If you’re looking for the authentic coastal Maine experience, this is it! Casco Bay is one of the most scenic bodies of ocean water on the eastern seaboard, featuring scores of islands, historic lighthouses, quiet little protected harbors, and lobster fishermen communities. A wildlife paradise; ospreys and bald eagles nest high in the spruces along the rugged shores, harbor seals complete their annual pilgrimage to quiet coves and dolphins and whales loll about in the waves. You want lobster? Buy them fresh and our greeter, Cinny, will cook them for you!
LONG ISLAND BEACHES
South Beach
Beach Avenue, Long Island, ME 04050
Largest sandy beach on Long Island. Best beach for swimming and spending the whole day.
Andrew’s Beach
209 Beach Ave, Long Island, ME 04050
This beach is a short walk from Jekyll Point, the southernmost tip of the Island. It’s a popular spot for watching migratory birds as well as groups of dolphins. The picnic area features a two-story wildlife viewing platform and the Wanderer historical marker. Unlike Maine’s other soft, sandy beaches along the southern coast and midcoast, there are few houses within sight. At Andrews Beach, where there are two half-moon stretches of sand, the view is to an undeveloped rocky island.
Fowler Beach
Fowler Road, Long Island, ME 04050
This beach offers the same spectacular ocean views that Andrew’s Beach does, but often has less people at it than Andrew’s Beach.
Cleaves Landing
Eastern Avenue, Long Island, ME 04050
Rocky beach but a great place for sunsets.
Click here for more ideas of what Long Island offers and the island’s events calendar.
Seasonal restaurant & bar serving American fare & locally sourced seafood, overlooking Diamond Cove. Note: Diamond’s Edge Restaurant is located on Great Diamond Island.
Reggae Sundays at Jones Landing
6 Welch St, Peaks Island, ME 04108 / (207) 766-5652
Reggae Sunday is a Portland tradition, going over twenty years strong. Located right off the ferry landing on Peaks Island, Maine. Check out their FB page.
Battery Steele
Peaks Island Land Preserve, P.O. Box 99, Peaks Island, ME 04108
Battery Steele (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Battery Construction #102) is a United States military fortification on Peaks Island, Portland, Maine in Casco Bay. Completed in 1942 as part of World War II, it is located on 14 acres (5.7 ha) on the oceanside area of the island, formerly part of the Peaks Island Military Reservation.
LONG ISLAND RECOMMENDATIONS
Fresh Lobsters
Fern Park Lobster Company
110 Beach Avenue, Long Island, Maine 04050, (207) 766-2115
Lobster salesman located on Long Island, not far from Grace Cottage.
Grocer
The Boathouse Beverage and Variety
55 Wharf St, Long Island, ME 04050, (207) 766-5709
Hours from June 20th: daily 8 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Sundays until 6:30 p.m.) Groceries and sundry items. Boston Globe, NY Times, and Portland newspapers also available.
The Long Island Store
262 Island Avenue, Long Island, ME 04050, (207) 766-2512
Open from the weekend of Memorial Day thru Columbus day. Open in the winter for gas only. The Long Island Store is the place to go for pizza, sandwiches, ice cream, alligator ice, and gift items.
On Friday mornings during the summer, the library has open story time for children.
Post Office
280 Island Ave, Long Island, ME 04050
Monday – Friday 8:00-12:00 and 2:00-3:45
Saturday 8:15-11:45
Ivy Hall Gift Shop
33 Fowler Rd, Long Island, ME 04050
Open weekends from Mother’s Day until June 15. Summer Hours: Daily 1:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. thru Labor Day and then weekends thru Columbus Day weekend. Located on Fowler’s Rd, across from the Transfer Station. Proceeds from the Ivy Hall Gift Shop benefit the Evergreen United Methodist Church and the missions it supports.
ATTRACTIONS AND TOWNS WITHIN 30-60 MINUTES OF PORTLAND
Quintessential Maine communities await you. A vacation in the mid-coast is all about experiencing the out of doors, on land and sea, eating good food and exploring small friendly towns. Here are some favorite towns, in alphabetical order:
BAILEY ISLAND (1 hour)
Great lobster restaurants.
Gorgeous vistas.
BATH (40 minutes)
Maine Maritime Museum. Fantastic interactive ship-building museum. Also arrange behind the scenes tours of Bath Iron Works.