What an amazing state park. It's super large with lots of beach front and a lagoon. Lots of parking…read moreand bathrooms in both areas. Just a small view to get in. The views were fantastic, if I lived closer I would frequent this place!

Reid State Park is a Maine tourist destination, but locals know the best time to visit is after…read moreLabor Day! This State Park is located off the beaten path. At the end of a winding scenic drive this place is what you think of when you think Coastal Maine. During the summer there is a concession stand, life guards, and park staff. The lagoon is a calm warmer more shallow place to swim, perfect for the kiddos. There beach goes on for miles and waves crash along the sand and the rocks. Tons to do and explore! Climb around the rocky shore, explore tide pools, and make sand castles! It's a family friendly place, with some of most breathtaking views in the State. Bring a nice picnic there are a lot of picnic tables scattered around there are two beaches to explore with plenty of parking as well as changing rooms, showers, and ADA compliant restrooms. There is also a large shelter that groups can use for meetings, cook outs etc. No pets allowed during certain months. Put this park on your must visit list if you're in Maine.

Quick little hike up a quiet path. Doesn't seem to be a popular spot to hike which makes it even…read morebetter- unpopular=quiet. I did this hike after meeting a new client just down the road. I parked on their off road parking area and started my ascent. The path is well maintained, peaceful, and well marked with cairns when there is areas that would otherwise be confusing to which way to go. While the top wasn't as scenic as many of the mountains I have accomplished over the years, it was a nice place to sit, relax, and reflect in the quiet.

If you're a day hiker, a quick hiker, a nature walker, a fresh air lover, a geocacher, or just like…read moreto move your body, check out Higgins Mountain Preserve. It's about a .5 mile loop around a parcel of land that was donated in 2000 to the Kennebec Estuary Land Trust. It's the highest point on Georgetown being 259 feet above sea level. We decided to check it out because of the promise we saw when researching that we'd see "stunning views of the coast" (like Monhegan Island, Seguin Island, and the Gulf of Maine). It's unmarked from the road, so if you're driving down Route 27, be careful not to drive past it (when your GPS tells you you're there, you're actually there... just look for the incredibly small dirt pull-off). The hike/walk itself was much more uphill than I was expecting, but was beautiful - from the dense forest at the bottom to the beautiful sprawling lichen at the top and the wild blueberry bushes - throughout. We're also suckers for "rock art" (as we call it); which are, as you probably know, just piles of delicately balanced rocks acting as trail markers. This hike/walk had them every few feet on the path to reassure us that we were where we were supposed to be. Loved this - and love that the people using Higgins are a) leaving everything as they found it and b) practicing carry in/carry out (the mountain was in pristine condition, not a single piece of litter anywhere - hurray for humanity on this one!). When we reached the top, we didn't see any ocean though and it was a clear summer day. We both assumed that "views of the coast" meant actual water views. Not the case - at least not in the height of summer. Maybe when the trees are less full you can see more, but our scenery was a thousand shades of green tree tops. Still beautiful, but not what we wanted. I would absolutely come back here maybe at the peak of, or just past, foliage season for the views and a quick jaunt in Mother Nature.

We came to see the trolls! We made a night away of coming to the Botanical Gardens to see five of…read moreThomas Dambo's troll installations and stayed to appreciate everything else. The Trolls: there are 5 trolls on an easy path on the outskirts of the Gardens. If all you want to do is see the trolls, an able bodied person could manage in about an hour. If you're slower or need assistance, it would take longer. There is a shuttle for those who want/need it to get down to the trolls farther out. There's a ton more to do than just see the trolls though. Everything else: There's a bunch of stops throughout the Gardens that kept our 3 kids (8, 11, 12) occupied. We spent a lot of time building fairy gardens, enjoying the view at the dock, and we walked out to the Guardian of the Seeds installation. The grounds themselves are meticulously maintained and it would be beautiful to walk around any day.

