Grocery
Hannaford Supermarket
180 Townsend AveThis is a convenient grocery store near the house.
This is a small market with a great selection of wine, gourmet foods, and fresh seafood, including live lobsters.
15 locals recommend
Pinkham's Gourmet Market
295 Townsend AveThis is a small market with a great selection of wine, gourmet foods, and fresh seafood, including live lobsters.
Barbara Scully is a legend in regional aquaculture, and the oysters at Scully’s are not to be missed! Damariscotta River oysters are well-known and served in the finest restaurants across the country. All yours in an easy (and scenic) 13 minute drive from the Social Club. Best to go early in case they sell out.
Scully Sea Products
707 River RdBarbara Scully is a legend in regional aquaculture, and the oysters at Scully’s are not to be missed! Damariscotta River oysters are well-known and served in the finest restaurants across the country. All yours in an easy (and scenic) 13 minute drive from the Social Club. Best to go early in case they sell out.
Dining (and Snacking)
Italian dining in Boothbay Harbor. Walking distance from most of the Harbor street parking. Good Italian eats with nice views of the harbor from the upstairs dining room.
30 locals recommend
Ports of Italy, Boothbay Harbor
47 Commercial StItalian dining in Boothbay Harbor. Walking distance from most of the Harbor street parking. Good Italian eats with nice views of the harbor from the upstairs dining room.
We’ve enjoyed Shannon’s at their brick and mortar location in Boothbay Harbor next to Footbridge (see Breweries below) as well as at their mobile truck. Excellent fish and chips, lobster rolls, and the like.
6 locals recommend
Shannon's Unshelled
798 Granary WayWe’ve enjoyed Shannon’s at their brick and mortar location in Boothbay Harbor next to Footbridge (see Breweries below) as well as at their mobile truck. Excellent fish and chips, lobster rolls, and the like.
Full-service bakery with delectable baked goods and coffee drinks. Don't miss the macarons. So close to the Social Club, and so yummy. Be there early - they will sell out. Great gift store as well.
10 locals recommend
Farm 23
102 Ocean Point RdFull-service bakery with delectable baked goods and coffee drinks. Don't miss the macarons. So close to the Social Club, and so yummy. Be there early - they will sell out. Great gift store as well.
Ice cream shops in coastal Maine are ubiquitous, and Boothbay is no exception. You’ll find several good shops in the area, but Downeast is our favorite: there are two locations, one in Boothbay and one in the Harbor. We prefer the one in Boothbay, as it is a bit quieter and convenient to the
Social Club (across the road from Hannaford). Serving sizes run LARGE (read: double scoops are wasted on our kids - they get the kiddie size and sometimes can’t finish them even then).
7 locals recommend
Downeast Ice Cream Factory
1 By-WayIce cream shops in coastal Maine are ubiquitous, and Boothbay is no exception. You’ll find several good shops in the area, but Downeast is our favorite: there are two locations, one in Boothbay and one in the Harbor. We prefer the one in Boothbay, as it is a bit quieter and convenient to the
Social Club (across the road from Hannaford). Serving sizes run LARGE (read: double scoops are wasted on our kids - they get the kiddie size and sometimes can’t finish them even then).
Friendly service and tasty coffee drinks. The upstairs seating area has a tremendous harbor view. If you need to get a little work/studying done, Brisetto’s makes a great satellite office.
Brisetto's Second Cup
41 Commercial StFriendly service and tasty coffee drinks. The upstairs seating area has a tremendous harbor view. If you need to get a little work/studying done, Brisetto’s makes a great satellite office.
Beer!
Excellent beers, food, and atmosphere. This is a family-friendly place with room for the kids to wander and abundant outdoor seating. Be sure to check out the very cool tavern inside as well. Just a few minutes drive from the Social Club.
26 locals recommend
Boothbay Craft Brewery
301 Adams Pond RdExcellent beers, food, and atmosphere. This is a family-friendly place with room for the kids to wander and abundant outdoor seating. Be sure to check out the very cool tavern inside as well. Just a few minutes drive from the Social Club.
Footbridge is another good one. Located in Boothbay Harbor, Footbridge has good indoor seating with a few harbor-view tables outside. Last we went, you could bring food up from Shannon’s Unshelled if you had a table at Footbridge.
11 locals recommend
Footbridge Brewery
25 Granary WayFootbridge is another good one. Located in Boothbay Harbor, Footbridge has good indoor seating with a few harbor-view tables outside. Last we went, you could bring food up from Shannon’s Unshelled if you had a table at Footbridge.
Sightseeing
This is a nice trail less than a mile from the Social Club. It's part of the Boothbay Region Land Trust.
