There are so many beautiful places to enjoy nature in Maine. This post will hardly touch on all of them, but I will share a few of my favorites. Most of these walks are either short; or can be short.
The first photo is a view of Cushing Island from a great picnic spot on Peaks Island near Portland. Peaks is a reasonably priced ferry ride from the "Casco Bay Lines" terminal.
You pull into the harbor of a island village. It has a few nice restaurants and stores but they do not tend to be open late so make your trip early in the day. There are also some intriguing museums and other attractions. You can walk, bike, or ride a golf cart. Rentals are available near the harbor; I often rent a bike at "Brads bikes", but sometimes I just like to walk. It is a small island so you could walk around it in a few hours easily, but there are some lovely quiet places that are a shorter walk if you want a less strenuous experience.
One thing I love about the Casco Bay Islands, and Maine in general, is you can often have a beach all to yourself.
Visiting my mom a year ago; we discovered a beautiful place in Yarmouth called "Royal River Park." It boasts a plethora of trails and waterfalls and beautiful old man-made structures.
"Royal River Park" is right near downtown Yarmouth; itself full of beautiful old mills and old-timey stores.
The "Giant's Stairs" in Harpswell, Maine, is named as such for obvious reasons.
Perhaps one of the more majestic; yet quiet walks you can go on. We saw maybe two other people walking down the ocean trail.
It is a great place to bring a picnic or quietly draw or paint; or just take in the beauty in peace.
Visiting lighthouses in Maine is not just about admiring the beautiful old structures, but also enjoying the majestic rocks they protect ships from as well as the trails, beaches and parks they reside in. I visit the Portland Head Light and Fort Williams State Park frequently, despite the crowds, because there is so much to it.
While I admire the lighthouse itself and have even painted it; I spend more time visiting the trails, fort and cliffs nearby.
Food trucks are often in the park serving up delicious lobster rolls. If you miss them, you can take a scenic drive to get your seafood fix at the Lobster Shack in "Two Lights State Park." Or ritual is stopping at "The Cookie Jar" before we drive through Scenic Cape Elizabeth.
Sometimes we go to "Kettle Cove" after we stop for goodies.
If you end up on a trip to Rangeley, Maine; I suggest a trip to "Smalls Falls", one of the most beautiful and interesting waterfalls I have ever visited.
It is more than just one waterfall, but a series of waterfalls that land into pool after pool. You have to climb a long, craggy path to reach some of these pools, but it is well worth it.
My father tends to call "Beech Hill" Blueberry Hill, as he used to rake blueberries there. He takes walks here on a regular basis and I joined him for a stroll once.
"Beech Hill Preserve" is a beautiful, quiet trail in Rockport Maine. This hill has lovely views of grassland, forests, Penobscot Bay, and nearby lakes.
I forget how pretty these places are until I see the photos and my heart fills up.
Just a few of the lovely walks of Maine that I have to share. Perhaps I will hunt up more photos for a part 2 one day soon.