short walk down Fishermen's Path. It becomes a wonderful expanse of hard sand at low tide and we play bocce ball on it, fly kites and generally run the grandchildren ragged.
 The water slopes out gently and there is rarely much surf. Since parking is very limited, there is never a great crowd either. For more adventurous souls, you can surf on a section of Long Sands Beach, a mile or so up Route 1A. This is the next beach up the coast in York and it is about 2 miles long.
Sometimes we go there for a walk, stopping at the Sea and Surf for breakfast. Although busy, the beach is a lovely strand of sand and salt water. A hop over the Nubble (where the famous lighthouse is), and you will find York's third beach, Short Sands, complete with an arcade, salt-water taffy and the York Wild Kingdom Park with its carnival rides and animal attractions.
On the walk down to our beach, you can stop at Bill Coite's house and buy some lobsters - or ask him to take you fishing for stripers on his boat. He runs small charters, and can take you spin casting or fly fishing for striped bass in and around the York River - one of the best locations in the world for this sport fish.
There are lots of church suppers, clambakes and festivals nearby in the summer, plus a variety of music and professional theater options. For exercise, we play golf and kayak on the river. Arrangements for both can be easily set. York Harbor has been a summer resort destination for over 150 years for good reason. You have lots of options.
|
|
