Recreation

Hiking and Biking

Egrets and ospreys are among the birdlife you might sight in Bradley Pond Farm Preserve (Bradley Pond Rd., 207/729-7694, www.btlt.org [1]), a 160-acre preserve near Brunswick [2] that has several miles of trails for traipsing around salt marshes, woods, and fields. The cyclists at Bath Cycle & Ski (115 Main St./Rte. 1, Woolwich, 207/442-7002, www.bikeman.com [3]) are serious about cycling, sponsoring a mountain bike team and staging weekly rides along both roads and trails.

Beaches

With a rocky coastline and oftentimes frigid waters, the Midcoast [4] doesn’t offer much beachfront. The exception is Popham Beach (10 Perkins Farm Lane/Rte. 209, Phippsburg, 207/389-1335, www.maine.gov [5], $6 adults, $4 seniors, $1 children 5–11, free children under 5), a beautiful, sheltered expanse of sand and salt marsh south of Bath [2] that draws families and college students to collect driftwood and stroll along the surf.

Boating and Fishing

Boothbay Harbor [6] teems with sailing ships. Lazy Jack (Pier One, Boothbay Harbor, 207/633-3444, www.sailschoonerlazyjack.com [7], May–mid-Oct., $28) is a 1947 schooner offering two-hour sails of the harbor. Renowned ocean sailors Herb and Doris Smithhave built five schooners, five of which were named Appledore. The exception is the Windjammer Eastwind (20 Commercial St., Boothbay Harbor, 207/633-6598, www.schoonereastwind.com [8], $25), which sets sail for two-and-a-half-hour cruises to see the seals at Seal Rocks.

The Muscongus Bay is a favorite for sea kayakaing. Midcoast Kayak (47 Main St., Damariscotta, 207/563-5732, www.midcoastkayak.com [9]) rents kayaks ($35–55 for full day) and offers tours ($35–60) allowing you to poke in and out of salt marshes and harbors.

Camping

Located south of Boothbay Harbor over a bridge on a small island, Gray’s Homestead Campground (21 Homestead Rd., Southport, 207/633-4612, www.graysoceancamping.com [10], $35–50) has a mix of 30 tent and RV sites, several with ocean views, the rest less than a 2-minute walk from a private sandy beach. The campground also has several cottages and condos available for rent by the week ($800–1000). Best of all, the campground goes lobstering with its own gear specifically for campers—and will even cook lobsters to order.