Wow! This amazing part of the world is a perfect combination of beauty, peace, and drama. If you are looking for a place to recharge, rethink, or not think at all, this is the place for you. I came up to this place feeling frazzled, stressed, blue, and left feeling quite the opposite.
As far as mobility issues, this area presents quite a mix. Challenges, no-go’s, and perfect access. But isn’t that true of all destinations? The key is to really know your body, what you can and cannot do, bring the proper mobility aids and support, and then just go for it. I have been trying lately to engage in more fearless living, not being reckless, but also, not driven by my constant fear of getting more injured. Because that hinders further strengthening and recovery. It hinders fun, adventures, stories, and victories.
So, here are my specific reviews. As always, review the destination very carefully based on your specific challenges or needs. We are all so very different. For reference, I have a complete ankle fusion, TT and ST, so inclines and uneven ground is a challenge.
Getting There: We chose to drive, so that our cockapoo doggie could accompany us easily. It was a 14 hour drive. My ankle could accept about four hours of the driving, so my husband did the brunt of the journey. The drive included heavy traffic through NYC, always a thrilling and terrifying thing! Mostly I-95 highway driving. If you are flying, you could fly into Portland and rent a car. Highlight: Entering Maine, and beginning to see water and boats everywhere!
Accommodations: A beautiful, rustic, built in the 1920’s, right on the water, log cabin rented through Airbnb. If you have no problems with an access from the driveway of stone steps with no handrails, or if you have a good support person who can assist, it was perfection! Rent with no hesitation. Otherwise, I would keep looking. When I was using my wheelchair, I would not have been able to access this property. This was in no way the fault of the lister….it was my fault for not inquiring. From the photographs, I assumed it was a flat entrance. The owner was super accommodating, and gladly answered any questions I had about the property. Bathroom was tight also. Shower with no tub. Despite the challenges, I would rent this home again, over and over. Highlight: Laying in my bed listening to the waves hitting the rocks right in our backyard. Waking up very early each morning like it was Christmas morning knowing I would open my eyes, and the ocean would still be right there! Also, being a half mile from Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, and spending every morning watching the morning sun glistening on the water and the rocks.
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/3896811?source_impression_id=p3_1687268385_A%2FVNtoQiZFSn1nNZ
Featured Restaurants:
Shaw’s, New Harbor: A lot of the 1999 Nicholas Sparks movie, Message in a Bottle, was filmed here. Plus, it was only 5 minutes from our rental home. So of course, we wanted to go. Picturesque harbor, working docks, fresh seafood. Access: almost undoable for me, but finally conquered. My husband drove me down to the very steep ramp access, and he went to park. I walked backwards up the gargantuan ramp, and my daughter served as my spotter in front of me. I decided to do the steps on the way down, as the ramp was scary. About 20-25 steps down. Highlight: Figuring out which scenes were filmed where from the movie, and watching the boats do their boat thing. Very authentic and unpretentious, which I enjoy.
Mine Oyster, Boothbay Harbor: Wonderful food, wonderful service, wonderful view of the harbor and boats. But, you must be able to manage the 25-30 steps up and then back down. Sturdy, low rise steps, with sturdy handrail. Also, restroom is not handicapped accessible. Highlight: The thick, delicious piece of haddock I had for lunch, along with a celebratory cocktail for accomplishing the steps!
McSeagull’s Restaurant, Boothbay Harbor: Excellent accessibility to the restaurant by ramp, but again, no handicapped accessible restroom. Highlight: Delicious food, attentive service, good view of the ships in the harbor.
Pemaquid Seafood, New Harbor: Probably the best seafood of our trip, unpretentious and relaxing outdoor picnic tables beside the water. Required 2-3 steps to order inside. Everything else fairly level. Restrooms not handicapped accessible. Highlight: Eating seafood, lobster and crab, that was caught by the cafe owners, so, so fresh. Also, talking to some local Mainers during lunch.
Seagull Cafe, Pemaquid Point: My personal favorite of the trip. Ate there twice. Excellent handicapped access and restroom, ramp, no stairs. Amazing view of the lighthouse, ocean, seagulls, rocks. Friendly servers and excellent food, binoculars by the tables to watch the sea. Beautiful gift shop attached. Plus, only 1/2 mile from our rental home! Highlight: All of it!!!!
Featured Activities:
Hiking: We hiked two accessible trails in the area, we loved both of them. There are many more that we didn’t get to visit. This is something that Maine does VERY well! We went to Oak Point Farm, Boothbay Region Land Trust, and completed the 0.65-mile accessible trail.
Also, we hiked a 0.8-mile trail at Round Top Farm in Damariscotta. I used my Montem trekking poles and felt on top of the world completing these beautiful trails. https://www.amazon.com/Montem-Ultra-Strong-Trekking-Poles/dp/B01D0FNAWQ?crid=2T9QR5UL5VF99&keywords=montem+trekking+poles&qid=1687271207&sprefix=montem+trekkin%2Caps%2C1055&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=traveltools0b-20&linkId=6e1bbff73b78a9d31e4dc5ff706f66b5&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
Highly recommend!
Harbor Cruise: We took a Cap’n Fish cruise, the harbor, lighthouse, and seal tour, and totally enjoyed every moment! Again, access to the dock and ship is by steep ramp, steepness based on the level of the tide. With my wonderful supportive family’s assistance, this was a victory. Saw beautiful lighthouses, open water, sea porpoises, and seals. Felt the sea wind on our faces and felt so alive! Highly recommend! https://www.boothbayboattrips.com/
Pemaquid Beach: Of all the very memorable Maine moments, for me, this was the very best. The search for an accessible beach with hard-packed level sand is a constant obsession for me, as I love the ocean with a passion. And this was the very best I have ever been on since my surgeries. Beautiful, flat sand, calm beautiful turquoise waves, and my ankle did not sink or waver one bit in the sand. I cried happy and thankful tears, I can tell you. If it was possible for a person to just live 24/7 on the beach beside the water, I would be there still, grinning like a crazy person. 🙂
Overall assessment: I came away from this week energized, feeling empowered by conquering new challenges, and with renewed peace in my soul from God’s amazing, beautiful creation. I am thankful that we went. Please reach out to me for more details on any location discussed, or any other question you may have. I will try my best to answer.
Travel Level Rating (TLR) 😎😎😎😎
Accessibility (path, road) ✔
Scenic Value ✔
Authentic (not too touristy) ✔
Surrounding Facilities (restaurants, accommodations, restrooms) This is a mixed bag. Excellent quality restaurants and accommodations, but check very carefully as to your access needs before going.
Adventure ✔
Love, Lisa
Travel Level 