Ocean cruising to spot whales and puffins, picturesque lighthouses, enjoying whole Maine lobsters for under $20, and offering a fine location for your wedding day, place Boothbay Harbor is among the top must-see destinations in Maine. A well-known port of call, and often called Boating Capital of New England, it's a haven for cruise ships and sightseers. While there's an emphasis on catering to tourists, the town has kept its flavor as an old fishing village. Once part of a larger area that included what is now Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor was separated and received its official named in 1889.
   The shoreline around the village is filled with marinas, restaurants and small shops that sell everything from the requisite tourist T-shirt to fine jewelry. A downtown landing serves as a central hub, from which tour boats come and go. Passengers head out to sea in the hopes of catch the crowd pleasing Atlantic puffins.
   For lighthouse enthusiasts, almost a dozen beacons dot the Boothbay peninsula area. The Burnt Island Lighthouse, for instance, stands at the entrance to the village. The nearby lighthouses, Cuckolds, Ram Island and Hendrick's Head, can be seen from land as well as from one of the many tour boats that depart from the downtown harbor. Not far away, about five miles to the east, is the scenic Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, one of the most photographed lights in the country. But if you understand Maine's intricate coastline, you'll not be surprised it's a 28 mile drive.

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