Daytrip to Phippsburg & The Peninsulas
Spring has treated us to many warm days and beautiful flowers. Pollen aside, it has been lovely. Looking ahead to summer, we thought it would be fun to bridge the transition with a summery-inspired Daytrip in search of lobsters and lighthouses — not the typical content we share here on Maine the Way, but why not! We threw in some beautiful hikes and other bites along the way for a fun adventure. Enjoy!
The forecast was cooler than the days past, with highs just shy of 60º. This honestly was ideal for us as we trekked around with loaded backpacks and worked hard to make our Daytrip look effortless. Before we left Portland, we placed our bagel order, which was ready for pickup by the time we reached Maple’s in Yarmouth. We stopped at the new Wild Oats Bakery to pick up lunch provisions and marveled at the beautiful annex they’ve created filled with delicious local fare. With food secured, we were on our way to enjoy a great day.
We arrived at the Hermit Island parking lot in the late morning, between other cars headed to set up their campsite for the weekend. We parked, threw our cameras and lunch into a backpack, and headed out. After walking by many beautiful sites with views of the ocean and beach access, we definitely took note of which ones to reserve for next time with friends. We headed clockwise around the island, picking up the red trail, which takes you through the forest and along the beautiful cliffy coastline. We paused to explore the majesty of Worumbo, a small cove surrounded by cliffs with a narrow gulch where the tide flows in and out. Continuing along the shore led us to many pocket beaches, where sand has collected between the ridges of schist. The water was clear and cold and, if the day was any warmer, you certainly would have seen us swimming! We found a driftwood log to enjoy lunch on and pulled out our Wild Oats curry chicken salad sandwiches. The scene included ospreys overhead, lobster boats cruising in front of us, and unfortunately too many thirsty ticks eager to lunge for our legs.
Once lunch was wrapped up, we continued clockwise, admiring more pocket beaches and picking up the road down the island back to our car. The last time we were here, the tide was much lower, allowing us to explore Tennant’s Island too!
From Hermit Island, we ambled along the eastern side of the Phippsburg peninsula in search of lighthouses. Our first stop was in Parker Head, where we flew the drone across the Kennebec River to get a close-up of Perkins Island Light. As the Kennebec was, and still is, a main thoroughfare for boats, these charming navigational systems helped direct boats safely around the ever-present shoals and ledges. From there, we popped up to Squirrel Point Light, which you can hike to from Arrowsic.
As we were making our way towards Doubling Point Lighthouse, a personal favorite, we learned our dinner destination was closed, so we pivoted by putting a poll on our Instagram for our audience to vote on. Since we promised lobsters and lighthouses, we wanted to keep with the theme. The options included the Dolphin Marina, Cook’s Lobster, Harrasseeket Lunch & Lobster, and Red’s Eats.
While the votes rolled in, we crossed off the final two lighthouses of the day, my personal favorite, Doubling Point Lighthouse, and the Doubling Point Range Light. Cam hopped on our stories to explain how range lights work for those unfamiliar. There are two lighthouses, one behind the other, and mariners would position themselves so their lights were in a line. If they could keep that course, they would guarantee a safe trip up the channel, before turning left towards Doubling Point Light and heading towards Bath.
By the time we had to decide on our dinner locale, the Dolphin Marina was in the lead by three votes. So we wrapped up our time down the Phippsburg (& Arrowsic) Peninsula and headed for Harpswell. This spot has been a favorite over the years, not only for its beautiful views, but also the warm blueberry muffin included with your meal. We quenched that lobster craving with a roll and some stew.