A Day Trip From The Craignair to Boothbay Harbor

The MidCoast of Maine is an excellent vacation destination any time of year. There are so many nooks and crannies, small villages and cool towns to discover. Recently we had a chance to spend a Saturday about an hour south of Spruce Head, in Boothbay. Is Boothbay a town, a region, or a state of mind? We’ll give you the rundown on a not-to-miss Maine location that’s a perfect road trip from The Craignair. 

The Boothbay Region

Coastal Maine is a land of peninsulas. Each peninsula has its own natural beauty, hidden gems, and attractions. When you visit Maine you don’t want to miss a thing. Make sure your vacation is well planned, with interesting jaunts and time to wander. The Boothbay region is easy to access, and boasts one of the best places to spend an entire day outside. The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens alone is worth the trip. But don’t stop there! Check out the roadside miniature golf courses, the lobster shacks with fire pits and picnic tables, and the farm stands and art galleries of the Boothbay peninsula. From apples to zucchini, there is locally grown and delicious produce available all summer and through the early autumn. It’s always a good time to go looking for veggies and fruits native to Maine. There is art all around, much like at The Craignair Inn near Rockland. Art and nature go hand in hand all around Maine.

Botanical Gardens

One could easily spend an entire day exploring The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. There are trails through the woods, fairy villages, sculptures, manicured flower gardens, sensory gardens of herbs and succulents, butterfly habitats, winding walks, water fountains, a place for children to use their imaginations and play, waterfalls, stone benches, swinging benches, places to rest, places to learn, and an installation of imposing wooden trolls that will eventually, gradually decompose. They are large, have character, and are definitely a draw for the young and the young at heart. 

You can take a class, take a tour, or find your own way through the many outdoor spaces. The gardens are open for the year from spring through mid-October. On a recent early October visit on a Saturday, it was busy but not overly crowded. Guests can take on the 323 acres on foot, or hop on and off an open shuttle tram with well-marked stops around the park. There are paved river paths and rocky and rooty ones through the woods. You can follow the map, or let your inspiration be your guide. On Indigenous Peoples Weekend, there had not yet been a frost; colorful flowers still bloomed. 

From November through early January the gardens are open at night for a festive holiday traditions allied Gardens Aglow! The entire park, all the grounds, are swathed in colorful lights, and patrons are encouraged to bundle up and enjoy the cold. It is a magical experience, with many photo opportunities and quiet moments. Be sure to dress warmly and bring your hot chocolate money. The colorful lights and good cheer plus foot trucks and carts strategically located around the gardens make for a fun family evening that brightens the dark time of year in Maine. Winter can be most wonderful. 

The Maine Aquarium

Once you’ve basked in the sensational bliss of the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens and soaked up the sun and color, it’s time to move on to your next Boothbay destination. There are two small but mighty attractions that are especially sweet with children, but honestly who wouldn’t enjoy a railway museum and an aquarium? Are you an amateur marine biologist, an enthusiast of sea life, a budding scientist of ocean life? Get thee to the Maine State Aquarium, a tiny facility that is big on research and ecological education. There are touch tanks and experts and interesting exhibits. It is worth spending a morning there to get closer to coastal Maine’s most important resource. The more we understand about the environment the better stewards we are of this beautiful place. It’s easy to soak up this adorable little aquarium in an hour or two, so don’t skip it! 

Antique Trains

After the aquarium, it’s time for trains! Old trains are beautiful and an important part of transportation, economy, and the history of Maine. How did people get to far off places before cars and airplanes? How were goods moved from here to there? How did we learn about the world beyond our dooryard? Trains changed how humans viewed time and place. They were vehicles for cultural exchange. They opened the door to exports and imports. What are Maine’s most important exports? Timber, certainly. These days lobster ranks highly, although 150 years ago lobster was still considered poor people food, reserved for prisoners and widows. 

Boothbay Railway Village lets visitors ride a vintage train car pulled by a steam engine locomotive. The train chugs slowly and steadily through the pretty woods. The village streets are lined with shops, antique cars, a schoolhouse, and other historical artifacts from the late 1800’s through the early 20th Century. If Maine offers vacationers “the way life should be” the railway village provides a glimpse of the way life used to be. The pace is slow. The items in the shops are handcrafted locally and with care. These are objects built to last, not to break or become obsolete. At Christmas time the village operates the North Pole Express; children of all ages delight in meeting Santa Claus on a beautifully restored train. 

You cannot end your visit to the Boothbay region of Maine without spending at least a day in the village proper. Boothbay Harbor is idyllic. It is quaint, charming, and whimsical. It is built up a hill from the ocean. It is windy. It is historic. It is so lovely and filled with excellent New England architecture against a stunning backdrop of Maine’s rugged coast. Down on the docks there are boat tours and clambakes. You can catch the ferry to Monhegan Island. You can learn about lobstering. You can take a day sail around the bay. There is an open air trolley that transports guests and locals around the adorable streets. It is a post card, a fairy tale, a Hallmark movie come to life. Boothbay has lots of shops for useful goods and souvenirs. There are so many seaside restaurants, seafood shacks, and ice cream shops. What a quintessential Maine experience!

Maximizing Your Maine Adventure

Taking day trips around Maine from The Craignair Inn is one of the best ways to see this far ranging state. It’s impossible to see all the sites in one visit. But you can dive deep into pockets and discover amazing places. Renowned for its natural wonders and windswept hospitality, Boothbay must rate highly on your prioritized list of things to see and do in Maine. From The Craignair Inn by the Sea, Boothbay is a mere hour’s drive down the coast. It’s so easy to get to Boothbay from The Craignair. Hop in your car after the delicious complimentary breakfast and spend a day in another place, another time. When you return to your cozy inn room, take a nap, change into your evening attire, and head down to the restaurant. Have a drink at the bar. Make a reservation at The Causeway, the award-winning restaurant on the inn’s lobby level. Book a room, start exploring!