If whale watching is on your bucket list and a journey to Maine is in your future, here are some tips for your trip:
When to Go: “The best time for Maine whale watching begins in mid-April when hungry whales arrive to feast in local waters rich in sand eels, copepods, plankton, and fish. In October, they’ll head south toward warmer seas” (Visit Maine, 2020). June through October is a touristy season here in Vacationland, so if you prefer a smaller, more intimate experience, shoot to visit Maine in April or May–you’ll be the first to experience Maine sea life!
You’ll Have the Chance to See: There are a variety of different types of whales you might see out in Maine’s coastal waters. “Familiar sights include humpback whales, pilot whales, minke whales, and the massive finback whale, which can grow up to 80 feet in length” (Visit Maine, 2020). There’s a chance you’ll also see dolphins, seals, and other marine life along the way.
By Land or Shining Sea?: Whales often venture close to the shore in an effort to catch fish fleeing to the shallows, so you can opt to arm yourself with binoculars and a bagged lunch and head to a local land-watching hotspot. (This is also smart for those who struggle with sea-sickness!) However, for a truly authentic and amazing whale watching experience, you’ll have to head out to sea. These cruises will put you right where the action is. “In fact, the chance of sighting a whale is so high that some companies offer a money back guarantee” (Visit Maine, 2020).
A Few Whale Watching Tours:
1) Odyssey Whale Watch, Portland
2) First Chance Whale Watch, Kennebunkport
3) Cap’n Fish’s Whale Watch, Boothbay Harbor
4) Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co., Bar Harbor
5) Robertson Sea Tours and Adventures, Millbridge
6) Tarquin Whale Watch, Lubec
If your travels bring you through Portland or Bath, stop into Lisa-Marie’s Made in Maine. We are located on 35 Exchange Street in Portland and 170 Front Street in Bath, in the heart of both of their downtown areas. Here, you can commemorate your whale watching memories with handmade pottery mugs featuring right and humpback whales; recycled wood transformed into whale carvings, both rustic (bare wood) and painted (Maine scenes); and handcrafted silver jewelry showcasing the beautiful mammal as a necklace pendant as well as its signature tail featured as a hammered cuff bracelet.
We hope you make it up to Maine and cross something off of that bucket list!
Love, Lisa-Marie’s