chris's blog

Have you already visited mid-coast Maine's most popular winter attraction in previous years? Well, this year its going to be quite a bit different. Instead of walking about through the Gardens in the frigid air, this year you can enjoy this winter light spectacle from the comfort of your own vehicle as it will now be a driving tour. 

Maine's governor, Janet Mills, has rescinded the requirement for travelers to Maine from Massachusetts to have a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of arrival. Massachusetts joins New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Vermont, and New Hampshire in enjoying test-free travel to Maine. We hope our Massachusetts friends take the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful panorama of Maine's autumn foliage as well as Boothbay Harbor's Festival of Lights and Gardens Aglow in late November and December. We'd love to have you stay with us at Bayberry House!

As we slowly begin to return to normalcy here in Boothbay Harbor, its good to hear the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens are expected to open on June 1st. For visitors to Boothbay Harbor, a trip to the Gardens is a must, and even more so this year. With 270+ acres to explore, its easy to maintain social distancing for an entire day out. Its only a short drive from Bayberry House, so you can be there in less than ten minutes.

Please ensure you make advance ticket purchases as, for now, no walk-in admissions are permitted.

In these uncertain times, why not buy a Bayberry House Bed and Breakfast gift certificate that may be used anytime, and by anyone you wish? We are currently running a special where, if you purchase a Bayberry House gift certificate, we will increase your buying power by 10% -. $500 gets you $550! A perfect gift or use it yourself. Phone or email purchases only please.

Luckily for us, one of the activities we enjoy has been largely unaffected by the coronavirus pandemic. The trails of the Boothbay Regional Land Trust are open and we have spent hours with our dog Banjo exploring both those that are our favorites as well as some old friends we haven't walked in a while. Every so often we do run across someone coming the other way, so we just step six feet or so off the trail and let them pass. Its fortunate for Banjo there is no social distancing rule in effect for canines, so he gets to engage in a lot of sniffing and chasing about.

I had been meaning to take a look at the schedule for the Opera House for quite a while, but just hadn't gotten around to it.  Well, now I have and "wow!" am I excited.  Some of the shows we will be sure to buy tickets for are Callaghan and the Ruth Moody Band - and Gaelic Storm, of course.  But how about Sons of Serendip, who were absolutely fantastic on America's Got Talent?  There's simply too many good acts from which to choose!

We're always being asked, "We're really just stopping over in Boothbay Harbor on our way to Acadia for a week this summer.  Why would we want to spend more than one night at Bayberry House?"  Well, let me tell you there is so much to do in Boothbay Harbor that you should really consider splitting your time between Boothbay and Bar Harbor.  That way, you get the best of both places!  

Here is a sample three day itinerary in and around Boothbay Harbor:

Day 1

Arrive at Bayberry House

Boothbay Harbor's annual WIndjammer Days festival is nearly here and boy, am I excited!  Beginning June 24th, it is an action packed week of the kind of small-town events that are becoming increasingly hard to find in America.  There are all sorts of contests, from oyster shucking to lobster eating to cod fish races, all topped off by a massive tug of war and Windjammer's Got Talent competition.  Sit on the front porch at Bayberry House and watch the iconic street parade go up Townsend Avenue, Opera House concerts as well as free concerts at the Whale Park will get ev

People sometimes ask what is the best time to visit Boothbay Harbor.  After thinking about it a bit (and scratching my head for effect), I have to say mid-May to June would be my favorite.  The weather is getting warm, everything seems fresh and alive after the long winter, and the crowds are still relatively light.  Some of our favorite places in the area are opening as well:

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens:  Opened April 15th

Ports of Italy Restaurant:  Opening April 26th

In case you didn't know, Boothbay Harbor doesn't roll up its sidewalks after Columbus Day, leaving its residents to hunker down around the pot-bellied stove until the Spring thaw.  From November 17th until December 31st, the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens comes to life with over 350,000 colored lights in its Gardens Aglow extravaganza.  Open Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays each week of the period (except for Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Eve), the Botanical Gardens truly become a winter wonderland.