I have written about this before…well, sort of…but figured it was worthwhile to touch upon again. We have traditionally thought about getting away as a vacation, where we sightsee, lie around on a beach, eat out every night and sleep late…essentially recharging ourselves in a more restful and observational manner. This concept and desire still exist; however, it has morphed a bit into more of an experiential getaway, where you truly immerse yourself in the locale and everything it is known for. The goal is personal growth, emotional connections, and a deeper understanding of the destination, which takes you beyond mere sightseeing to create transformative travel experiences.
So, as I thought about this, it occurred to me that I would need to come up with two versions of this experiential travel…one for those who want to do and one for those who would prefer to view. For example, you may love seeing the moonlight over the bay from the shoreline or your guest room window, versus you may want to truly experience it by taking a moonlight kayak tour on the bay. Or you may like seeing the lobster boats coming into New Harbor to unload their catch, versus you want to be on a lobster boat learning and actually hauling in the traps.
I think you get the idea. Here are some of the things I came up with:
Birdwatching
- See- we all love to see beautiful birds; many of us have feeders to attract them.
- Do-hike the Salt Bay Farm with naturalist Sarah Gladu to practice bird identification and look for migratory birds that visit us only during certain times of the year. Hosted by Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust
Lobstering
- See – Sit out by the lighthouse or near Marble Cove at the point and watch the lobstermen bring in their traps
- Do – Go out on a lobster boat to learn about the trade and help haul in some traps. Maine Coastal Adventures
Alewives Migration
- See-Go to the Bristol Mills Fish Ladder and watch the alewives make their way up to spawn in the lake beyond. Or go to Damariscotta Mills Fish Ladder on a tour to learn and see with naturalist Sarah Gladu. Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust
- Do- Volunteer to count the alewives. Town of Bristol Fish Committee, keep an eye out for when they are looking for volunteers in May.
Farming with Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA)
- See-Attend the Common Ground Country Fair at the end of September, with everything from farm produce and products, farm animals, crafts, music, and food.
- Do-There are a multitude of volunteer opportunities all year, including at the fair. MOFGA’s Volunteer Website Opportunities
Oyster Lovers
- See and taste – Try the Damariscotta River Cruise’s Oyster and Wine tasting evening cruise, super fun. Learn about oyster farming and taste along the way. Damariscotta River Cruises
- Do-Want to learn how to shuck those delicious oysters? Try an oyster shucking class hosted by The Maine Oyster Company.
Sunset and Moonlight on John’s Bay
- See- Walk to the lighthouse or the point just before see the sunset or after the sun sets to see the moon above the water.
- Do-Join in on a guided sunset or moonlight kayak tour on John’s Bay. Maine Kayak Company
Take your pick and plan your adventure; whether you see or do, it’s all up to you!
As you know, when you plan your Maine trip, The Bradley Inn makes the perfect home base with location, comfort, food, and service to round out a perfect getaway.
Reservations are coming in as people plan for this year’s Maine vacation, so book now to get your preferred dates and room.
