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How many shorelines does Maine have?
Nov 14, 2017 · Including Maine’s tidal shoreline the shoreline of the state is actually a whopping 3,478 miles. That brings Maine’s tidal shoreline to 51 miles longer than California’s 3,427. As far as general coastline goes, only 30 of the 50 states have any coastline at all.
Maine’s 5,000 miles of coastline and ofshore islands make us especially sensitive to ocean climate change. Sea level rise from human-driven climate change poses a substantial and growing challenge for our waterfront and shorefront communities, industries, and environments.
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- Day 1: Ogunquit
- Day 2: Kennebunkport
- Day 3: Portland
- Day 4: Portland
- Day 5: Mid-Coast Maine
- Day 6: Mid-Coast Maine
- Day 7: Rockland
- Day 8: Camden
- Day 9: Bar Harbor & Acadia National Park
- Have Dinner at The Terrace Grille
Southern Maine is home to some of the few sand beaches along the Maine coast, which tends to trend rockier as it goes further north. York, Ogunquit, and Kennebunkport are the three most popular beach getaways in Southern Maine – and in this itinerary, we’ll cover the latter two. These three beach destinations tend to be quite busy with day and week...
Spend the day on Gooch’s Beach.
I hope you didn’t have too much beach time yesterday… because it’s time for what is, in my opinion, one of the best beaches in Maine! Gooch’s Beachin Kennebunkport is simply stunning. Lots of sandy coastline means that you can walk nearly a mile on the sand, the cool Atlantic water lapping at your ankles. Note that the beach is on the narrow side and that during high tide, there can be very little room on the sand for towels! There is more room on the north side of the beach, as this is where...
Have lunch at the Clam Shack.
Once you’ve soaked up a lot of salt air and need a break from roasting yourself in the sun, head back into downtown Kennebunkport for a delicious seafood meal at The Clam Shack. Skip their lobster rolls: they’re trifling (who the hell puts a lobster roll on a hamburger bun?! Team hot dog bun for life). But their fried clams are what they’re known for, and that’s absolutely what you should order. Their fries and coleslaw aren’t half-bad, either!
Walk around the wharf and harbor.
Once you’ve had a filling meal, digest a little with a walk around the cute downtown area of Kennebunkport. This area is pretty lively in the summer as well as winter, when you’ll find the festivities for Christmas Prelude, the celebration of Christmas in Kennebunkport Maine. Since you’re already at the Clam Shack, start with a little wander around the wharf and marina area, where the Kennebunk River heads out to sea. There are lots of beautiful buildings along this harbor area and the sailbo...
Have breakfast at Becky’s Diner.
One of Portland’s main institutions is Becky’s Diner, and you can’t go wrong following the crowds to eat one of th best, heartiest breakfasts in Portland! Lines can be long, so arrive early and expect to wait. Don’t miss their wild blueberry pancakes! Wander around the Old Port. Becky’s Diner is a short walk from the Old Port neighborhood, so it’s time for a short walking tour of this charming part of town! There are a lot of cool sights in this area; let me list a few favorites. First, walk...
Walk up and over Munjoy Hill.
After all those beers, it’s time to sober up with a walk through one of Portland’s most scenic and beautiful communities: Munjoy Hill. Yes, it is a hill, and it is a bit steep, but it’s really worth the walk as this is one of the coolest neighborhoods in Portland. Once you reach the crest of Munjoy Hill, there is a cool observatory tower called the Portland Observatory. It’s a historic maritime signal tower that was built in 1807, and it’s the only remaining tower of this type made of wood kn...
Head down to the water’s edge.
Once you arrive down at the water, you’ll find the Cleeve-Tucker Memorialmarking the end of Portland’s East End neighborhood. Along the water’s edge, you’ll find a lot of cool food trucks here! There’s also East End Beach (rather a small beach, but it is possible to go for a dip here) and Fort Allen Park, which offer incredible views over Casco Bay.
Spend the morning on Washington Ave.
Like its West Coast sister city of the same name, Portland, ME is becoming a hipster-topia. Nowhere else is that more obvious than on Washington Avenue in South Portland! Start the day with a delicious breakfast at Portland Pottery Café, a hybrid pottery shop and café. Their biscuits and gravy is obscenely large and obscenely delicious! They also have a selection of great sandwiches if you’re not feeling particularly breakfast-y. The Figgy Piggy is also delicious: fig jam, prosciutto, what co...
Drive to Portland Head Light House.
Located in Fort Williams Park, the Portland Head Lighthouse is an absolute can’t-miss on any Maine itinerary. Of all the lighthouses in Maine I saw, this one was my favorite! The lighthouse is exquisite and there is a coastal trail where you can see a few different viewpoints of the lighthouse with different compositions, which is great for photographers. There is also a cliff trail that goes on the other side of it, and there is an area where you can walk down to the beach if you want to swi...
Stop at the outlets in Freeport.
If you want to do a little morning shopping, head to the town of Freeport which is known for its outlets and massive L.L. Bean. Take a photo with the giant Bean Boot — it’s cheesy, yes, but it’s a Maine must! There are a number of good outlets, and I snagged a 40% off blazer at J. Crew, some of my favorite Smartwool socks from L.L. Bean… and tore myself away from the Loft outlet, because my credit card was weeping.
Take a stroll in Brunswick.
Brunswick is a delightful small city in Maine with a vibrant Maine Street (hopefully you enjoy the pun as much as I do) and great shopping and activities. It’s home to Bowdoin College and as a result, there are a lot of businesses that cater to its large student population, and the town has a younger feel than other places in Maine. There is a surprising amount to do in Brunswick! Take a walk by the Sea Dog Brewing Companyon the Frank J Wood bridge (stop and admire the falls on the other side...