We loved visiting this garden and were delighted that we could use our AHS reciprocal membership…read morehere. The trolls were certainly the highlight, enormous in scale and wonderfully set up as a scavenger hunt activity for both adults and the kids. The children's field guide was also an excellent way to keep the littles excited and searching. We loved all the wooded paths and thoughtful and well curated immersive areas from the sensory garden to the area with music inspired by the local outdoors. The children's garden is also well put together, themed after local books and with an interactive activity each, which was such a neat idea. We only wished that the maps were a bit clearer (ie they differed even better the children's map and the main one, one did not list names of the trolls, etc). We spent 2.5 hours here on our way between Bar Harbor and Portland and wished we had more time and lived closer!

The history and with an ocean view, there's no way I wouldn't love it! I have been coming here…read moresince I was a kid and it never gets old. I used to fish off of the rocks during high tide with my dad right next to the fort. We caught delicious mackerel. While I don't do that as an adult, I explore the fort, climb around on the rocks and enjoy the small beach area just as I did when I was a kid. It's not too big and not to small of an area. We love it. The fort is just so amazing and fascinating and while it was never battle tested, there's still so much to learn about the "why". They have done a great job adding displays with historical facts. I am so glad that it's not been vandalized like some of the other forts in Southern Maine/NH. Although some of the smaller fort nooks do smell like urine...ugh. Parking can be a challenge on weekends in the summer, and in some cases you might not be able to find a spot. We usually like coming here in the spring - April and in the fall - September. Bring bug spray or covering for your head and skin - the biting flies are aggressive!!!

I love historical sites and Popham Beach so this place is perfect!! This park is the home to an…read moreunfinished pre Civil war fort that was built to protect shipbuilding in Bath and trade to Augusta. There are lots of great nooks and crannies to investigate. The tiny parking lot can be frustrating at times but that is just the way it has to be with such a limited space. No dogs are allowed in the fort, but the parking lot allows access to the beach in front of Spinneys which allows leashed dogs even during the summer! That being said, I beg dog owners to keep your pooch on a leash and pick up their waste so we don't blow a good thing!!!

A very quiet…read moreplace Barter's Island is a very quiet and sparsely populated little island No stores or businesses and not a whole lot of houses. Definitely a very peaceful place, and the most peaceful and quiet part of the entire island is the School House Pond Preserve. There really was an old school house here back between the years of 1840 to 1895. It's long gone now but the 42 acre preserve is still a very lovely area with lots of ancient glacier rocks, cool old trees, stone walls and cranberry bogs. There are two main hiking trails, a white marked one that is for people only and the larger one down the middle that can be used for horses, mountain bikes, cross country skiing and even snowmobiles. Of course in the winter there is no shortage of snow. A place where it is nice to just stop and listen. What you will hear is absolutely nothing but the sound of the wind and the occasional insect or strange birds call. No cars in the distance, no people talking and no cell phones going off. Just a whole lot of nothing. And sometimes silence can be the most wonderful sound of them all.

Just at the very tail end of the day, we raced to see our final lighthouse of this Saturday tour…read more Arriving just at sunset, it is located at the end of about a mile or so of dirt road that could use some love from the local town transportation department. Yes, it's private property. And if they want to keep people off it, they can do what the folks at the Hendrick's Head Light did - post signs and enforce them. Located on the Kennebec River, the lighthouse was established in 1898 and remains an active aid to navigation today. It points out a sharp turn in the river for those going to or from the Bath Iron Works. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. The light station includes a tower, keeper's house, shed, and oil house. The tower is an octagonal wood frame structure, finished in wooden shingles, with an iron walkway around the lantern chamber. It is accessed via a three-span footbridge. Around the base of the lighthouse, there are some spots where you can walk out to get different angles. Some interesting driftwood on the ground if that's something that interests you. [Review 14897 overall, 399 of 2021, number 79 in Maine.]

We visited this historic lighthouse on our recent vacation, but as others have previously mentioned…read moreI would not return because it feels like you are, and in fact you are, in someone's backyard. I have no idea how or why such an arrangement arose, but it is is odd to say the least. Also, the access road is not not well maintained so be aware. The lighthouse itself is very interesting and it affords a nice view of the Kennebec river.

