Breakwater and Marie Reed Park was the absolute perfect place to spend an end of summer Saturday…read moremorning. Just want to say from my experience I highly recommend grabbing some donuts from local Ruckus Donuts and a coffee from a local cafe and enjoying those down here at Marie Reed Park. After that enjoy the sights and make the trek to Breakwater! Parking is simple enough but due to how busy it may get do arrive earlier rather than later. It's a longer trip out to this lighthouse than most you'll come across but that trip is so worth it. Some advice would be to wear appropriate shoes and just be mindful of your steps to avoid cracks and/or tripping. During our walk out and back we spent a good amount of time taking in the views as well as watching for wildlife. Got to watch plenty of seagulls as well as cormorants which the first cormorant we spotted dove down and came back to surface with a fish. It's a little bit of a journey but well worth the effort if you love beautiful views and being by the ocean!

I'm so glad we did this, but it was challenging with our two-year old…read more There are signs warning you that this is not suitable for those with disabilities and that there are uneven rocks and large gaps while walking so you need to be careful. My toddler had a good time playing and exploring but, we ended up carrying her for most of it and it gets pretty windy which she didn't like. It's a unique walk/trail to the light at the end of the breakwater and walking about .7 miles or so on those large slabs of uneven granite was a very cool experience with the water lapping at each side and occasionally splashing. I'm glad we did it - but, be prepared for a bit of a workout.

This was the first of three lighthouse we visited while staying in Camden and this one is probably…read moremy favorite of the three. It's unique in layout and they had a really cute gift shop off to the side. I love the short walk from the parking lot, location, and stairs. It's in the charming Owl's Head town and the drive in was beautiful. Definitely a place to visit if you are nearby and love lighthouses. Worth the effort and you can explore some of the small local towns and have lunch.

I did not see any owls at this state park, and I would think that the windy bluffs are not the spot…read morewhere you'd find one as they seem to prefer quiet areas. However, the views are majestic and entrance is free. There are ways to walk down to the beach, which is rocky as is typical in the region. The lighthouse itself is not regularly open for visitation, but there is a visitor center below it. The amount of trails and things to do is not enormous, but it is a great place to have open to the public to take as a sightseeing endeavor.

Picture this: you're strolling along a pebbly beach tucked away along the most quintessential Maine…read morerocky coast scene in the world during almost-dusk without a care in the world. It's like something out of Downeast Magazine, but really it's the vibe at Birch Point State Park during the off-season (which is open all year round, and as a Mainer you should really, really check out... I mean, is there anything quite as romantic as the ocean during winter?). I came in autumn and parked along the street outside of the entrance, walked the half mile down the access road, and was greeted by a crescent shaped beach bookended by giant rocks/ledges and small green spaces with picnic tables. I know there's a fee during the height of the season, but there's something really special about being able to enjoy this kind of unadulterated nature sans people in the chilly weather - so bring a sweater, a flask, a book... I'm confused though - there was a handwritten note defacing a park sign at the entrance that said, "Screw you State of Maine for closing this park." I don't know what's going on with that, but I hope it's not the truth because this is gem of spot. It seemed closed only for the season when I came, though that didn't stop locals from walking their dogs here.

Such a relaxing place that you don't even read your book much- just watch the water…read more A Sunday in mid-July was not crowded when we arrived at 1030 but by the time we left at 1, parking was rare and most people were parked on the long gravel drive into the park. The beach is a typical Maine one with dark, packed Sand and lots of seaweed. There's a lot of bugs in the seaweed that will go everywhere if you try to move it. Rocks are on either side of the beach and can make a less comfortable but quieter site. I was disappointed to see a giant pile of poo when we walked in. I think it was from a dog. Please, please clean up after your dog or leave them at home. This is a state park for all of us to enjoy. The water is frigid cold but we saw quite a few swimmers today. There are some grill to the left as you walk in that are shaded. Dogs must be on a leash.

Really fun State Park to visit. Many well parked trails or you can just drive to the top of Mount…read moreBattie. Great views of the harbor and Camden as well as down the coast towards Rockport. We had just spent 10 days in Acadia and Camden Hills was a nice break from the crowds - albeit on a much smaller scale. Certainly worth a visit !

Spectacular view of Penobscot Bay, the surrounding islands, and the Town of Camden. Well…read moremaintained and clean park, we walked a few of the trails on our visit today. $6 per person for non residents of Maine. That pretty much says it all, a short review, but this is a "must visit" if you are in the area.

This is a nice little state park that we have driven but never stopped. Im so glad we stopped this…read moreday. Its on the water with a rocky beach. Lots of parking. The trail we walked went right along the ocean and had lots of picnic tables and benches to stop. Such a beautiful spot.

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? Kind of. Well marked signs? Not really. Element of surprise? No. For Cumberland County folks, Moose Point feels like a combination of Fort Williams Park and Mackworth Island. It's got grassy knolls to picnic on with views of Penobscot Bay, evergreen groves to meander through via wide and well maintained trails (some of which have benches, some of which have little staircases leading down to the pebbled water's edge), a gazebo for events, and during low tide there are tidal pools to explore (during high tide it's much more difficult to navigate because it's mostly just uneven rocks and not much of a shore). I think this is a beautiful spot in midcoast Maine, and I'm glad there are locations like it throughout the state. Personally, I don't necessarily feel the need to come back (except to get my Maine State Parks Passport Stamp!!!), just because we have something soooooooooooo similar so close. But I can see how it's a draw for so many!

