One of the main features of Boothbay Harbor, as you might guess, is the harbor. A short walk from the inn brings us down to the water, so we enjoy walking there, particularly before breakfast. The light can be lovely at that time of day.
It can also be lovely in the evening.
These pictures are taken from the area of the Tugboat Inn and Restaurant. This is a fairly large inn that is right on the water's edge, and some rooms are even over the water on piers. Their restaurant is shaped like an old fashioned tug boat. We have not eaten there because the menu does not cater to vegetarians.
To the right from Tugboat's parking lot is the pier of the Boothbay Harbor Shipyard (where boats are repaired).
High tide ...
... and low tide.
In the distance of the previous picture you can see the Burnt Island Lighthouse. Here are a couple of better views.
Walking along the harbor we pass a restaurant that we have eaten at, Ports of Italy. This visit was particularly fun. Our waiter, Tony, has been there many years. He is from England but grew up speaking Italian. Tony was kind enough to speak in Italian with us, and patient with our hesitant responses.
Walking up the harbor's edge provides typical views of water and boats ...
... but also some not so typical views. We were there in May, so we were a bit surprised by this model truck with a Christmas tree in the bed.
Continuing along the water's edge brings us to The Footbridge. Last year, the footbridge was under repair. It was finished for our visit in Spring 2024. It is slightly different, but still has the same basic appearance.
Here is a better view of that bright tree on the other side of the harbor.
Do you remember the Bridge House? You might have wondered how it stays in place above the water. There is a rock formation in the middle of the harbor, and the house's pilings are solidly embedded in the rock.
Looking past the Bridge House at the harbor:
Turning around on the bridge gives a view towards the head of the harbor. Low tide shows that, although there are docks in this section, the boats cannot be particularly large.
Speaking of low tide, some moorings are certainly more attractive than others, at least if you want flexibility on when you take your boat out. Those 2 little boats closest to us are not going anywhere until the tide rises.
But it does rise.
In many of our harbor pictures, you can see McFarland Island. This little 1.5-acre island sits in the middle of Boothbay Harbor. It has a distinctive circular house, a long red rectangular cottage, and a little square house.
The long red cottage was just sold this past July for $212K, but according to the listing it needs some maintenance.
On the other side of the harbor we discovered a new park, Fisherman's Memorial. This park is a nice alternative location to view the harbor and McFarland Island. The last picture clearly shows the 3 houses that are on the island.
Updated January 2025