What is there to see, or do, on Bailey Island and surrounding areas?

  With a few exceptions, such as Mackerel Cove, you can't get a good look at the interesting things on Bailey Island from paved roads.

  We recommend the views from our three porches and from the windows of our dining room overlooking Little Harbor. Depending on wind and tide, there may be surf you are likely to remember. Lobstermen work these waters - and if you've ever been in a lobster boat, you'll know why we call it work. We serve the results of such efforts Friday evenings at dinner. A variety of vessels pass, including sail boats, lobster and tuna boats. 

  Our invigorating air makes walking fun, so try a walk along the shoreline. On your way from Route 24 to Driftwood Inn, you passed a small, Episcopal Chapel at a bend in the paves road. This stands near an unpaved road leading downhill to the Giant Stairs. As you approach the ocean, you can see huge masses of rock between footpath and surf. There is a path so that you can descend and look at little tide pools or think about the visible effects of storm driven waves on the rocks. Footing is treacherous, so please be careful! You may want to continue southward along the footpath until you come to a sizable boulder resting on a concrete platform. This boulder bears a bronze plate acknowledging the gift of the "Giant Stairs" property and path to the town by Captain Henry Sinnett. For those of you who are unaware of what they are and why they have the name they do, the Stairs are giant boulders going down to the sea.

An unmarked path can be found in the bushes leading back to the main road, but since the footpath has never been leveled, retracing your steps back would be the safest route...for you and your clothing :) 

After such and exploratory trek, you are likely to find other kinds of places to go on foot. This is the only one along the shoreline.

Other things to do...

Sports Fishing Charters and Sightseeing Trips with Capt. Jay L. McGowen
*phone: (207) 833-6054
*email: harpswellfishing@yahoo.com 

Atlantic Seal Cruises to Admiral Peary's Eagle Island 
*phone: (207) 865-6112

Sea Escape Charters with Captain Les McNelly 
*phone: (207) 833-5531
*email: seaesc@mail.gwi.net 
*online: www.seaescapecottages.com 

Several kinds of entertainment are available in Brunswick, home of Bowdoin College, and the movie theater near Cook's Corner. Both are about 20 minutes driving time from the Inn. 

The Maine State Music Theatre is a repertory company which stages some of the most successful musicals in a theater on the Bowdoin College campus at a professional performance level

There is a Casco Bay ferry boat called the Island Romance that departs from Portland at 10am for Cooks Lobster House wharf just before noon. There, you can board the ferry at noon for a Bailey Island Nature Cruise around Casco Bay. The ferry returns to the landing around 2pm before returning to Portland. You can buy sandwiches and drinks on the ferry.

  H20 Outfitters, Sea Kayaking Tours and Instruction  (207) 833-5257 

  Monhegan Island Ferry Puffin Watches  1~800~2~PUFFIN / www.hardyboat.com

If you would like to drive further, you can go to the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath, which is all about ship building. If you are looking for sandy beaches, just outside of Bath is Popham Beach and Reid State Park. Reid has a mile long beach and also outdoor fireplaces.

 

Dining Out

Cook's Lobster House  (ON US ROUTE 24 / BAILEY ISLAND, MAINE)

phone: (207) 833-2818 
online: http://cookslobster.com 
email: cooks@cookslobster.com

 Dolphin Marina & Restaurant (515 Basin Point, Harpswell)

phone: (207) 833-6000 

T he Great Impasta (42 Maine Street, Brunswick))

phone:(207) 729-5858
online: http://www.timesrecord.com/Taste_Midcoast/impasta.html 
email: impasta@clinic.net

Beale St. BBQ (215 Water St. Bath, Maine 04530)

phone: (207) 442-9514
online: http://mainebbq.com/bath/index.html 
email:
info@MaineBBQ.com

Sea Dog Brewing Co. (1 Maine St., Topsham, ME)

phone: (207) 725-0162

 

 

Whichever you end up doing, we hope you have a good time!

 

 
    Mr.& Mrs. Charles L. Conrad, Owner / Managers                                             (207) 833-5461 ~ Off Season (508) 923-0373

Copyright © 2003,The Driftwood Inn, All Rights Reserved.