Maine State Parks

Scarborough Beach State Park is widely known for one thing, its beach. It is always a popular destination for swimmers, seashell collectors, and surfers alike. It is great for any oceanside activity that you are likely to enjoy. It is located near Route 207, near Scarborough. As far as sandy beaches are concerned, Scarborough Beach State Park is one of the best in all of Maine.

Scarborough Beach State Park features both on site and off site parking. During the weekends, it is important to arrive early because parking can fill up quickly. On average, on site parking spaces will fill up by 11:30 am on the weekends. Off site parking will then fill up by around 12:30 pm. This means that you need to get there early in order to get a space. This also means that you can expect to see a lot of other people at the beach. During weekdays, parking will almost never be a problem as the number of people at the beach drops dramatically.

On of the most popular features of Scarborough Beach State Park is the temperature of the water. It plays host to some of the best swimming in the entire New England area. Throughout July and August, you can expect the water temperature to hover around the high 60's and even the lower 70's at times. When swimming, it is important to keep an eye out for rip tides as they do occur on a daily basis. There are always lifeguards on duty in the designated lifeguard areas, hence they are the safest places to swim. Aside from swimming sea kayaking is extremely popular along with a little surfing.

The beach itself is a long stretch of white sand that is located on Prouts Neck. It is one of the few places in Maine where there is enough sand for the winds to create large sand dunes. This stretch of beach connects with Higgins Beach and is a popular spot for hiking, biking, sunbathing, or just walking along the beach and searching for shells and other great finds.

Scarborough Beach State Park is always a popular destination and for good reason. Visitors can enjoy a large, beautiful, white sand beach with all of the great features of the coastal region. Combined with above average water temperatures and you have a unique gem tucked away in the Maine coastline known as Scarborough Beach State Park.


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If you have never had the pleasure of eating real maple syrup, you are really missing something. Most people have probably eaten artificial kind; but in truth, there is no comparison between that and the real thing. Maybe stating that there is no comparison is a bit harsh, but the fake stuff is essentially like a warm-up.

Using the artificial substitute as a sugar replacement in baked treats such as cookies, pies and cakes is one thing; but using it to make candy is another. Its distinct flavor will be more noticeable in something as light as candy. One the other hand, it is probably used less in that application than it is in the traditional favorite.

For a lot of people, the first thing that probably comes into mind when they hear the words maple syrup is pancakes. It's hard to beat a hot stack of hot cakes drenched with it and smothered with melted butter.

Why is the Artificial Kind Used So Often?

Just like so many other things, it comes down to money. Unfortunately, the real thing is a bit pricey. This is because the artificially flavored substitute is less expensive, faster and easier to make. It's not as simple as putting a tap into a tree and putting the sap into a bottle.

However, while it may be a little more expensive, it is not totally cost prohibitive. If you are watching your grocery budget, the occasional splurge is well worth it. The flavor is so unbelievable that you will have to resist turning the bottle up and drinking the sweet substance straight down.

If you have not yet had the luxury, or if it has been awhile, spend a little more and treat yourself to some real maple syrup. However, unless you are feeling extremely generous, find a good hiding place for it. Once everyone finds out that you have it, it will go quickly.

Reid State Park is as great a place to be as you can find in Maine's Mid Coast area. It is located near Bath and is open all year long. In the winter it is primarily used for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. In the summer, you can do it all. Reid State Park holds the title of being Maine's first state-owned saltwater beach. It was donated to the state in 1946.

Overall, Reid State Park is an interesting and unique blend of coastal habitats. The two most popular beaches are known as Mile Beach and Half Mile Beach. Both of these beaches are often frequented by surfers, swimmer, and anglers. A more sheltered area lies around a saltwater lagoon which is always a family favorite to explore.

If you are not in the mood for some beach-time, don't worry. There is a total of 4 miles of trails that include a boardwalk across giant sand dunes, a rarity around Coastal Maine. There are wooded paths as well which are also popular with cross-country skiers in the winter months. During the summertime, the trails can get overrun by mosquitoes, so hikers may want to cover up, or bring some bug repellent.

Reid State Park has also proved to be an invaluable resource for birders. The beaches serve as a nesting area for tern and piping plovers as well as more common shorebirds. As you head into the more densely wooded area, there is an entirely new set of birds that birders from around the area come to see.

Walking down any of the beaches, visitors are afforded an excellent view of the surrounding areas. A rocky headland that overlooks the park is known as Griffith Head and hold a great surprise for first-time visitors. From there anyone can see several well-known islands including: Damariscove, which was a thriving fishing community back in colonial times; Outer Head, which has been a protected tern sanctuary for some time; and Southport, which is where Rachel Carson wrote Silent Spring. There are also a number of lighthouses and seascapes that can be seen as well. These include the lighthouses on Seguin Island, Hendericks Head, and The Cuckolds.

Reid State Park has proven to be a popular attraction for local and visitors alike. It offers the diversity of sandy beaches, marshlands, wooded areas and is surrounded by an active surf as well as calm inlets. It showcases a little bit of everything that makes the Maine coast a great place to visit.


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Popham Beach State Park continues to be one of the most popular places in the Midcoast Region. It is just south of Kennebec River and covers almost 530 acres of land highlighted by sandy beaches that are perfect for sunbathing as well as some very unique geological landforms. There are few places in Maine that are better suited to sitting and relaxing in the summer sun. Popham Beach State Park is open from April 15 to October 30.

