Top Maine Tours: Sightseeing and Cruises to Book Now

Planning a trip to Maine and trying to figure out the best way to see the sights? Well, you, like your neighbor might be thinking about what options you, like your best friend, have, so, that’s why putting together a list of some of the very best Maine tours, sightseeing trips, and cruises seems like just what you might need. Maine has some pretty amazing stuff to see, that is, with its rocky coastline, historical towns, and the kind of seafood that makes your mouth water. This article should help you, say, like it’s for your cousin. It’s going to give you, seemingly, the lowdown on some awesome tours that could make your Maine visit truly unforgettable, at the end of the day.

1. Acadia National Park Tour from Bar Harbor

Acadia National Park is super famous, arguably, so, it makes sense to kick things off with a tour there. Getting from Bar Harbor, which, frankly, is often the starting point for many folks visiting the park, means you’re right in the action. This tour typically gets you some great views of places just a little bit stunning, too, such as Cadillac Mountain (the highest point on the U.S. Atlantic coast), and the super photogenic Bass Harbor Head Light. You’ll probably find many of these tours are led by guides who seem to know just about every cool fact and neat little story about Acadia’s history, wildlife, and geology, alright.

Seeing Acadia with someone who knows their stuff is pretty good, you know, it’s better than wandering around hoping you stumble upon something interesting, okay. This option is usually available either as a bus tour, for instance, which is pretty relaxing, or like your gym teacher did at high school, in a smaller van for a more up close and friendly experience. Tours of this type typically clock in at roughly 3–5 hours, giving you plenty of time to soak up the park’s top attractions, I mean, if that doesn’t sound good to you, right?

Why go for this tour? Maybe you should do this because it gives you a comfortable and info-packed introduction to Acadia. Cadillac Mountain offers a good lookout point, while the Bass Harbor Head Light looks lovely, kind of like it was made just for pictures.

Read our full review: Acadia National Park Tour Full Review and Details
See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Acadia National Park Tour)

2. Portland Head Light and Casco Bay Cruise

Heading south now, basically, Portland is another hot spot you’re probably going to want to investigate. The Portland Head Light, located in Cape Elizabeth a bit away from Portland, you see, is the oldest lighthouse in Maine. Taking a tour here is pretty nice because you could stroll around Fort Williams Park and get some amazing views of the Atlantic, really.

Now, maybe you are the ocean-loving type? If this sounds like you, like, there are plenty of Casco Bay cruises available from Portland. These cruises may give you different angles of the lighthouses around the bay and might even get you near some of the Calendar Islands, where they say, in the past, that there are just about enough islands to have one for every day of the year. Some cruises have narrations that fill you in on local history and wildlife. Some also offer sunset views or even lobster bake options, but, in that case, those are the most tasty and satisfying, honestly.

Most likely, cruises go for about 1.5 to 3 hours. Keep that in mind, alright?

Why do this? So, you’re going to love visiting the historic Portland Head Light. Then, take a scenic cruise in Casco Bay, probably the best part is, there are opportunities for amazing photographs and a little, slightly different glimpse into Maine’s maritime culture.

Read our full review: Portland Head Light and Casco Bay Cruise Full Review and Details
See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Portland Head Light and Casco Bay Cruise)

3. Maine Lobster Boat Tour

What says “Maine” louder than lobster? The only option, very simply, is taking a Maine lobster boat tour. This tour tends to offer you some hands-on experiences. That said, it gives you an inside look into how lobstermen haul up their traps, alright. These tours can take place in various coastal towns, so, you have many from which to pick and choose. It’s more than just seeing the process, actually; you, like, usually learn all about lobster biology, conservation efforts, and the role the crustaceans play in Maine’s economy, at the end of the day. Plus, getting out on the water can be both relaxing and exciting, which, literally, is everything. Tours usually last about 1.5 to 2.5 hours.

Is this your style? If so, getting an up-close demonstration of Maine’s iconic industry is both unique and kind of educational. Experiencing Maine’s maritime culture directly connects you, very much, to the community and lifestyle, okay. Plus, lobsters can be great, literally, and they taste amazing.

Read our full review: Maine Lobster Boat Tour Full Review and Details
See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Maine Lobster Boat Tour)

4. Boothbay Harbor Windjammer Cruise

For a dose of nostalgia, possibly, you might find that booking a windjammer cruise from Boothbay Harbor a nice touch, possibly like something out of a movie. Windjammers are these old sailing ships, the boats that were, basically, so important to Maine’s maritime history. When you are on one of these tours, just know that, typically, you’ll cruise around the waters of Boothbay, and you will admire the coastline as it drifts on past you. These cruises aren’t, maybe, just sightseeing ventures; some may include things like meals, live music, and chances to help raise the sails. Tours can differ quite a bit in length from just a couple of hours to a full day, or more, honestly.

Reason for going: You know, experiencing the grandeur of the Maine coast, like how sailors from years gone by experienced, this creates a historical touch to your tour, as it, basically, links to Maine’s culture. And in general, if you are wanting an adventure out on the sea and a relaxing way to take in views, this could do the trick for you. Tours normally are between 2-6 hours, it’s almost, like a blink.

Read our full review: Boothbay Harbor Windjammer Cruise Full Review and Details
See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Boothbay Harbor Windjammer Cruise)

5. Kennebunkport Scenic Driving Tour

If you are someone who is happy, sometimes, to explore at their own tempo from the comfort of your car or a rented vehicle, arguably, doing a driving tour of Kennebunkport is the greatest plan, alright. Kennebunkport is this charming coastal town, like what you might see on TV, filled with historic buildings, art galleries, and boutiques. A good driving route ought to take you along Ocean Avenue, the way the coast winds with beautiful views of the Atlantic, so, this will create amazing sights.

You’ll probably see Walker’s Point, too, if you do drive through Kennebunkport, in order to drive by the Bush family compound. Maybe, what you would also like, is to make a stop at Goose Rocks Beach for a pleasant walk on the sand. Depending on how many stops you are trying to make, it will last about 2-4 hours to see everything that you would like to see. That, usually, is plenty of time, too.

Why drive around? Okay, so, this method might be one that has total control over your schedule and getting to see all the picturesque coastal scenes as you move between landmarks. So then, you can sightsee as fast or as slow as you want and enjoy everything as you go, too.

Read our full review: Kennebunkport Scenic Driving Tour Full Review and Details
See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Kennebunkport Scenic Driving Tour)