Leslie Bowman: “Raccoon Beach on Campobello Island: It is around the corner from Herring Cove Beach, which is really tied for first, as it is in the same local. The rocks, the tide pools and the incredible sky do not disappoint at anytime, year round.”
Wanda Curtis: “My favorite saltwater haunt is a small quiet beach tucked away on a side road in Machiasport. I have fond memories of a visit we once had there after a storm. The waves were awesome.”
Barbara Fernald: “My favorite place to be by the salt water is at the Sand Beach on Little Cranberry Island. It is where I go to relax and meet friends on a summer afternoon. The harbor is clearly visible and we watch the comings and goings of all kinds of boats. It is also the place where four of us meet every month throughout the year for our Dip of the Month club, because it is the easiest place to get in and out of the water quickly in January and February.”
Kris Ferrazza: “My favorite saltwater haunt has to be Pemaquid. On the last day of school in June, we are drawn to this beautiful Bristol beach like a moth to the flame and we continue to make the trip all summer long. Even on the hottest days, it is 10 degrees cooler there, and though there is a small admission fee, it is the best therapy money can buy. A treat for all of the senses, Pemaquid Beach boasts creature comforts too, like a snack shack for the kids and indoor bathrooms, changing rooms and showers. So whether we are beach combing in the soft sand or body surfing in the salty waves, Pemaquid Beach is our summer happy place!
Tom Groening: “Naskeag Harbor in Brooklin has all the features of the rugged Maine I love. A gravel beach juts into a protected bay, yet to the south and east is open ocean. An island house, set amid fir and spruce trees draws the eye, and more islands lie to the north.”
Craig Idlebrook: “My favorite coastal spot has always been Cobscook Bay State Park in Dennsyville. There’s nothing dramatic about it, but it has all the scenery of Mount Desert Island with a lot smaller crowds in the summertime. Plus, there aren’t as many tempting tourist distractions nearby, so it’s much easier to slow down and watch the tide.”
David Lewis: “Ames Cove in Islesboro. I’ve spent a good bit of time working at the boatyard there, and when the tide is in and it’s calm in the early morning, it’s lovely to go in and out of there in a work skiff. We often see seals, ospreys and eagles.”
Carl Little: “The dock on Great Cranberry Island offers extraordinary views of Mount Desert Island; islanders will park there and watch the light change through the evening. The dock is also the hub of island comings and goings—and special moments. As we awaited the last boat after my daughter Emily’s wedding on the island two summers ago, we watched with amazement a great shoal of squid pulse through the water. ”
Sandy Oliver: “Who among us non-vacationing Mainers has time in summer to haunt the seaside? I count myself lucky if I get an evening to a spend with a friend here on Islesboro on her deck overlooking West Penobscot Bay with Ducktrap Mountain in the distance and several beguiling little spruce covered islands in the foreground. It is probably my favorite view on all our view-ridden island. The sun goes down very nicely there with a glass of wine and excellent companionship.”
Kris Osgood: “My favorite coastal spot is Lane’s Island Nature Conservancy Preserve on Vinalhaven. It’s been my favorite spot ever since I was old enough to hold a memory. I grew up walking Lane’s Island’s paths, playing on the beaches, and watching the waves from the rocks, and I still do all those things today.”
Laurie Schreiber: “One of my favorite spots is the marsh opposite Back Beach in Bernard. When the sun is setting, the gold and ruby hues of the dewy grasses waving in the breeze light up, a sparkling sea beyond. Foxes, wild rabbits, deer, and herons move in the distance.”
Jackie Weaver: “Schoodic Point in Acadia National Park in Winter Harbor is what lured me to Maine, that and its well known 12-mile loop road with its pristine, unadulterated beauty. There is no better place than Schoodic Point to watch the sunset across Frenchman Bay and over Cadillac Mountain. Clamber down the rocks, find a natural seat, sip coffee and revel in the reality that urban life is so very far away.”
Dana Wilde: “My most cherished place on the coast is Mackerel Cove, which knifes halfway into Bailey Island. For me it holds the quintessential Maine summer memories: glinting sea surface, smell of fish bait and outboard motor oil, the spray set up by southwest winds on hazy July afternoons. The restaurant on the wharf, the dangerous sea swells off Land’s End.”