Peacock Beach State Park

If you’re busy seeing the sights and shops of Maine’s Mid Coast Region, Peacock Beach State Park offers an ideal spot for a respite. Located south of Augusta in Richmond – a community of 3,500 that describes itself as a “small town with a big heart”—the 93-acre park is frequented mostly by area residents.

Open from Memorial Day through Labor Day, Peacock Beach State Park sits along the shores of Pleasant Pond. A lifeguard oversees the small beach and swimming area, making the water here an especially safe summer retreat for families with young children. Boaters and kayakers appreciate the several boat launches along the shore.

Just off Route 201, Peacock Beach is convenient enough for even a quick picnic. With picnic tables, restrooms, and plenty of parking, you’ll probably even see a few locals enjoying their lunch breaks in the fresh air. Got a blanket tucked in your car trunk? The maintained grass invites you to spread it out and enjoy a peaceful meal, a good book—and maybe a nap.

In nearby Merrymeeting Bay, the waters of six rivers converge—and that area provides safe harbor for a wide variety of migrating birds. So while paddling about Pleasant Pond, or watching cloud shapes from your beach blanket, keep your eyes open for soaring examples of the area’s feathered friends.