Something for Everyone
Our treasured in-town location means a quick two-minute walk to Boothbay Harbor's restaurants, shops, art galleries, the famous footbridge across inner harbor, and the waterfront. Plan ahead with the suggestions and links below, and check the Chamber of Commerce calendar for scheduled events during your stay. We also maintain a bulletin board of current activities to remind you of happenings once you arrive.
On the Water
A dozen boat excursions depart from the piers at the bottom of our hill.
- Rent a kayak and explore the harbor, islands and lighthouses on your own, or enjoy a guided tour.
- See the coast from a traditional wooden sailing vessel - Schooner Eastwind, the Lazy Jack, or the friendship sloop Bay Lady.
- Let an experienced naturalist guide you in searching for whales, seals, puffins, and more.
- Take a day trip to magical Monhegan Island.
- Feast at a traditional New England clambake.
- Experience the timeless tradition of lobstering in Maine.
- Visit Burnt Island Lighthouse, a limited summer schedule but the living history museum is worth the trip.
- Or maybe just a day of old-fashioned angling for the 'big one'.
On Land
When you want to keep your feet on dry land, there's a bounty of choices from our central location, just a short drive away.
- Visit the incredible 250-acre Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.
- Hike the 30 miles of nature trails preserved and protected by Boothbay Region Land Trust.
- Walk over to Barrett Park and enjoy a picnic and a dip in the water at the head of Linekin Bay.
- Head to Ocean Point, walk along the sea wall and take in the views. Stop at East Boothbay General Store for a treat.
- Learn more about ocean life at the Maine State Aquarium or the weekly Cafe Scientifique lectures sponsored by Bigelow Laboratory.
- Antique car enthusiasts, railroad fans, and history buffs will all enjoy Boothbay Railway Village.
- Hit the links at Boothbay Country Club, a championship 18-hole course with challenging holes on par with the breathtaking vistas.
- Get to the gym, if you must, at our exceptional YMCA, with a reasonable visitors rate and reciprocity throughout New England.
Entertaining
- Don't miss the show at the historic Opera House, a unique venue for any performance. Check their calendar of great events!
- Take in a first-run movie at the small-town, one-screen Harbor Theater.
- Compete for putt-putt champion at Dolphin Mini Golf, ranked one of the top 10 mini golf courses in the U.S.
- Check out the revue at Carousel Music Theater or the summer theater show at the Boothbay Playhouse.
- You will usually find live music at several night spots in the harbor on weekends, and nightly in the summer.
- And did we mention the stars?
Eat!
In the busy season we are fortunate to have many dining options for a small town — from casual to contemporary to unique, seafood is everywhere and you won't go hungry! Nearby favorites include:
- Boathouse Bistro
- Ports of Italy
- The Thistle Inn
- McSeagull's
- The Lobster Dock
- Kaler's Crab and Loster House
Shop and get Artful!
There is truly something for everyone amongst the shops, art galleries, boutiques, and merchants in Boothbay Harbor. If you're not a shopper but forced to go, you can almost always find ice cream. Our usual walks around town give us some favorites noted here, starting impartially at the bottom of our hill.
- Coastal Interiors and Abacus Gallery
- the Memorial Library's Used Bookstore
- Boothbay Region Art Foundation, allen david gallery, The Creative Turtle, and Joy to the Wind Gallery
- Ice Cream Factory, WannaWaf, and the little gelato hut on the corner
- The Saucy Contessa, Coastal Maine Popcorn, and Orne's Candy Store
Heading Off the Rock
Boothbay Harbor is ideally situated as a base for exploring the midcoast region. Plan to stay a while — there is some great exploring to do.
- Southbound, stop in busy Wiscasset for the interesting shops, visit Castle Tucker and Nickels-Sortwell House museums.
- Historic Bath and the Maine Maritime Museum are a great day-trip destination.
- Our rocky coastline offers few sandy beaches, but Popham State Beach and Reid State Park are on peninsulas south of Bath.
- Brunswick has a lively Maine Street, great restaurants, the Maine State Music Theather and Bowdoin College.
- The midcoast shopping mecca Freeport, home to LL Bean and 200 other upscale outlets, can be reached in 45 minutes or less.
- Northbound, drive the River Road to Damariscotta, and on down to Pemaquid Lighthouse, one of the most photographed locations in Maine.
- Rockland - for the Farnsworth Museum, Owl's Head Transportation Museum, a fun visit in town, and possibly dinner at Primo
- Camden - explore shops and galleries in town, then head north and drive the auto road to the top of Mt. Battie.
