Best Time to Visit Lighthouses in Maine

by Janet

When is the best time to visit lighthouses in Maine? Is late November too late?

Liz's Reply...

Hi Janet, and thank you for your question.

My short answer is that the best time to visit lighthouses in Maine (this year, anyway) will be Saturday, September 17, 2011, for the 3rd Annual Open Lighthouse Day...

...and "Yes", November is rather late in the year to visit Maine lighthouses.

For a bit more of an explanation...

With over 60 lighthouses, Maine has more welcoming beacons along its shoreline than any other state. Far too many to explore in one visit!

But although some of the lighthouse can be seen year-round, and are even the focal point of holiday celebrations, such as the Christmas Lighting of the Nubble, in York, Maine...

...the best time to visit lighthouses in Maine, is during late spring, summer, or early fall.

For a number of reasons. Many famous Maine lighthouses...

...the Halfway Rock Light seen in the far distance off the tip of Bailey Island

...Baker Island Lighthouse, located in the Cranberry Isles off Mount Desert

...Goat Island Light off Kennebunkport

...and the Boon Island Lighthouse, not far offshore from York Beach (and partially visible from Sohier Park and Nubble Light)...

...are on Maine islands, and can only be seen by boat.

And because of the ruggedness and irregularities of the Maine coastline most of its other lighthouses are located on ledges, reefs or breakwaters - they too are best seen from the water.

Since the majority of Maine lighthouse boat tours and sightseeing cruises are seasonal...

...often running from mid-May through early October (at the latest) visiting these lighthouses in November would not be possible.

Another reason why November would not be the best time of year for visiting Maine lighthouses is that at some of Maine lighthouse locations...

...small outbuildings have been converted into museums and/or shops, both of which can be a fun way to learn about Maine's maritime history. But these also, are typically only open during the busy tourist season.

Keep in mind also...

...that as winter approaches, so too does inclement weather, and snow! At this time of year, lighthouses that would otherwise be accessible may be at the end of an unplowed roadway.

There are a number of online resources with great information about Maine lighthouses. The Maine Office of Tourism website is one of them, and has an outstanding interactive section with just about everything you need to know about Maine's most famous landmarks.

You can visit their site at www.visitmaine.com, or go directly to the lighthouse pages at: www.visitmaine.com/attractions/sightseeing_tours/lighthouse.

You will be able to explore Maine lighthouses by region...

...The Beaches (lighthouses in Southern Maine), Portland and Casco Bay, Midcoast Maine Lighthouses, and Downeast and Acadia Lighthouses.

The Maine Office of Tourism site also has a locator map of Maine lighthouses, information about distinctive lighthouses in Maine, and a wealth of interesting facts about Maine lighthouses.

Back to the Maine Open Lighthouse Day that I mentioned earlier...

...on September 17th, the U.S. Coast Guard, the State of Maine and the American Lighthouse Foundation will sponsor the 2011 Open Lighthouse Day in Maine. Their goal is to provide visitors with an understanding of the rich history of Maine lighthouses and their devoted innkeepers.

The Maine Office of Tourism website provides information regarding lighthouse boat cruises and tours, and will be posting a list of lighthouses participating in Open Lighthouse Day.

If you do plan on visiting Maine in November, and plan to be in the Midcoast area, a great place to visit is the Maine Lighthouse Museum in Rockland...

...www.mainelighthousemuseum.com - at the Maine Discovery Center. The museum is actually well worth a visit at any time of year!

In their own words, the Rockland, Maine Lighthouse Museum houses the "largest collection of Fresnel lighthouse lenses and the most important landmark collection of lighthouse artifacts and Coast Guard memorabilia in the United States".

I hope this helps you figure out when the best time to visit Maine lighthouses will be, and that regardless of what time of year you visit Maine, you have a great trip!

Best regards,
Liz