Boothbay, Maine! There are so many quintessential Maine towns from Rockland to Portland, Algonquin to Bath to Bar Harbor; every one of them is amazing and worth visiting. Take a basket, a bottle of wine, and some easy walking shoes and stop at every one of these towns.
But my favorite Maine town from all of my favorite Maine towns is Boothbay Harbor. One hour from Portland, Maine Airport, it’s a stunning gem with walks along the harbor, great shops, and don’t forget the Botanical Gardens. My favorite “to-do” has to be the mail boat. Yes, the mail boat. For a few bucks, you can ride the boat that delivers the mail. A couple of bucks and an hour and you go around the harbor and get amazing views all around. Don’t miss it.
There are a few sunset cruise operators; I’ve tried them all, and all are incredible. My best day was a cup of joe as I walked across the Boothbay Harbor Footbridge, read up on the historic Bridge House. Enjoyed a lunch outside and then spent the afternoon at the Botanical Gardens. Dinner at the Ports of Italy is a must, and then if you can get a reservation, stay at the Topside Inn. Best view in Boothbay, and the service is world-class. Enjoy Boothbay and if you can, drive the 2.5 hrs to Bar Harbor…but more on that another time.
