If You Like

If You Like

Bicycling

The best in the state, the Androscoggin River Bike Path goes between U.S. 1 and the Androscoggin River. Great blue herons prowl in the shallows, and hawks patrol above—you might even see a bald eagle surveying the landscape (the national bird, which was seldom seen in these parts a few years ago, has made a comeback, with more than 250 nesting pairs now in the state). There are also two longer bike paths in this region: The Coastal Route, a 187-mi journey, goes along the rocky coastline. The 60-mi Merrymeeting Tour travels between Bath and Wiscasset.

Beaches

Maine has some of the country's most dramatic beaches. In the southern Mid-Coast region there are two awesome ones, both unique in their ways: Popham Beach, part of Popham Beach State Park near Phippsburg, and Mile Beach at Reid State Park. Popham stretches for miles, and when the tide is low, you can explore the sandbars and tide pools, which teem with sea creatures. On one end of the beach is Fort Popham, a fortress dating from the Civil War. At Reid State Park's Mile Beach, climb the rocky ledges and watch the surf smash into the rocks—this is the best place to watch the waves during a storm. If you are here in mid-July or later, bring insect spray for the notorious "green heads," a hardy fly that defies killing. Slap at them and they'll just go for your feet and ankles.

Lighthouses

Of the 16 lighthouses in the Mid-Coast region, about half are accessible by car. The Doubling Point Light and Kennebec River Light on the Kennebec River are accessible from Route 209 in Bath. Squirrel Point Light, south of Bath, is accessible via a three-road journey and short hike: Route 127, Steen Road, and Bald Head Road, where you leave your car and hike for about a mile. Farther north, Pemaquid Point Light stands watch over long rocky ledges. The former lighthouse keeper's cottage is now the Fishermen's Museum, featuring artifacts on the area's commercial fishing history. Marshall Point Lighthouse at Port Clyde also has been turned into a museum and small shop, with picnic tables on the grounds. On Owl's Head just south of Rockland is Owl Head Light, one of the few that still has its original Fresnel lens in place. Lighthouse cruises from Bath take in almost a dozen lights, including Seguin Light, the tallest lighthouse in Maine, while cruises from Boothbay Harbor provide a view of Ram Island Light. A Boothbay Cruise to Burnt Island Light includes two hours on the island. Visit the Rockland Lighthouse Museum on Rockland Harbor to see a dozen Fresnel lenses.