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You don't have to leave Linekin Bay Resort to begin exploring Maine's famous maritime landscape. As part of the amenity fee, Linekin Bay Resort offers guests a scenic 45-minute boat ride with opportunities to see some of Boothbay Harbor's historic lighthouses directly from the water.
Weather permitting, the boat typically travels beyond Linekin Bay and along the surrounding coastline. When conditions allow the boat to leave the bay, guests will see at least one lighthouse, with views that can include Burnt Island Light, Ram Island Light and the Cuckolds Light Station.
Along the way, enjoy rocky islands, summer communities and classic Maine coastal scenery while keeping an eye out for seals, seabirds and other wildlife.
The exact route varies with weather and water conditions, making every trip a little different. It isn't a dedicated lighthouse tour—it's a Linekin Bay Resort guest experience that puts you on the water and gives you a memorable way to see the Boothbay Harbor coast.
Located near the entrance to Boothbay Harbor, Burnt Island Light is one of the region's most significant historic landmarks—and one of the lighthouses guests can see when Linekin Bay Resort's boat ventures beyond the bay.
Burnt Island Light Station dates to 1821, when its lamps were first lit under keeper Joshua B. Cushing. More than two centuries later, the lighthouse remains an enduring part of the Boothbay Harbor landscape.
The island itself is approximately one mile from the port of Boothbay Harbor and can only be reached by boat or kayak. Today, the historic site is managed by the Maine Department of Marine Resources and helps preserve the story of lighthouse keeping and maritime life along the Maine coast.
On the eastern approach to Boothbay Harbor stands Ram Island Light, a beautiful white lighthouse that has helped guide mariners through these coastal waters since 1883.
Built of brick atop a granite foundation, the lighthouse was positioned to mark the eastern entrance to Boothbay Harbor and the western approach to the mouth of the Damariscotta River. It was automated in 1965 but continues to serve as an active aid to navigation.
Ram Island and the surrounding waters also provide opportunities for spotting marine wildlife. Linekin Bay Resort guests frequently see seals around the nearby Hypocrites Ledges, on the backside of Ram Island and Fisherman Island.
That combination of lighthouse views, rocky islands and the possibility of wildlife makes this stretch of coastline particularly memorable.
Farther toward the open Atlantic, the Cuckolds Light Station occupies a dramatic position atop rocky islets near the ocean approach to Boothbay Harbor.
The station's history began in 1892, when a fog signal was established to warn vessels about the hazardous rocks surrounding the Cuckolds. A lighthouse tower was added in 1907 as marine traffic in the region increased.
Its exposed location tells you exactly why a navigational aid was needed here. The rocky islets sit near the entrance to Boothbay, where mariners historically had to contend with ledges, currents, fog and the open Atlantic.
Today, the Cuckolds Light Station remains an active aid to navigation and one of the area's most distinctive maritime landmarks. Depending on the day's route and visibility, guests aboard Linekin Bay Resort's boat can see the Cuckolds in the distance toward the open water.
Don't spend the entire ride looking toward the horizon searching for lighthouses.
The waters around Boothbay Harbor are also home to harbor seals, gray seals and a variety of coastal birds. Linekin Bay Resort guests spot seals more often than not during the boat ride, particularly around the Hypocrites Ledges near Ram Island and Fisherman Island.
Depending on the season and a little luck, guests may also encounter harbor porpoises, bald eagles, loons, cormorants, ocean sunfish and other coastal wildlife. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, but that's exactly what makes spotting something special.
Planning your trip? Explore our guide to Wildlife in Boothbay Harbor, Maine for more about the animals you may encounter along the coast.
The lighthouses surrounding Boothbay Harbor aren't simply picturesque backdrops. They tell the story of a region shaped by the sea.
For generations, fishermen, merchant vessels, passenger boats and other mariners have navigated these waters. Lighthouses and fog signals helped mark harbor entrances, warn of dangerous rocks and guide vessels through challenging coastal passages.
Today, Burnt Island, Ram Island and the Cuckolds preserve pieces of that history while remaining some of the most recognizable sights along the Boothbay Harbor coast.
Staying at Linekin Bay Resort puts you right on the water—and the resort's guest boat ride gives you an opportunity to experience that maritime landscape from the water.
