I haven’t lived in the Boothbay Region for long, but there’s a reason so many tourists spend their summers here.
I’m going to tell you the best places to stay, the best ways to spend your days, and the best places to eat in Boothbay Harbor.
Accommodations
If you’re not one of the seasonal residents with a summer home in the area, there are plenty of inns and hotels to choose from, all with 4-5 star ratings and all either in town or within walking distance. These are just a few.
Tugboat Inn– Restaurant, rooms with water views, and a little marina. A very popular choice.
Fisherman’s Warf– Directly in the heart of downtown, not only do you have a view of the harbor and all the boats coming in and out, but you also have a balcony to view it from.
Blue Heron Seaside Inn– A beautiful hotel with a water view. They only have six rooms, ensuring you get the best customer service.
Activities
There are plenty of shops downtown, where most of the bustle is. Everything from general stores, to art galleries, to clothing stores, to gift shops.
However, if you’re not interested in shopping or browsing, there are plenty of other things you can do.
The Botanical Gardens are very popular and they often hold events and have activities for kids.
There is a
There are also numerous water activities you can choose from. You can take a harbor tour, take a trip to Monhegan Island (and spend the night there, if you’d like), or go whale watching.
If you’re looking to learn, the Yacht Club offers tennis and sailing lessons for all ages, including adults. I’m particularly partial to this place because it is where I learned to sail, played a lot of tennis, and eventually became
If you want fine dining in another more elite setting, you can visit the country club. They have excellent dining, beautiful golf courses, and tennis courts.
The aquarium in town is small, but one of my favorite places. They have a few tanks to see fascinating creatures, including a lobster of gigantic size and others with unusual coloring. The best part of the aquarium is the touch tank. The touch tank is long and narrow, allowing access to many people at a time. It features sea cucumbers, live scallops, horseshoe crabs, and lobsters along with many other species.
Dining
Assuming you’re not eating at your hotel, you’ll need food.
Mainers are obsessed with ice cream. Two of the most famous ice cream shops are Wannawaf and Downeast Ice Cream Factory, where the line is often out the door. Wannawaf is famous for their waffle sundaes, but they also offer different kinds of hot dogs.
For lunch, you can find several cafés and stands that offer high-quality food. Bett’s Fish Fry, Capers, and the Blue Moon Café are a few that come to mind.
The Boat House Bistro is one of my personal favorites. They offer a variety in their menu as well as in their seating. You can either eat inside or on the top deck with a view of the water.
The Thistle Inn is another family favorite, and they offer delicious food with a relaxed atmosphere. You could kill two birds with one stone and lodge here, as well. They are a short walk away from all the shops and restaurants Boothbay has to offer.
There are countless places to spend your nights, your days, and your evenings in Boothbay Harbor. It’s a beautiful area and hold many special memories for countless people, myself included.