Popham Beach State Park is well-known for the long stretch of beach within it. However, it is important to note that because of the beach dynamics, the sand moves quite a bit over the course of a summer. This causes the shoreline to shrink considerably during high tide as well as cause severe and ongoing dune erosion. During high tide, the beach can start to seem extremely cramped during busy times.

The Atlantic surf in this area is less serene than in other areas along the Maine coastline. This is sure to bring out surfers on a daily basis. Lifeguards are always on duty throughout the summer, however all swimmers need to keep in mind that the rolling surf can cause aggressive undertows and the random rip tide. So make sure to swim within your abilities and near the lifeguards.

If swimming isn't your thing, don't worry. Popham Beach State Park is primed with shell collectors and patrons casually strolling the beach. It has proved to be a great place to sit, relax, and take in some sun. There are scattered picnic areas as well as open fire grills. During the months of July and September, these grills are often full of bluefish and striped bass that are caught by surf casters. On rare occasions, porpoises can even be seen off of the coastline.

Another reason that Popham Beach State Park is popular is simply its location. There are not only great things to do in the park, but also surrounding it. There is currently an excavation in progress to uncover the original settlement of Popham and Fort George, which dates back to 1607. There is also a nearby 600 acre wildlife preserve consisting of beaches, marshland, and rivers. There are even two historic lighthouses that everyone should see dating back to 1855 and 1795. The Sequin Lighthouse (1795) is the oldest lighthouse on the east coast and sits atop the rock Sequin Island.


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Owls Head State Park is one of the smallest state parks in Maine. Compared to many of its counterparts, there may seem like little reason to take a walk through it. However, if you skip Owls Head State Park, you will miss some of the best views in all of Maine.

Owls Head State Park has one big attraction and that is the Owls Head Lighthouse. It has consistently proven to be one of the most popular lighthouses in all of Maine, and there is definitely some stiff competition. It was built in 1825 and stands over 100 feet in the air.

Owls Head Lighthouse has long guarded the entrance to Rockland Harbor and was initially designed to help assist vessels carrying lime, which was the greatest export of the time. No one is entirely sure where Owls Head got its name, but one of the most common legends has to do with the native americans that lived in the area. Some say that Owl's Head is the literal translation for the native american's name for the area: Medadacut. Others say that the name came from sailors in 1759, who noticed a resemblance of an owl's head in the rock formation that the lighthouse was built on.

This lighthouse not only draws in visitors because of its splendor, but because of the legends surrounding it. In one story a couple were trapped on a ship during a winter storm and were frozen alive in a giant block of ice in 1850. The lighthouse keeper, upon discovering them, took them inside so that they could thaw, and they soon made a full recovery. Another story involves a dog that lived in the lighthouse named “Spot”. He always greeted ships as they past by the lighthouse by pulling a rope connected to the fog bell with his teeth. During a fierce blizzard, a mail boat went missing and Spot was sent out to the fog bell, which was made inactive by the snow. Spot started barking, which led the boat back to shore.

When going to see the lighthouse, keep in mind that it is now on land owned and operated by the Coast Guard. This means that you will not be able to walk right up to it, but rather must view it from the bottom of the steps that lead up to it.

While you are there, make sure to not only take the trail to the lighthouse, but also a trail that juts off from it. This will lead you to the beautiful, rocky shoreline. It is here that you can get the best views and take the best photogenic shots of the lighthouse and the rust colored cliffs that it is built on. If you feel like exploring, there is even an old graveyard hiding within Owl's Head State Park.


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Moose Point State Park can easily be found off of US 1 in between Belfast and Searsport. It is known by locals as a great place to get away from the nearby busy, populated areas. While it is not a spot to spend several days, it is a place that is definitely worth an afternoon visit. With picnic tables across from the parking lot, it has a cozy and family-friendly feel to it.

In total, Moose Point State Park is over 183 acres and a large majority of it is next to the bay. The beach is known to be rocky, so make sure to bring shoes for the walk. Visitors enjoy a wide variety of entertainment from exploring the forest and tidal pools to sitting and relaxing while taking in Penobscot Bay. There is an ocean-side trail that only takes about 10 minutes to walk down, however it connects to a loop into the wooded area which will add another 20 minutes to your journey. As you walk down the beach, or just relax on the many available benches, you will get a breathtaking view of Islesboro, Sears Island, Northport Harbor, and the Eastern section of Penobscot Bay.

The unique blend of forest and ocean create a soothing aroma of bay bushes and evergreens mixed in with the salty air. The trails are very well maintained, which makes every walk a relaxing one, with many picnic areas to stop and relax at. If you get lucky, there is a wide variety of wildlife at your disposal. Eagles, harbor seals, osprey, double breasted cormorants, porpoises, seas ducks, loons, and sandpipers can all be found while strolling along the paths.

If you stop and explore the tidal pools, you can often find sea urchins, whelks, hen clams, mermaids tears, periwinkles, and mussel shells. Keep in mind that none of the trails permit bikes, and the trails can run between 1.5 and 2 miles depending on your course.

It is not uncommon to have the entire beach to yourself at times. If you stop and explore, you can lose an entire day just relaxing and enjoying the unique environment at Moose Point State Park. The best part is that this park can be enjoyed during any season. Moose Point State Park may not be a weekend getaway spot, but it is a great way to spend an afternoon relaxing away from the hustle and bustle of the surrounding areas.



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