Puffins on Egg Rock Island
Boothbay Harbor is one of my favorite places to visit in Maine. The atmosphere as a real “down east” harbor is inviting, as are the many shops aligning the streets. I’ve probably been there about 25 times, at least.
departing Egg Rock Island
This year we parked on the main street side (at $5 per day) and went directly to the Puffin Cruise, something I’ve never done before. While I couldn’t get a good picture of the puffins, I did take this video of the harbor. The guides, entertaining, interactive and informative. Both Big and Middle loved the experience, though we all found the top deck to be a bit cold (remember to bring a sweatshirt if you go!)We found the best seats to be up front on the first level, where the breeze wasn’t so strong. Inside, you can get drinks and snacks at extremely reasonable prices, and while some tourists enjoyed a cold beer at 10 am, I heard the coffee calling my name. In addition to hundreds of puffins out on Egg Rock Island, we saw porpoises diving (beautiful!). A few passengers spotted a whale (!) so the captain slowed down to wait for another citing. Sadly, we learned that in one flip of a tail, whales can travel a half mile. They can also stay under water for about a half hour. Alas, we never were able to spot a whale. There’s always next year!
The Lobster Wharf Restaurant
Every time we go, we continue our tradition of lobster at the Lobster Wharf (yum!) and this year’s selection was excellent. The Lobster Wharf is about a 10-15 minute walk from Cap’n Fish’s docks (across the foot bridge on the other side of the bay, you can also drive directly there). There, you can eat outside on the wharf overlooking the harbor, and walk down to the water and watch the lobster- and fishermen.
We followed lunch with a walk back to town (actually, Middle and I ran), casual shopping and delightful ice cream at one of the many ice cream shops in town.
We were exhausted and didn’t get to visit the Maine Maritime Museum, but have been before. Inside this tiny museum, kids can touch local marine animals–a definite must do, especially on a rainy day, or for any family staying in the area.
We’ll be back again next year, what are your Boothbay favorites?
© 2010, Julie Meyers Pron. All rights reserved.
