Natasha's Destinations

I arrived at Boothbay Harbor, a charming, picturesque town and a popular yachting destination. This lively and bustling waterfront haven manages to maintain the vibrancy of a small coastal town. It boasts a beautiful, protected harbor bustling with boat activity, ranging from expensive yachts and tour boats to local fishing vessels.

I took a lovely sunset cruise on Schooner Eastwind and spent a beautiful evening watch the sun paint the lighthouses orange as it dipped behind the islands. Sailing past many bobbing lobster boats, breezy sailboats, fancy yachts and small islands, I enjoyed the sunny, lazy cruise.

I was intrigued by the smattering of colorful buoys on the water’s surface, I was told that these belong to the lobster boats. I found out that the lobstermen community is a close-knit one steeped in traditions and superstitions. Every lobsterman takes great pride and ownership in creating his/her buoys. The design and color combinations are his own and serve as the unique passport to identifying his trap territory. The buoys are almost always in bright shades like cobalt, emerald, scarlet and other vivid colors, so that they are easily detected on the wavy seas.  

Maine’s fishing community has its fun share of superstitions-"whistling attracts harsh winds," or uttering the words 'the weather is getting better” is almost always going to prove you wrong. Also, do not paint your boat blue and definitely don't name it after your wife! 

We sailed by Squirrel Island and the captain told us some interesting anecdotes about it. It was so named not because squirrels had set up shop and had overpowered the island. The name stuck because an aerial view of the island showed a strong resemblance to a squirrel with an acorn clutched in its paws! Also fascinating about Squirrel Island is that there is no industry here and the residents can only inhabit during the summer months. The above-ground plumbing makes it necessary for the island to be vacated during winter months. There is regular ferry service from Boothbay but on the island itself there are no cars or bikes permitted. It is strictly pedestrian.

The boat rides gives you access to glimpse rocky shores, peaceful coves, the charming, indigenous lighthouses and remote islands.

Back on land there is still a lot to see. A great starting point is the 1000 foot long footbridge that connects both sides of the harbor. 

A lovely walk all the way down Atlantic avenue ends up in Spruce Point.

The homes we passed on the walk were equally quaint and grand.

One house caught my attention because of the unusual tree in the front yard. Over time the trunk of the tree had matured and grown and had taken on the shape of a curvaceous body part. It was very easy to guess what anatomy shape the tree had morphed into!

We strolled past Barrett park, the perfect spot to unwind and enjoy the views. We sprawled out on the grass and watched the families with dogs taking advantage of the perfect summer day. 

The winning combination for a great stay here is the location as well as the two owners, Mark and Buzz. The location is within walking distance to all the town’s activities and yet being in the inn is its own little haven.

. All over the inn there is welcoming spots to relax, indulgent snacks, coffee and tea stations and games to entertain the guests. 

The drive to Robinson’s Wharf was just as memorable as the great lobster we ate there.

One of the very best meals we had was at Taka that served Sushi, Asian inspired food and Mediterranean! We ordered the sushi and it was the best I have had outside New York!

After spending two exhilarating days in Boothbay where unforgettable memories were created, we headed out north hugging the Maine coastline on Rt 1.

We stopped at the lovely town of Camden. Another idyllic seaside town with a lot of art galleries, quaint stores, green parks and a beautiful harbor side.

We picked up lunch at Long Grain a popular Asian restaurant and ate our delicious food on the picnic benches. Camden deserved more than the few hours we had spared to explore this picturesque town.

Driving away from Camden we headed north towards the tip of the coast. Turning around the one bend alongside the river we saw looming ahead of us the graceful, linear Penobscot Narrows Bridge. Spanning the Penobscot river, the bridge is sleek, dramatic and only one of the three bridges in the US that are claimed to be built as cable-stay designs. There is a observation deck high up on the top almost 420 feet above the river giving visitors the opportunity to get a 360 degree view of Maine’s beauty. On a clear day the vistas are visible for 40 miles.