This Weekend Itinerary Is Perfect For Exploring Harpswell in Maine
By Rachel Jimenez
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Published February 02, 2021
The seacoast town of Harpswell, Maine is a great getaway for all. Pack your bags and prepare to take on the sea with hikes, boat rides, and more. It’s a small town, but there’s plenty to do. Here’s the perfect itinerary for you and your family to explore the best Harpswell has to offer.
Rest easy in this humble abode at Harpswell Inn.
Book an ocean view room at this Bed & Breakfast on Lookout Point for a stunning view of Maine. The Harpswell Inn is a historical landmark. It was built in 1761, originally the old cookhouse of
famed Lookout Point Shipyard.
Drive down Harpswell Neck Road from the inn to take in the beautiful view at Potts Point.
Harpswell splits into two finger peninsulas. Potts Point is located at the tip of South Harpswell.
South of Potts Harbor at Basin Point you'll find the Dolphin Marina & Restaurant.
Admire the boats and explore the Marina Shop. When you're hungry head inside the house-like building (far right of the above photo) for delicious coastal grub.
Dine in or outside and enjoy the views of the marina while grubbing on lobster, fish chowder or even a steak.
The restaurant is open seasonally from April - November.
From the Marina, take a ferry to Eagle Island Historical Site to visit North Pole Explorer Admiral Robert Peary's summer home.
Peary, an American Explorer, is best known for claiming to have reached the geographic North Pole with his expedition on April 6, 1909. He purchased the home in 1881 with his wife. The Island received a National Historic Landmark designation in 2014 and is popular among tourists.
Head to the north side of Harpswell at Bailey Island for a breathtaking hike at Giant's Stairs Trail.
Starting with an easy foot path, the trail follows a rocky coastline along eastern Casco Bay.
But while the views are spectacular, it's the rock formations that make Giant's Stairs Trail legendary.
The "stair-like" rock formations were formed by eroded basalt rock over millions of years of geologic earth activity. To a layman, it's a pretty sight, but to a geologist, it's a dream spot. The area is now owned and protected by the Harpswell Heritage Land Trust.
Water calling your name? Sail around Bailey Island aboard with an ARK II Charter.
Let your licensed captain take control or take the wheel yourself.
Get even closer to the water and kayak through Casco Bay.
If you didn't bring your own kayak, don't worry. There are plenty of places to rent one in Harpswell.
What other Maine towns to recommend visiting?
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Featured Addresses
Dolphin Marina & Restaurant, Basin Point Road, Harpswell, ME, USA
108 Lookout Point Rd, Harpswell, ME 04079, USA