A popular resort town tucked in around a picturesque harbor, Boothbay Harbor retains the look of an old-fashioned seaport. Boats are still important to this town that's about 35 mi/55 km northeast of Portland: Whale-watching excursions, puffin cruises and deep-sea-fishing charters all depart from the harbor. There are many shopping opportunities and a number of scenic vistas to capture on film.
The town is also a good base from which to visit several nearby attractions. A boat runs from Boothbay Harbor to Monhegan Island, which has marvelous high cliffs, thousands of wildflowers, no cars and close to 200 species of birds (ospreys, falcons and marsh hawks). Artists have been drawn to the island since the 1800s, and so have a lot of other folks—it's visited by many pleasure boaters during summer; there's also boat service from Port Clyde and New Harbor, in addition to the boat from Boothbay Harbor.
Just east of Boothbay Harbor is Pemaquid Point (though you'll have to take a roundabout route via Damariscotta to get there by car). One of Maine's most photographed lighthouses, Pemaquid Light, stands on the grassy patch overlooking huge slabs of volcanic rock that jut dramatically into the sea. At the adjacent Fishermen's Museum, you can learn about lobstering and other elements of the seafaring life. You can even experience a truly unique piece of Maine life by renting the apartment in the lightkeeper's house. http://www.mainecoastcottages.com.
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