With March finally here and spring approaching, I have a hunch that I am not the only one optimistically hoping for sunshine, warmth, and sandy shores. While snowy views of campus, ski trips, and ice skating on Johnson Pond have all been fun, by now some of us have experienced our fair share of winter in Maine and are ready to return back to not having to wear a coat every time we go outside.
While we will most likely be faced with more cold weather and maybe even some more snow, one can only dream of warm weather —I certainly have been lately. As my mind has been focusing on spring and summer weather, I have been dreaming of being on the water, walking around coastal towns, and most importantly, going to the beach.
Even though we are still quite a ways away from going to the beach, as the weather is still frosty and midterms are beginning to sneak up on us, I compiled a list of beaches that are no more than around an hour and a half away from campus. So, if you are looking to plan for a sunny weekend with not a lot of homework, here are a few beaches to visit to experience more aspects of Maine.
Reid State Park – Georgetown, Maine
Reid State Park has a mile beach and a half mile beach, but the half mile beach is often less crowded, which is worth knowing if you want more space or quietness.
In addition to the two beaches, a lagoon is located at the start of the mile beach. The park also has picnic tables to have lunch, restrooms, and rinse-off showers, so you can stay as long as you would like. You can even drive down to Five Islands Lobster Co., which is known for their lobster rolls, to get lunch.
The beach is used for walking, tanning, birdwatching, surfing, and fishing. I have seen people catch a decent amount of fish here, too. Some erosion happened about a year ago due to strong storms, but the beach is still intact, has plenty of sand, and has beautiful views.
Popham Beach State Park – Phippsburg, Maine
Just down the coastline from Reid State Park is Popham Beach State Park. With bathhouses and rinse-off showers, you can stay from the morning to sunset, just like at Reid State Park. However, you may have to enjoy your lunch on the sand because this beach was also affected by winter storms and erosion last year as well, having lost the picnic site and grill area to the sea.
Despite this, Popham Beach is still known for its beautiful views. This beach’s appeal can make the beach busy at times, but by walking further down you can be rewarded with more privacy and space. Plus, at low tide, you can walk to Fox Island, but pay attention to the rising tide while making your way back.
Old Orchard Beach – Old Orchard Beach, Maine
Close to shops on the pier, if you get bored hanging out on the beach, you can find more fun in the town of Old Orchard Beach. However, getting bored is unlikely because Old Orchard Beach is notably a very popular beach in Maine, and one can even find fireworks there some nights in the summer. Being a seven-mile-long beach with an amusement park, you have a lot to explore and to do at Old Orchard Beach.
Sand Beach – Bar Harbor, Maine
While this beach is more than an hour and a half away from campus (over two hours), this beach is located in Acadia National Park, Maine’s only national park, and is one of the park’s most visited areas.
The beach is 290 yards, and you can swim, play in the sand, and search for intertidal creatures. Ocean Path, Beehive Loop, and Gorham Mountain Loop can also be accessed from the beach. Sand Beach is a designated swimming beach in the summer, so while some activities such as surfing and fishing are not permitted in the summer, you still have fun activities to do at this beach.
This is only a snippet of the many beaches that Maine is home to, but these are some Maine favorites, some of the most popular, and some that are within a somewhat reasonable distance away from campus, despite being at least an hour away. While we have more free time during JanPlan to explore winter in Maine, spring semester allows for less time to explore spring and summer activities as midterms and finals pile up. If you are ever in need of something to do on a sunny and warm late spring weekend or you decide to come visit Maine in the summer, here are some beaches to adventure out to.
~ Haley Hegarty `28
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