Take a hike on Orr’s Island.
After you’ve grabbed something to eat in Brunswick, it’s time to burn off that lunch with a hike! Devil’s Backin Orr’s Island sounds intense, but it’s a relatively easy hike that is incredibly beautiful. It’s just 2.5-miles round trip with 200 feet of elevation gain, so rest easy that it’s not too strenuous!
Head to the charming town of Bath.
Of all the towns in Maine to choose from, Bath is up there as one of the most charming. Take a walk down Main Street, stop in some bookstores or shops, and peruse to your heart’s content. If you’re thinking breakfast, I suggest just getting a small pastry from Cafe Creme orMae’s Cafe & Bakery, because Maine’s largest lobster roll is waiting for you at our next stop!
Wander through Wiscasset.
Route 1 runs through it, and you could blink and miss it — but the charming town of Wiscassetis definitely worth the stop! Wiscasset is one of those towns that is like a living museum. There are a lot of information placards throughout the city that showcase all the different architectural styles and buildings and their historical importance. Another cool place to visit in Wiscasset is the Butter Mold Company. It’s a very unique place where they still make butter molds from scratch. Bonus: ev...
Grab one of Maine’s most famous lobster rolls.
Wiscasset is best-known for its famous lobster shack, Red’s Eats.Frankly, there is always a huge line, and the price is not cheap. The market price for a lobster roll was $35 when I went, compared to other places where it was $20-30!)… … but their lobster rolls are massive, about double the size of other ones. I made a mistake and didn’t wait in line at Red’s (I’m a bit contrarian about lines) and went to Sprague’s instead and got a crab roll. It was disappointing. Do as I say, not as I do, u...
Visit the Olson House in Cushing. If you’re a fan of Andrew Wyeth, I strongly recommend making a detour to Cushing to visit the Olson House. When we visited, a majestic black and white horse was just grazing in front of the house, and he came right up to us for pets and scratches! This is where he painted his most seminal work, Christina’s World, a...
Take a hike in Camden Hills State Park.
Camden is best known for its beautiful state park, Camden Hills State Park, just a few miles north of the city of Camden but feeling like a world away! Camden Hills State Park has a lot of wonderful hiking trails available. You could hike up the trail to Mt. Battie(it’s about 3.1 miles with 800 feet of elevation gain). You can also drive up to the summit if you’re unable to hike… no shame or judgment here: these beautiful views are for everyone! At the top of Mount Battie, you’ll be treated t...
Grab a bite to eat.
After your Camden Hills exploration, you’ll probably be hungry. We wanted to eat at Merriner’s, which is excellent and came highly recommended by my friend, but we arrived too late (lunch ends at 2 PM!). Instead, we had a Cuban sandwich next door at Camden Caféand it was delicious – and the views of the harbor are impossible to beat.
Stroll and shop in downtown Camden.
Camden is one of the most charming small towns in coastal Maine and there is so much to do and see in Camden that I’ve written in a blog post here! You should definitely spend some time walking around the Harbor area and the Harbor Park, shopping at some of the shops on Main Street and Bay View Avenue, and admiring Megunticook Fallsin the harbor.
Drive to Mount Desert Island and visit Sand Beach.
Let’s leave Camden bright and early to make our way to our final stop on this coastal Maine itinerary: Mount Desert Island, home to Acadia National Park. Once you arrive at Mount Desert Island and check into your Bar Harborhotel, it’s time to hit the ground running… or relaxing! Since this itinerary has been pretty fast-paced, I think a little relaxation by the ocean is in order. Although most of Mount Desert Island’s coastline is composed of rocky cliff faces (like much of Maine), there is o...
Hit one of the hiking trails.
If you’re not interested in swimming, there’s still plenty to do in this area, such as searching through tide pools and walking the shoreline to search for shells. There are a couple of fun trails that take off from this area too. One of the nearby trailheads is for the Great Head Loop Trail, which starts on the east side of Sand Beach. The shorter loop option is 1.6 miles around and offers spectacular panoramic views of the area, including a scenic overlook of Sand Beach. If you want to add...
Stroll around Bar Harbor.
After soaking up the sun and relaxing the afternoon away, it’s time to head into town and enjoy all the cool things to do in Bar Harbor! Bar Harbor is a charming New England coastal community with quirky boutique shops and amazing seafood restaurants. Before dinner, take a walk along the Shore Path, which begins at the Town Pier. This short path offers beautiful views of the boats anchored in the harbor for the evening.
Dine right on the water at this gorgeous restaurant! The outdoor seating is decorated with beautiful yellow umbrellas and offers five-star views of Frenchman Bay and the Porcupine Islands. Not only are the views great, but the food is too! Keep it classic with a boiled Maine lobster or indulge and order the Maine Lobster Bake. The portion size is n...
- Allison Green
Dec 4, 2023 · Last Updated December 4, 2023. 0 Comments. With over 3500 miles of shoreline and over 6000 inland lakes and ponds, there is no shortage of beaches in Maine. Here are just a few of our favorites… Maine’s coast offers long stretches of beautiful beaches and rugged coastline. Maine is home to New England’s best beaches, for sure.
However, did you know that Maine is home to 3,478 miles of coastline? This means our state has more coastline than California (3,427 miles), Texas (3,359 miles), and Michigan (3,224 miles).
Some say that the coastline of Maine stretches some 3,500 miles—longer than California’s—but that, according to advanced mathematics, is a gross underestimate. For one thing, the 3,500 number doesn’t account for all the curves and inlets of Maine’s hundreds of islands and islets.
Aug 11, 2017 · According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data, Maine’s “general coastline” runs just 228 miles, compared to California’s 840-mile coastline. But it’s true. When traced...
