Maine Town Showcase: Boothbay Harbor
by Dominic Giardini
Boothbay Harbor, a coastal gem worth making the trip to discover, is located just an hour away from campus. The beautiful town and its surrounding area, while small, boast an impressive collection of quiet attractions that work excellently for a day trip.
Driving into the harbor, visitors must first work their way through Wiscasset, which functions as a bottleneck just prior to a bridge over the Sheepscot river, often prompting some formidable traffic jams. However, making a stop in Wiscasset right before seeing what Boothbay has to offer can also be worthwhile, as the tiny town hosts one of the state’s most famous seafood shacks, Red’s Eats. Having served an impressive list of celebrities in the past, Red’s most notably offers massive lobster rolls. In an interview with the Echo, Suzanne Singer ’20 fondly recalled the characteristically long line at Red’s.
“[Standing] at Red’s is an iconic summer-in-Maine experience. It’s nice to know when you’re waiting in that sometimes two-hour-long line that a half pound of lobster is waiting for you at the end. Plus, you get lots of samples of fried clams along the way.”
Colby students can benefit from living on campus during the time between summer stores opening up and the initial tourist rush coming in, beating the long waits (though somewhat missing out on the full experience).
The remaining drive into Boothbay offers stunning views of the ocean, with incredible ocean outlooks at seemingly every turn.
Once reaching Boothbay, there are a few destinations in particular to check out. One of the most prominent attractions, enjoying patronage from the familiar names of the Alfond family, are the ever-updating Botanical Gardens. The Gardens require a small fee to walk along the expansive collection of flowers and vegetation planted throughout, including a trail that leads through the forest down to the ocean. The gardens serve as a place for passive enjoyment but also include activities to be enjoyed by adults and children alike.
“Strolling through the botanical gardens is one of my favorite things I’ve done in Boothbay, especially in the middle of the summer when you can see all of the fairy houses that the vacationing kids have built in the middle of the forest there. It reminds me of vacationing in Boothbay as a kid,” Singer remembered.
Beyond the renowned Botanicals, Boothbay offers a collection of picturesque walking spots, including one at the end of Ocean Point Road, another scenic driving experience. Here, walkers can admire New England-style homes as they traverse the large rocks of the coastline. Turning off Ocean Point and heading towards King Phillips Trail reveals a heavily wooded, isolated spot with smaller homes and even more ocean views.
The harbor itself offers a short walk between charming trinket and clothing stores right by the ocean, where one can sit on the boardwalk to eat, or on a bench overlooking the boats. Whale watches and tours of the many islands extending beyond the harbor are offered here as well. There’s also an Opera House very similar to Waterville’s.
Singer’s personal summer experience here has not been entirely on the mainland, and she explained to the Echo that some of Boothbay’s offerings lay on the surrounding islands, just a ferry ride away.
“I’ve been going to the Isle of Springs, right off Boothbay, since I was pretty young. There are only 30 families on the island, most of whom have owned properties there for generations. It’s very pretty and there are some lovely beachy parts.”
Like Singer, Colby College alumnus Rob Campbell ’18 has also spent time in Boothbay, but as a lifelong resident rather than a vacationer. He provided some insight into what it’s like living in a place that makes stark seasonal changes year after year.
“[Boothbay] definitely feels touristy in the summer, but places like Ocean Point and restaurants are still fun to go to. Lots of the region works in the tourism industry so people are used to the population going way down in the winter months. Lots of stores and restaurants close, its very quiet, and seasonal workers head to Sugarloaf or elsewhere. It was normal for me, but might be an unconventional situation for others.”
As one of the closest coastal destinations to Colby at just over an hour away, Boothbay offers an exceptional experience that’s worth checking out during an open weekend, even during the offseason.
