Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor & Southport

Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor are quintessential New England maritime villages, popular during the summer. Each year the Windjammer Days festival in June and Fisherman's Festival in April celebrate the region's rich maritime heritage. You won't want to miss experiencing the rocky coast along the harbor and Boothbay Harbor boasts the largest fleet of excursion boats in Maine for viewing lighthouses, islands, seals, whales, puffins and many charter boats for deep-sea fishing.

Both Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor is home to an abundance of antique shops, boutiques, art galleries and gift shops, and walking is a true pleasure, especially if you cross the harbor on the footbridge.

The Boothbay region has numerous recreation and leisure activities. There is an 18-hole championship public golf course at the Boothbay Country Club, 138 acres of walking paths at the Linekin Preserve, and the Boothbay Playhouse and The Opera House at Boothbay Harbor for live performances. The Maine State Aquarium, a family favorite, has two touch tanks featuring gentle sharks and tide pool inhabitants.

The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens offers nature lovers a special retreat. The 250-acre garden features over 350 native species in a dozen diverse gardens, impressive stonework and waterfalls, and waterfront and woodland trails ideal for leisurely strolls or brisk walks. The Children's Garden, which opened in 2010, has two acres of fun for children of all ages with a Story Barn full of picture books, a Learning Garden, shallow Blueberry Pond and Maze – all perfect for exploring.

Southport is a small island at the tip of the peninsula, connected to the mainland by a swing bridge and was first visited by Europeans in 1623. The Hendricks Hill Museum houses a collection of antiquities representing the long history of Southport and its maritime heritage.