I loved this lighthouse!…read more The road directly to it is very narrow and definitely can get backed up with cars looking to park during crowded times. Luckily - we drove past the first parking lot right up and found a spot directly in front. Friendly volunteer staff took photos for me and you are able to go up and into the lighthouse for free and walk around in the gift shop which has some nice items and jewelry and collectible pins and magnets. The grounds of this lighthouse are lovely and you can easily walk out onto the rocks to get pictures from below and on the sides. There is a small memorial off to the left for all the keepers of the light who have been lost at sea. Excellent visit and very beautiful and photogenic lighthouse.

Excellent museum with history of the area and lighthouse. This is the lighthouse Forrest Gump ran…read moreto in the movie! The volunteers were really helpful and friendly.

Lake St. George is a beautiful, clean, and serene spring fed lake perfect for swimming, fishing,…read morecanoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding and boating. The park is immaculately well kept, with many picnic tables and grills available. There is plenty of space to lay out a blanket for sunning or picnicking, and lots of green space for outdoors games. There are clean bath/changing rooms close to the designated swimming area. There is also a lifeguard on duty. Entry fees are reasonable ($7 per adult for non residents) and plenty of parking, including handicapped parking. No trash bins--take out what you bring in. A wonderful place to spend the day!

This is such a great state park, especially for swimming. The lake is clear and there are several…read moreswim spots along the shore that are fairly private because of how spread out the picnic tables and swim spots are. The camping is nice here too with good facilities, but the road noise is evident, especially at night when other things quiet down. Lastly, the park is dog friendly, which is so appreciated! Our dogs have enjoyed it each time they come, whether it be for camping or just stopping in to swim. I'm not sure if dogs are allowed in the water or not, but our dogs prefer to lounge in the sun or shade of the picnic table anyway.

While vacationing in Maine, we were able to see a few lighthouses. Not as many as I had hoped, but…read morethe few we saw were great. Pemaquid Point was one of them. This lighthouse was first constructed in 1827 and again rebuilt in 1835 due to poor construction of the first tower. The lighthouse became fully automated in 1934.

This lighthouse felt extremely remote to me because we'd been driving from Camden and visited two…read moreothers prior to this. This one was about 30 minutes one way off the main road and was isolated from much else. There is a cute inn very nearby and a small town with an ice cream shop and a few stores and art galleries. It's charming and if you are staying anywhere nearby, this is a great spot to come and visit during the day, go through the museum and enjoy the grounds. We visited later after it was closed at 5pm so, parking was free, and we were free to roam around on the rocks and enjoy the views. This lighthouse by far had some of the best rock and views. Very pretty and you can get up close and personal with the lighthouse here.

You can find the Beech Hill Preserve at 316 Beech Hill Rd, Rockport, ME 04856 with easy access to…read moreUS1. There are parking lots on either end of the trails leading up to the top and plenty of parking. Beech Hill was very close to where we were staying (at the border of Rockport and Rockland) and this fairly easy hike was about 5 minutes away. We climbed up one foggy day and returned another day from the opposite end to catch the view, obscured on the first day. Of course the prize of this hike is the really fantastic stacked-stone Tea House at the summit. Along the way you'll find blueberries that at one time were harvested and processed at the house (there's still an active processing building at one of the parking areas so it continues to this day). I took many photos of the Beech Nut Hut (as it's colloquially called) and added them to the Yelp listing dedicated to it). The trail itself is pleasant and fairly easy - I longer trail is slightly more aggressive than the short one that provides easy access to the summit. In all a good hike with plenty of native species to view as you ascend and descend, especially for those that have issues with more aggressive hikes.

Multiple access points bring you to the top of beech hill, great views, minimal effort, provide…read morerewards!

I'm no stranger to parks and beautiful natural places, but Acadia is like a dreamscape. There's…read morestunning ocean views from crumbling gorgeous cliff sides. There are lakes, streams, ponds, scenic lighthouses, boats, bikes, trails, gardens, crazy hikes with vertical iron rungs, rolling forest hikes, lighthouses, and more! The main issue you'll run into is crowds.. lots of people want to come here, especially in July and August. Best thing to do, go in as early as possible, do some things, take a break, go back again after 3. If you're early, you can get a parking spot then work from there. If you are flexible on time, take advantage of the shuttles, but be warned, they may be full, and they don't run every 10-15 minutes, so plan accordingly. I would be in the park by 7, have plans maybe on a tour in Bar Harbor late morning or early afternoon, then head back after 4, and I got to all the must-do's, ie hiked the Beehive, the Bubbles, Cadillac Mountain sunrise and sunset (reserve this early as spots sell out, I booked mine 3 months in advance the minute they released and they were sold out shortly later, especially sunrise tickets), Jordan Pond and popovers, Bass Harbor Lighthouse, as well as some boat tours in the area, including very successful whale and puffin watching. For more hints and tips, I watched some YouTube videos, there's great info out there, especially the videos from Ash, a former park ranger, who has loads of helpful tips to get around and not spend your trip sitting in traffic or waiting in a parking spot.

Did we go in a wrong entrance or something?!…read more I was underwhelmed for sure. We walked a few trails and took some photos but ??? Im very glad we hit Cadillac Mountain - that's where it's at!!!