Accessible Places to Visit and Things to Do in Maine
When I think of the state of Maine what comes to mind are many things: lobster, beautiful scenery, lighthouses and coastline. I was able to experience all of this and more when I visited in 2018. A road trip from my home in New York State up to Maine was absolutely wonderful. On this trip, we stopped in Portland, Bar Harbor and Eastport. I’ll share with you all the amazing accessible things to do in order to inspire you to take your own trip there someday.
Portland
Portland Head Lighthouse Fort Williams Park
The most photographed lighthouse in Maine, Portland Head Lighthouse is just one of many attractions in this park. The Park has accessible parking but there are no permanent restrooms, just portable ones that are maintained regularly. I believe some of these were wheelchair accessible.
You can spend a few hours (like I did) or a whole day. There are several food vendors throughout the park offering lobster rolls, hot dogs etc.
Highlights of the park include:
1. Portland Head Lighthouse and Museum
The path to the lighthouse is wheelchair accessible but some of the best views and photo opportunities are from farther away. The Museum is in the keeper’s house and is accessible by ramp on a side entrance. Inside it tells the history of the lighthouse and park as well as how technology has evolved in lighthouse keeping.
2. Cliff Walk
Alongside the lighthouse begins the cliff walk trail. This is a dirt trail that runs parallel to the sea alongside the cliffs. There are several pull off spots where you can enjoy the view and get some great pictures. Although fairly steep in some places, I was able to navigate it fairly well on my mobility scooter. Just makes sure you have a good charge on your battery.
3. Battery Blair
Located near the lighthouse, this was once a fortification mounted with two Breechloading Rifles on Disappearing Carriage Mounts, each firing a 12-inch diameter, 1070-pound shell up to eight miles. There is an accessible gravel pathway leading to the battery where you can read interpretive signage.
4. Battery Keys
Built in 1906 and named for a Civil War general who had been appointed to the Military Academy from Maine, this small battery was designed to defend against small, fast attack boats in a point and shoot manner. You can access the exterior of the battery by a paved pathway.
5. Goddard Mansion
Now ruins, this once stately civil war era mansion was once quite the site. Now deteriorated and in ruins it still offers great photo opportunities. There is a pathway to the mansion but it can be quite steep, so manual wheelchair users may need assistance.
Bar Harbor
Town of Bar Harbor
The town of Bar Harbor is really lovely. There are large stately homes that were once the summer homes of famous families such as the Kennedy’s, Vanderbilts and Rockefellers.
At low tide, there is a sand bar that connects the mainland to Bar Island off shore. It’s very popular for people to walk out on and explore. Just be aware of the tide… you do NOT want to get caught out there when the tide comes in.
I was unsure how accessible this walk would be, but decided to give it a try on my mobility scooter. Although it was sandy, there was also a good deal of gravel so I tried to drive on those areas. I won’t say that this wasn’t a challenge but I only got stuck once!
A heavier-powered wheelchair may have more difficulty, but I’ll leave the decision of whether you want to attempt it up to you. It did have great views.
I have since found out that it is now possible to drive your vehicle out on the sandbar. Access is via Bridge Street in Bar Harbor. Remember, the sand bar is only accessible 1-1 1/2 hours on either side of low tide.
After we went onto the sand bar, we walked along the paved path that runs parallel to the shore. It was very accessible and relaxing.
Travel Tip: Make sure you stop in one of the local restaurants and try the famous blueberry soda. It’s actually quite delicious!
Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park is HUGE and offers lots of accessible things to see and do. There are plenty of scenic drives, accessible trails, and gorgeous scenery. Most of the popular scenic overlooks (like Thunder Hole and Cadillac Mountain) have accessible parking and restrooms.
The many carriage roads throughout the park make going on an accessible role very possible. There are so many accessible things to do here, that I devoted a whole blog post just to this amazing place. To read all about how great this national park is, click here for my accessible guide to Acadia National Park.