Great hidden extra near Fort Popham. There's a small narrow road (Fort Baldwin Rd.) that looks…read moreprivate but isn't till you get further past the bend bend. The small lot can accommodate several cars and overlooks a memorial for the Popham colony. Fort Baldwin is comprised of 3 forts (gun batteries) and a tower. It's a little bit steep incline, but should take no more than10 minutes to walk directly to the tower at the top - provided your in good shape. The path is uneven with pebbles and rocks so be careful. Each of the batteries is "explorable" so have a flash light ( or flashlight app) handy. They could also be wet so bring appropriate footwear. Unfortunately it appears the tower is now closed - not sure if it's ever open like it used to be or not. But you can stl get atop any of the batteries for a view. One last note, the state bird (aka mosquito) is fierce in the morning.

super cool hidden spot! you can climb to the top & enjoy an amazing view!! highly recommend…read morechecking this out

A park with a…read morelibrary Library Park is a small park located right next to the Patten Free Library. A lovely park with gentle hills, old trees and flowers. It even has distance views of the Kennebec River. The park has a huge gazebo, a little pond with a fountain and even an old cannon. Lots of parties and events are held here and even an occasional wedding. The park is only a short walk down to the river or to the center of Bath. Not a place for a strenuous walk but very pleasant area to spend some time reading a book or relaxing after walking along the river or exploring the town of Bath.

This is a lovely loop trail. We visited in the fall so there was no waterfall but even without it…read moreis a nice hike. The big rocks are definitely worth seeing. Our hike took about an hour. The trail is well-marked with painted blue dots on the trees. The hardest part is finding the trail. These directions are copied from the Phippsburg land trust website: Follow Route 209 into Phippsburg, if coming from out of town. At the Stony Brook Road, turn right (the Stony Brook Road is about 3.5 miles from the causeway at the Phippsburg/Bath town line). Devil's Highway is a left hand turn about .6 miles from the start of the Stony Brook Road. It is not always well signed (kids tend to run off with the road sign), but it is a dirt road with a fairly wide opening onto the Stony Brook Road with mailboxes. The left turn comes just as the Stony Brook Road is making a noticable turn.. If you've come to the Fuller Mountain Road, a similar left hand turn, you've gone too far. The parking area is on the left as you travel Devil's Highway; I believe it is about .4 miles onto Devil's Highway. It is just past the third house on the right, I believe. You can't see it on the Google Earth map, because it is a small wooded parking area (perhaps 4 cars can park there). If you come to the the area where there is a side road off to the left with houses, you've gone too far. There is a small PLT sign in the parking area.

I feel the need to preface all of my nature reviews with this: being 90% forested and having around…read more3500 miles of coastline, Maine has a tremendous amount of spaces, walkways, paths, and trails of all kinds and of all levels. There's something for everyone. What I'm reviewing is how a spot compares to similar outdoor spots in my personal opinion. Being in nature - and remembering to carry in, carry out - is always five stars! :) Parking? Yes. Loop trail? Yes. Well marked signs? Yes. Element of surprise? Yes. This is one of my favorite little hikes in Maine. I fell in love with it immediately (even if I can't remember the name and keep calling it the Bijou Flower Forest). It has my favorite four things: parking, a loop trail, extremely well marked signs, and constant elements of surprise that even if you know about because you read about them online are *STILL* amazing when you see them in real life. The trails are extremely well maintained and easy to navigate. You first come into a meadow; and then, there's another meadow to your right, but to the left is the forest itself. The ever present sign of what is located where allows you to lose yourself in the beauty of this natural space because you know you can't lose your way. Waterfall this way. Hundred foot rock this way. Laurel this way. And what a lovely waterfall it is. You can hear it rushing before you approach it. There's a little bench placed literally directly in front of it so you can just sit and be. The brook it creates winds along much of the rest of the trail you'll take so expect to crisscross it a few times via bridge or plank or even a big ol' hop. (NOTE: I can't speak to what this place looks like in a summer drought, but I came in autumn after some rain and it was a spectacular sight, and loud too! I bet it's just as stunning in spring.) The hundred foot rock is unexpected even though there are signs for it. Because, you look up and suddenly it isn't just trees around you but a literal massive boulder. Regarding the laurel, alas I didn't see it when I came because it's in bloom in June and July, I think. Apparently it's one of the northernmost stands of mountain laurels in New England, so you know I'll be back next summer. While I didn't see any flowers, I did see an abundance of rock tripe, which honestly looked like giant scales of some mythical creature (it's really just lichen). Magical? This place is absolutely that.