We took Balmy Day Cruises out of Boothbay to Monhegan Island, and it was an absolutely lovely…read moreexperience. We ordered both our outbound and return tickets online ($23 per person per leg of the trip, so for two people - after fees - it was close to $100), showed up to collect them at about 9:15, and got in the queue (I'd strongly recommend showing up even earlier than we did: the best seats are on the top of the boat, and they fill up very quickly). The whole process was super easy! The boat is for passengers only, departing Pier 8 at 9:30am and arriving back around 4:15/4:30pm. The boat ride is about 1 1/2 hours each way. At 2pm they offer a trip around Monhegan Island (it's $5 per person, cash only) that offers spectacular views of the entire circumference of the island; it's narrated with local history and nature facts (actually most of the boat ride to and from is), and when we went the captain also brought us over to Duck Rocks to see dozens and dozens of seals sunbathing. We also saw harbor porpoises on the ride back to the mainland! There are beverages available for sale (including adult options); there are bathrooms on board, as well. The staff is friendly, incredibly safety focused, and very quick to help when there's a sick passenger (after all, you're in the open ocean of the Gulf of Maine). I didn't know what to expect, but was impressed and satisfied with the entire experience. We're already looking forward to our next trip to Monhegan which we'll do through Balmy Day (who also offer harbor tours, private charters, sailing trips, mackerel fishing, and Burnt Island Lighthouse tours... something we're also interested in now too!). What an incredible way to explore coastal Maine from the convenience of Boothbay!

Great Captain honest day. The cocaptain was training a new hire. They were very emphatic on making…read moresure we were back well in time not to miss the trip. The water was safe safe and smooth. Entertaining dialogue from the captain throughout the cruise. It was a absolutely fun and rewarding day on the island.

The entire process of booking to sailing was perfection. Staff was so good with communication which…read morewas key as we were coming from out of state with 21 people. They helped us order fantastic snacks for the sail and supplied a cooler and ice. The schooner Captain Jeff and his crew could not have been better. We were doing a little celebration of life with our family and Jeff was so wonderful. He made sure we were all safe and comfortable.

The crew was friendly and their proficiency made everyone feel confident and relaxed...the day was…read moremeant for Sailing and I would recommend highly finding yourself on the Olad for two hours whenever you are in Camden.

Great, solid rental place! I got 2 paddle boards for 4 hours for about $75. I got to choose the…read moreboard size and specify life jacket size. Everything was super smooth- they were at the lake when I arrived, they dropped off the boards right there, talked for a minute, and then left us on our own. We had such an amazing time and it was great to have a place that dropped the boards off! When you're done all you do is text and they come within 5 min or so to pick them up- easy peasy!

From the owner: We offer quality kayak, canoe, paddleboard and paddle boat rentals to the Winthrop Lakes Region and…read morebeyond!

If you looking for a very relaxing time with a well run operation this would be a trip for you. 2…read morehrs so not long but long enough to see some beautiful cost and we went by the Bush compound stunning.

Never again! I had a CONFIRMED reservation per text. It was denied due to a previous…read moreweather-related cancellation. Despite PROVING the re-scheduled date and time, we were denied our trip. It ruined the entire day. These people are amateurs. Everything is done with pencil and paper. There are better options close by!

We had a beautiful day for a sail on the open waters. It was so interesting to watch the Captain…read moreand his team hoist the sails and get our ship moving. It was really nice they even asked guests if they wanted to help with the sails. There is a small bar on board as well as a restroom. There is plenty of seating, and not a bad seat on the ship. We didn't see any wildlife, which they said was normal, but the sailing part and the scenery was fun. Captain Nick was informative and interesting.

Did the sunset cruise with Sean Andy and Max. It was a nice boat ride on a beautiful night. The…read morecruise was relatively uneventful. The crew talked some but seemed focused on a couple of groups versus working all the different groups on the boat. A lot was shared at the beginning but it dropped off after that. Enjoyed it but it could have been better.

What great fun! We took the morning tour a few days ago and loved every part of it. We learned a…read morelot about lobsters, met some really nice people, got a terrific boat ride and came away delighted and maybe even a little better educated about the crustaceans. We highly recommend it. More specifically, we took the 75 minute trip with maybe 15 others on a small lobster boat. It was a breezy day and the boat did a fair amount of rockin' and rollin' to the point that one in our party got seasick. The crew quickly got her a pail, she threw up, and all was fine after that. Passengers are given wrist pressure bands on boarding which helps maybe. Our seasick partner confessed afterwards that she also loved the trip in spite of the brief problem. Watching lobsters hauled on board and learning about their habits was fascinating, and Lauren was a wonderful guide for us. We felt safe always, and just had a blast. The boat dock is located directly behind the Nonantum Resort in Kennebunkport, and you'll have to walk through the resort grounds in the back to get to it. We got lost but only briefly. The trip was $49 per person, which we thought was a bargain considering the fun.