Eastport
Campobello Island
Technically owned by Canada, this island is home to the world’s only international park. The park is co-owned by both Canada and the United States and is where President Franklin D. Roosevelt had his summer home.
Now, the home is open for tours to the public and the first floor is accessible to wheelchair users. It was wonderful to get a peek into the life of a former president. Surprisingly, the house looks very comfortable and rather, well, normal. There’s nothing fancy or over the top.
In addition to touring the summer house, the island offers scenic drives and several lighthouses, for more information, click here. It is well worth going through customs to explore this beautiful island.
Whale Watching Tour
During the summer months, the whales migrate north to feed. When I visited in mid-June, it was still fairly early in the season but I was able to take a whale watching tour with Eastport Windjammers and saw Minke Whales. Although the Humpback Whales had not arrived yet, I still saw lots of wildlife including seals, eagles, Minke Whales and lobsters.
As an added bonus, because it was so early in the season, there were only 8 other people on the tour with us. It was almost like having a private tour! The tour also took us by “old sow” the largest whirlpool in the Western Hemisphere and East Quoddy Lighthouse.
Typically, a whale-watching tour run by a smaller company isn’t the most accessible. However, this company was fantastic. We let them know ahead of time that I’d be using a wheelchair and they switched docks to make getting to the boat more accessible.
The ramp to the boat was steep due to tides, but that’s something that Mother Nature controls. When I got to the boat, there was a door that opened on the boat so I could roll right on. The crew was very helpful in both getting me down the ramp and onto the boat. I highly recommend this company.
Tip: Eastport can have tides that vary by 20 feet! Plan ahead and try to schedule your tour on a day when high tide will be around 2 pm to make going down the ramp to the boat easier.
Monica’s Chocolates
If you are ever in Eastport, you absolutely HAVE to stop by here. All of the truffles and bon bons are handmade from cocoa beans imported from Peru. They even give you a free chocolate tasting session to help you decide from all of the delicious flavors that they offer. When I visited, I felt like I had died and gone to heaven. The store had a step free entrance and I had no problems getting around in my wheelchair.
West Quoddy Head Lighthouse
Lubec Maine, which is just outside of Eastport, is home to the eastern most point in the USA. There is a cute lighthouse (West Quoddy Head Lighthouse) and a sign that marks the location. It’s a nice stop for photos and you can spend as much or as little time there as you want. There is accessible parking in the small lot.
There is one trail that is partially accessible. The first 0.5-miles of the western portion of the Coast Guard Trail to the overlook is accessible to motorized wheelchairs, and with assistance for non-motorized chairs. There is also a small museum open to the public that talks about the whales in the area as well as the history of the lighthouse (which was built in 1858). I did not visit the museum so I am unsure if it’s wheelchair accessible.
Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge
Just outside of Eastport is this national wildlife refuge. There is one designated wheelchair-accessible trail, The Woodcock Trail (¼ mile and paved). We were there early in the season so the dirt roads were open (they aren’t always open to vehicles) and we drove through the refuge.
We were hoping to find a moose while we were there, but unfortunately, luck was not on our side. In fact, we didn’t see a moose the entire time we were in Maine! The drive was still nice and we did encounter a black bear during our time there.
When the dirt roads are not open to private vehicles (usually in the summer) they would also make for a great way for wheelchair users to explore this beautiful place.
PRO Tip: For the best chance of spotting wildlife, go either early in the morning (like around dawn) or at dusk. The weather is cooler and the wildlife tends to be more active.
The whole trip to Maine was wonderful and it would be really hard for me to pick a favorite town as they all offered something special. So, I’ll just recommend that you visit them all!
Summer is the busiest time to visit but every season offers something special. I’m sure the fall foliage would be beautiful, the spring has the Lupin flowers blooming, and the summer has whales and pleasant weather. No matter when you go, I hope that my list of accessible things to do in Maine will help you plan your trip.