Saunders Preserve
Pleasant Cove RoadThis is a nice trail less than a mile from the Social Club. It's part of the Boothbay Region Land Trust.
Oak Point Farm is a preserve designed to draw in people of all ages to enjoy the outdoors and the beauty of our region. You can hike miles of local trails and explore Oak Point Farm. A Natural Playground (opened in summer '22) is the newest feature of this Boothbay Region Land Trust site.
23 locals recommend
Boothbay Region Land Trust
60 Samoset RdOak Point Farm is a preserve designed to draw in people of all ages to enjoy the outdoors and the beauty of our region. You can hike miles of local trails and explore Oak Point Farm. A Natural Playground (opened in summer '22) is the newest feature of this Boothbay Region Land Trust site.
Go hunt the Trolls! There is something for everyone at the Botanical Gardens, and it is beautiful in all seasons. Just a 12 minute drive from the Social Club. Our family has enjoyed the Gardens numerous times and we’re always excited to go back - we can’t recommend it highly enough!
162 locals recommend
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
105 Botanical Gardens DrGo hunt the Trolls! There is something for everyone at the Botanical Gardens, and it is beautiful in all seasons. Just a 12 minute drive from the Social Club. Our family has enjoyed the Gardens numerous times and we’re always excited to go back - we can’t recommend it highly enough!
Tidal Transit Kayak
18 Granary WayGood option for kayak rentals.
Captain Dan Wolotsky is your guide for local or offshore fishing. Dan is great with kids and families, and wonderful resource for exploring the area waters. Ask him to take you to Ram Island and see the lighthouse.
Sweet Action Charters
Commercial StreetCaptain Dan Wolotsky is your guide for local or offshore fishing. Dan is great with kids and families, and wonderful resource for exploring the area waters. Ask him to take you to Ram Island and see the lighthouse.
Great way to learn about the seafaring history of the region. The museum campus is right on the Kennebec River. Kids get in free. Check their online calendar for special events. It is about 45 minutes from the house, but you'll pass through Bath if you're headed to Boothbay from the south, so you could plan a stop on your way into or out of town!
121 locals recommend
Maine Maritime Museum
243 Washington StGreat way to learn about the seafaring history of the region. The museum campus is right on the Kennebec River. Kids get in free. Check their online calendar for special events. It is about 45 minutes from the house, but you'll pass through Bath if you're headed to Boothbay from the south, so you could plan a stop on your way into or out of town!
Our favorite sandy beach. The water is brisk, even in the summer, but it's a fun place to swim and play. In the fall, it's still lovely to walk around and maybe dip your toes in. It's a state park with paid entry.
208 locals recommend
Popham Beach State Park
711 Popham RdOur favorite sandy beach. The water is brisk, even in the summer, but it's a fun place to swim and play. In the fall, it's still lovely to walk around and maybe dip your toes in. It's a state park with paid entry.
Books
They have a great selection of used books, and your purchase will benefit the public library. It's a great place to spend a rainy day. There's a nice view of the river from the children's books area, too.
8 locals recommend
Skidompha Secondhand Book Shop
17 Backstreet LandingThey have a great selection of used books, and your purchase will benefit the public library. It's a great place to spend a rainy day. There's a nice view of the river from the children's books area, too.
This beautiful public library hosts all kinds of family events, author talks, outdoor movies, and more. There's also a "Friends of the Library" used bookstore next door where you can get some great bargains.
105 locals recommend
Boothbay Harbor
This beautiful public library hosts all kinds of family events, author talks, outdoor movies, and more. There's also a "Friends of the Library" used bookstore next door where you can get some great bargains.
Traveler advice
Don't miss
Weekly Farmer's Market
There's a local Farmer's Market every Thursday in the Boothbay Common. We like the goat cheese and spreads from Blue Tin Farm and the maple syrup from Frontier Maple Sugarworks. There are farmers and artisans from all over who participate.
As an aside, if you’re going to have a potty emergency, the Boothbay Village Public Restroom next to the Common is the nicest public restroom we have every beheld in these continental United States. Recommended for pit stops, emergency or no.
Don't miss
Windjammer Days
Every year in late June, there's a week of festivities celebrating the historic boating culture of the Boothbay region. Fireworks, pirates, a parade and more. Have you ever seen a codfish relay race? It’s a lot of fun!
Don't miss
Fall Leaf Peeping
The Social Club is perfectly placed to host your fall leaf peeping getaway! Book a trip to unwind and watch the fall foliage display. The department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry has recommendations to help you time your trip.
Don't miss
Christmas in Boothbay
See the gingerbread house competition at the Opera House, take the kids on the Polar Express at the Railway Village, and check out Gardens Aglow, an unrivaled holiday lights display at the Botanical Gardens.