9 Best Things to Do in Boothbay Harbor, Maine

By VacationIdea Staff on May 10, 2022 - Updated

10 Best Things to Do in Boothbay Harbor, ME

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Just around an hour outside of the hustle and bustle of Portland, Maine sits the picturesque village of Boothbay Harbor, a getaway by the sea that embodies the “quintessential midcoast.” Fringed by rocky outcroppings and evergreen forests, the shoreline provides an idyllic setting for a getaway and the downtown area is full of restaurants and shops. Famous for having a connection with the sea, Boothbay Harbor especially offers water-related activities, such as boat tours, island visits, wildlife viewing, kayak rentals, whale watching, and much more. There’s also opportunities for history, delicious food, and local beers.

We recommend that you call the attractions and restaurants ahead of your visit to confirm current opening times.

1.Cabbage Island

A trip to Cabbage Island starts at Boothbay Harbor’s Pier 6. Aboard the Bennie Alice, guests will take a scenic cruise as they take in the picturesque coastline of Maine. Upon arrival to the island, visitors are greeted with a traditional Downeast clambake that includes clams, lobsters, fish chowder, corn, potatoes, and one of the finest blueberry cakes in the state. After the clambake, guests can explore the island’s natural beauty, whether that means walking down wooded trails, lounging in the shade of oak trees, or playing a game of badminton, volleyball, or horseshoes with a scenic backdrop.

22 Commercial St, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538, Phone: 207-633-7200

2.Spruce Point Inn, Boothbay Harbor, Maine

A quintessential Maine oceanside resort, the Spruce Point Inn has been named as one of the Northeast’s “Top 25 Resorts,” as well as the number one resort on TripAdvisor in the mid-coastal region of Maine. The historic inn has drawn visitors worldwide for over a century with its more than fifty acres of beautiful waterfront, excellent dining, and many amenities. The restaurant at the Spruce Point Inn showcases local Maine seafood, produced sourced locally, and herbs from the inn’s own garden. As for activities, guests can enjoy beach combing, hiking, golfing, and sailing, as well as several other scenic attractions.

88 Grandview Ave, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538, Phone: 800-553-0289

3.Boothbay Region Land Trust

The Boothbay Region Land Trust provides an ideal escape into nature for anyone visiting picturesque Boothbay Harbor, Maine. Established to preserve the scenic beauty and natural habitat of the area, the land trust offers approximately 30 miles of year-round trails for hiking that traverse across wetlands, forested areas, meadows, and more, ranging in difficulty from easy to difficult. Popular areas are the Porter Preserve, the Ovens Mouth Preserve, the Gregory Hiking Trail, and the Damariscove Island Preserve. The Boothbay Region Land Trust also hosts many educational programs during the year, which include guided hikes and trips to islands.

60 Samoset Rd, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538, Phone: 207-633-4818

4.Opera House at Boothbay Harbor, Boothbay Harbor, ME

The Opera House at Boothbay Harbor is a historic theater that has hosted musicians and actors from Maine and throughout the world for generations, dating back to 1894. With more than one hundred performances and events taking place at the Opera House every year, there’s something happening almost always, ranging from community events and holiday celebrations to visiting Broadway actors and Grammy-winning musicians to bluegrass or jazz nights to maybe even Celtic concerts. The Opera House at Boothbay Harbor features an old bar room, historic charm, and fine acoustics and aims to provide quality entertainment at a reasonable price.

86 Townsend Ave, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538, Phone: 207-633-5159

5.Damariscove Island

While there are numerous islands located just off of Maine’s coastline, a favorite among locals and visitors alike is Damariscove Island, a beautiful, uninhabited, and historic island. While the scenic island is a great place to visit to get a bit of “peace and quiet,” visitors will also find opportunities for birdwatching and hiking. This two miles long and quarter-mile wide island happens to also be designated on the United States National Register of Historic Places and boasts more than two hundred acres in total of coastal tundra vegetation that a wide variety of wildlife call home.

6.Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library, Boothbay Harbor, Maine

The Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library is Boothbay Harbor’s public library, housed inside of a historic building that was constructed as a private residence in the Greek Revival architecture style in 1842. Listed in 1977 on the National Register of Historic Places, the library also acts as a memorial to soldiers from the seaside town who served in World War I. Open Tuesday to Saturday, the Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library hosts an array of events and activities throughout the year for people of all ages, in addition to its collection of a variety of media, used bookstore, and other services.

4 Oak St, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538, Phone: 207-633-3112

7.Boothbay Region Art Foundation, Boothbay Harbor, ME

The Boothbay Region Art Foundation dedicates itself to the promotion of artists and art of Maine’s Boothbay Region. The non-profit foundation offers many opportunities for area artists to display their artwork, participate in workshops and classes, and take part in off-site art shows. Visitors can stop by the BRAF Gallery to view works by both emerging and established artists of the region and further beyond. Art exhibitions at the gallery run from the month of April through the month of December. The art gallery is open seven days a week during the summer and usually Thursday to Sunday during the off-season.

1 Townsend Ave, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538, Phone: 207-633-2703

8.Footbridge Brewery, Boothbay Harbor, Maine

The Footbridge Brewery is a small-batch brewery producing a variety of craft beers, tucked away in the picturesque coastal town of Boothbay Harbor. The small brewery focuses on making craft brews using as much of its ingredients sourced in Maine as possible, while also still conserving the state’s natural resources. With a wide range of beer styles, Footbridge Brewery offers something for nearly any taste in beer, as well as some brews that visitors may not realize they want until they try them.

25 Granary Way, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538, Phone: 207-352-3007

9.Burnt Island Lighthouse

The Burnt Island Lighthouse, located at the Boothbay Harbor’s western entrance, was constructed back in the year 1821 and is operated today by the State of Maine’s Department of Marine Resources. The restored Burnt Island Light Station buildings today act as a local living history museum featuring interpreters dressed in period clothing portraying a family who were once the keepers of the lighthouse. Visitors can explore the natural history walk at the lighthouse along the site’s perimeter trail, as well as learn about marine resources in Maine and the methods and efforts to both conserve and harvest them.

Boothbay Harbor, ME 04576, Phone: 207-633-9559