Spring On The Southern Maine Coast
Spring is a time of awakening and renewal and nowhere is this truer than the Maine coast. As winter subsides and warmer temperatures return, trees bud with brilliant color and flowers blossom in the bounteous gardens that grace the southern coast of Maine. Being on the waterfront come springtime you can really appreciate the passage of the seasons, and spring is the most magical in Maine.
The months of April and May often bring early beach weather, perfect golfing and biking temperatures and the best time to escape to the coast for an uncrowded pre-summer getaway. Locals know to launch their boats in spring for those beautiful days that start out calm, cool and crisp but usher in sunshine and warm breezes, then end long after with spectacular sunsets over the sea.
Spring is also a time of fun festivals in Maine. From Easter brunches overlooking the ocean at some of the best waterfront inns, to April vacation activities and May Day parades, Maine loves a good spring gathering. Kennebunk celebrates May Day with an old fashioned small town parade and a May Pole. The Nonantum Resort in Kennebunkport and the York Harbor Inn in York both offer lavish Sunday Brunches on Easter and Mother’s Day. Memorial Day parades in Maine’s small coastal towns are classics not to be missed, from fire trucks to 4H troops, bands to bagpipes, live animals to life size puppets and even former Presidents in Kennebunkport. The Old Port Festival in Portland and the Kennebunkport Festival are both great fun with live music, art, native food and drink, both are held in early June.
Maine Farmers markets and local farm stands open in spring to sell their organic farm raised food, fresh from farm to table. Lobsters come in to season in spring, as do fresh Maine strawberries followed by blueberries.
Even though there is often still snow in the mountains of Maine, and skiing at Sunday River and Sugarloaf in the spring months of April and May, the southern Maine coast is transitioning to summer. The ocean warms the ambient temperature in the southern coast towns and locals break out their boats, shorts and baseball caps as soon as they see 60-degrees.
Bringing your kids to the southern Maine coast for spring break and you will find wide-open beaches for exploring, Frisbee, flying a kite, surfing or just relaxing. Golfers will love the brilliant greens that are fresh and ready for play in the spring. Bikers can enjoy the best temperatures for those long rides, since its still cool enough that you don’t break a sweat, but the sky is bright blue with plenty of sunshine.
Just driving through the coastal towns of Kittery, York, Ogunquit, Kennebunkport, Old Orchard Beach and Portland reveals beautiful gardens at seaside homes and cottages. Rosa Rugosa, Forsythia and Rhododendron blossom in bursts of pink, red and yellow in fantastic contrast to the might blue ocean and the budding green trees. Riding your bike along the coast you will want your camera to capture the beauty of this time of year where the sea meets the lush landscape of the shoreline.
Make plans to vacation during springtime in Maine, on the southern coast before the summer crowds. You will find plenty of vacancy and great deals at locals resorts, inns and lodges since you are well ahead of the peak summer season, and you can still get that perfect beach day in May and June.
