Southern Maine Coast, Coastal region in Maine, United States.
The Southern Maine Coast is a coastal region in the southern part of Maine, stretching along the Atlantic shoreline and connecting sandy beaches, harbor towns, and forested areas. The main towns sit directly on or very close to the water, with smaller communities and open land filling the spaces in between.
The region grew through shipbuilding and sea trade from the 1600s onward, with several harbor towns becoming key stops along the Atlantic coast. The railroad in the 1800s and then the car in the early 1900s turned it into a summer destination for visitors from Boston and other cities to the south.
Small galleries and craft shops line the main streets of many towns along this stretch of coast, a sign of the creative communities that settled here. In the working harbors, fishing boats still bring in daily catches of lobster and fish that go straight to nearby restaurants.
Most towns along this coast are easiest to reach by car, and parking is generally available outside of peak summer weekends. Visiting in late spring or early fall gives access to most open attractions while avoiding the busiest crowds.
Several wildlife refuges sit between the busiest beach towns along this coast, making it possible to watch migrating birds or seals without driving far from the main road. Some of these protected areas border campgrounds and resort towns that fill with visitors every summer.
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