stroll the gardens
Spend the morning at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. We recommend at least 2 hours, but you can easily spend more time there with 270 acres of gardens, shorelands, and scenic woodland trails.
Things to do • Eat + Drink • Adventure • Sights + Sounds
Begin your path to lasting memories in Boothbay Harbor with our free, five-day Maine vacation itinerary. Whether it’s your first visit or 20th, we can help you make the most of your time here. Let us take care of the planning so you can focus on enjoying the best that our beautiful area has to offer.
Boaters can take a self-guided lighthouse tour to view the region’s five lighthouses. In addition to Burnt Island, there’s Monhegan Island Light, The Cuckolds Light, Hendricks Head Light, and Ram Island Light. While the last three are not open to the public, these coastal sentinels are a wonder to behold up close from the water. Venture over to Pemaquid Point in the Damariscotta region and climb the winding stairwell to the top of the historic Pemaquid Point Lighthouse.
Southport
Excellent food, extensive, affordable wine list, and unprecedented view of Boothbay Harbor from their rooftop deck. Tapas style dining or classic Maine fare.
Insider Tips
Kaler's, a staple in Boothbay Harbor since 1998, is best known for serving up the freshest seafood sourced from Maine and the New England coast.
Insider Tips
Mainetain Charters provides guests a boating adventure they will remember by creating a fun, enthusiastic, friendly atmosphere for every trip. From families to the serious angler, all are welcome to come aboard and experience mid coast Maine departing from Boothbay Harbor.
Unfussy seafood spot serving fried & grilled dishes & sushi in a casual space with water views. Mine Oyster, is inspired by Shakespeare's "The world's mine oyster, Which I with sword will open"
Insider Tips
Savor summer in Maine at Ocean Point Kitchen, located inside Bluebird Ocean Point Inn over at East Boothbay. Featuring breakfast lunch and dinner their menu is anchored by local beverages, seafood caught in our own waters, and farm-fresh seasonal salads and entrées.
Insider Tips
Classy spot with a big porch serving traditional Italian cuisine, including housemade pasta, & wine.
Insider Tips
Robinson's Wharf — A Local Favorite Seafood Restaurant in the Boothbay Area For Over 40 Years
Insider Tips
For generations, the stage of the historic 1894 Opera House in Boothbay Harbor, Maine has played host to actors and musicians from around the state and around the globe. With over 100 events and performances annually, there is almost always something happening at the House-an evening with a Grammy winning musician, a visit from a Broadway actor, nights of jazz or bluegrass, rocking Celtic concerts, lectures and community events. With fine acoustics, historic charm, a great old bar room upstairs and reasonably priced tickets, the Opera House is a gathering place for the local community and visitors alike.
86 Townsend Ave, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538
Situated in a former sea captain's house dating from 1861, this Colonial-style venue has operated as an inn since 1960. Just outside the village, it's within a 10-minute walk of shops, restaurants and attractions.
Insider Tips
A small cafe favorite in Boothbay, with a dining deck overlooking the harbor.
Craft brewery offering a rustic-style tavern with pub grub & its own beers on tap.
Explore the natural beauty of our area at one of the Boothbay Region Land Trust preserves. Porter Preserve and Ovens Mouth Preserve are two of our favorites near the botanical gardens. We recommend grabbing a lobster roll or sandwich at Trevett Country Store and having a picnic at one of the scenic vistas at the preserves.
Boothbay Harbor's only year-round waterfront restaurant, serving traditional American cuisine in a great family atmosphere.
Sail the Bennie Alice from Pier 6 in Boothbay Harbor to Cabbage Island, a quintessential Maine experience. The Moore family hosts guests 7 days a week from the end of June through the weekend after Labor Day. There you will enjoy a traditional Downeast clambake cooked on the water's edge.
Ornate mansion with tours offering insight into the life of its 19th-century owner, a sea captain.
Founded in 1996 to protect and preserve the botanical heritage of coastal Maine, the Botanical Gardens in Boothbay, spread over 270 acres of lush tidal shoreland. Meander through delicately scented paths of hundreds of flower species while taking in the seasonal art exhibits that celebrate the synergy of artwork and nature.
Take a walk around the corner to Dunton's Doghouse for a lobster roll, haddock sandwich, burger, or hot dog!
40 Sea Street
Sail away from it all on your two-hour voyage aboard Boothbay Harbor's schooner to relax and see the Maine coastline. Don't forget to bring your own food and beverages (including wine and cheese) and a windbreaker to stay warm!
A small batch brewery focused on making craft beer with as many Maine sourced ingredients as possible. Their family-friendly tasting room is the perfect place to have a beer, some food and spend time with loved ones.
Little has changed in the past 200 years here, so it is easy to imagine patrols on the lookout for British warships. Stroll down to the shore beneath the fort and enjoy the peaceful, breathtaking views across the river to Wiscasset. You can see seals and lobster buoys bob in the water as lobstermen drift by. A great spot for a family picnic by the water.
Experience the brilliance of New England’s most beautiful light display at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens! This seasonal celebration features more than 750,000 LED lights woven through 14 acres of central gardens.
Airy, easygoing hangout by the water offering breakfast, seafood & steak, plus a popular happy hour.
Maine Maritime Museum, formerly the Bath Marine Museum, offers some exhibits about Maine's maritime heritage, culture and the role Maine has played in regional and global maritime activities.
Day trip to Monhegan for an amazing hike through the highest cliffs on the Maine Coast. Visit the brewery, grab lunch, and visit art galleries. You can even see a shipwreck!
NEAT. a speakeasy within Marcel's boasts over 300 bottles of bourbon and a craft cocktail menu that is happlily unexpected for Boothbay
25 Townsend Ave, Boothbay Harbor, ME, United States, 04538
Sculpture Boothbay now in its third year, offers the only public walking Sculpture Trail in the State of Maine. The Trail which began in the downtown corridor of the harbor has now expanded to the East Boothbay and Southport Island peninsulas showcasing the diversity and natural beauty of the Boothbay Region while promoting the arts. A Trail Map lists the locations of each sculpture and information on each artist. Start your sculpture tour right in front of the Inn. You can pick up a map at the front desk for more sculpture locations around Boothbay Harbor.
Rent from Tidal Transit Kayak Co. and launch directly from the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens or embark on their Harbor Tour with a scenic stop at Burnt Island Lighthouse.
The annual Windjammer Days Festival usually takes place in late June and features a wide range of events and attractions that take place all week long! While you’re enjoying the festival, be sure to check out the intriguing Tall Ships Festival, meander around Artist’s Alley, indulge in the Crab Cake Cookoff, and stay for the breathtaking firework finale. You can also enjoy live music throughout the week, embark on boat excursions, participate in the street parade, or sign up for the lobster eating contest.
36 Commercial Street
Spend the morning at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. We recommend at least 2 hours, but you can easily spend more time there with 270 acres of gardens, shorelands, and scenic woodland trails.
Set sail on a local schooner and experience the harbor from a unique vantage point. Watching the sunset across the bay is the best way to relax, unwind and puts you in vacation mode.
Spend time on the Topside property, taking in the spectacular harbor & ocean views while wandering through the seaside perennial gardens, and raised vegetable garden beds. Picture yourself “above it all” enjoying the rolling lawn, in a pair of Adirondack chairs, cocktail in hand, or playing a game of bocce ball or cornhole.