Reid State Park, Maine

Reid State Park, located in Georgetown, Maine, plays a prominent role in my childhood memories. Almost every birthday in my childhood was spent at Reid. My family would load up the car with the cooler and charcoal grill and we’d make a day of it. I delighted in exploring the sand dunes and climbing around on the rocks, looking for creatures in the tidal pools. The hot July afternoon would be spent swimming in the cool ocean, and we’d build sandcastles on the beach.

Reid State Park is famous for its long, wide sandy beaches. They are among the widest and longest in the state. Endangered terns make their nests in the sand dunes, along with many other species of shorebirds. A rocky headland provides great climbing and exploring opportunities, and overlooks nearby islands and lighthouses.

Admission is is $4.50 for Maine residents, $6.50 for non-residents and $2 for non-resident seniors; admission is $1 for children ages 5 to 11 and free for children 4 and under and for Maine residents 65 and older. The park is open from 9:00 am to sunset year-round. The peak season is from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Families with young kids and teenagers will like the wide beaches and gradual descent into the ocean. There are no abrupt drop-offs and swimming is safe, though often chilly (which doesn’t seem to matter for youngsters who are gung-ho to take a dip in the ocean). The beach offers great sandcastle-building opportunities, and the rocks provide many hiding places for crabs, snails, and other tidal creatures. The rocks are a lot of fun to climb among, though supervision is essential and it’s important to watch the condition of the tide.

Other travelers will enjoy the opportunity for birding, hiking, swimming, biking and saltwater fishing during the summer. During winter months, the park is accessible for cross-country skiing or snowshoeing.

The Sagadahoc campground is nearby to Reid State Park, though not on the grounds of the park itself. Georgetown peninsula is near to the town of Bath, which provides several hotels, bed and breakfasts, and dining opportunities.

The best months to visit for weather would of course be spring, summer, and fall. However, mosquitos and black flies can be wicked in the summer months, and the beach is most crowded from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The best months to avoid the crowds would be April/May, and September/October.

Related posts: The Portland Head Light – My Favorite Place in Maine. 1794 Watchtide…by the Sea: Where Eleanor Roosevelt slept.

Photo courtesy of: Jblyberg on Flickr Creative Commons.