This was such a fun lobster boat ride despite the crummy weather that interrupted the last portion…read moreof our tour. We appreciated the quick actions of the captains getting us back to the marina safely, while still making the tour fun and educational (they were both very friendly and informative). Not only did we learn about lobsters/the lobster industry in Maine, but we also got some background and history surrounding Walker's Point and the Bush family. The parking situation is a little tricky if you've never been. The marina is located behind the Nonantum Resort, which has private parking for resort patrons. You CAN park here even if you're not staying at the Nonantum. Once parked, you'll walk around the back of the property to the marina. The pool for the resort will be directly behind you (surrounded by a white fence). There are also bathrooms just beyond the pool fence (toward the resort and away from the marina) that you can use before or after your tour. We'd definitely do this tour again and I'll be recommending it to friends and family who visit the area.

Had an awesome experience on the Hardy boat cruises - puffin tour. It was a beautiful, sunny day…read morefor a boat ride and we were lucky enough to snag a spot on the top. I have to say, the naturalist on board made the experience for us! She was so energetic, passionate, and informative. Not only did we see puffins, we saw a variety of other birds, some dolls porpoise, a sunfish, and more! I definitely recommend bringing a pair of binoculars to get a better view of the wildlife!

Deep Boat Hard to…read morepass up a boat ride to see some adorable puffins while visiting Maine, so we decided to give Hardy Boat Cruises a go on their "Puffin Watch" tour. The Good: *About a twenty minute drive from gorgeous Pemaquid Point Lighthouse. *Staff was friendly *You're not stuck in your seat for the entire journey as you're free to move about once the boat gets going. *About as close as one can get to the puffins without going on the island they hangout. *Overall, it was a really fun boat ride and you get to see some neat stuff. The Meh: *It's not cheap at $51/adults (13+) and Kids (2-12) *They have a representative from National Audibon on the boat which is awesome--but you can't hear a weird she says thru their archaic "sound" system. Between the waves and engine noise, she could've been reading the dictionary for all we know. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ The Meh: *Their "off-site" parking lot is definitely just that--off-site! It's a good 10min walk from the parking to the pier, but that's not even the worst of it. You have to walk on a two-lane road with almost no shoulder and lots of curves, so definitely be aware of your surroundings. Or it'll coy-tains for you, see? Coy-tains! *And--as if the above wasn't bad enough--they have the gall to charge you $20 for the pleasure of parking there. -_- Conclusion: Fun ocean adventure to see the puffins--but be prepared to crack open your wallet for this pleasure.

When you're in Portland , Maine, why not take a sailing tour around the beautiful islands ? This…read morewas a great activity for us to do - and the staff was amazing ! They were friendly , knowledgeable, and made sure that all the questions were answered . It was about 140 for two of us so it's not the cheapest but it was a ton of fun- A couple things I will say, I wish that there were better seats on the sail boat , maybe a bit more comfy than sitting on a hard block and that we went a little farther around the bay, we stayed in a pretty concentrated area but would have loved to have seen more .

This was one of my favorite activities on our trip to Portland. It was a really hot day and when…read morethat boat was moving, it was so nice having the breeze in our face. Our captain and shipmate were really nice and fun to talk to. Loved seeing a few lighthouses and just being out on the water - it was so calming. At one point, there was absolutely no wind so the boat was just floating and not moving much of anywhere. We got pretty hot as we were facing the sunny side. Other than that, everyone working at Portland Schooner was really nice, the sail was fun, and the process was easy. Would do this again!!!

Excellent experience with Silverlining. The ship was beautiful and they only allow 6 guests which…read moremake for a more comfortable experience. Captain Jack and his crew were friendly, great with kids, and very knowledgeable. This was easily worth every dollar. They sail at various times and can be tailored towards a more romantic evening or more family experience.

We had a great experience with silver lining sailing cruise! It was our first time on a sailing…read morecruise and a fun adventure!

Huge parking lot and free during the off season. Looked beautiful even on a crappy day! Ventured…read more here because I was staying close by in Phippsburg. Wish I had better weather but will definitely come back when I return in October!

We came in on a perfect day, mid week. Beautiful beach and not crowded, clean bathrooms and free…read moresunscreen. There's an entrance fee, $8 for adults and $4 for children, $2 seniors, non-residents. Just beware because cell signal was spotty on the beach and you have to go to the parking lot to get a decent cell service.