Barky Haven in Boothbay Harbor, Maine
- Luie Boone
- 18 hours ago
- 8 min read
This travel spot is featured in our fifth blog series, Bowwows Belong.
Does your dog love to bark? Luie Boone does. He barks at everything, nothing, and sometimes the idea of something, which makes Boothbay Harbor, Maine his personal Barky Haven.
Back in the 1800s, Boothbay Harbor was a big deal in Maine’s wooden shipbuilding days, thanks to its dense forests and deep, protected harbor. Massive pine and oak trees were turned into schooners and cargo ships that sailed off to faraway places, which Luie Boone finds impressive but also confusing, because why build something just to let it leave? Shipyards once lined the waterfront, and that hardworking, salty-sea energy still lingers today. Luie Boone will notice it immediately as it smells like history and fish.
These days, even dogs get in on the seafaring lifestyle. Many local boat captains are famously dog-friendly and welcome four-legged crew members aboard for whale-watching trips, harbor cruises, lighthouse tours, and sailing excursions. It’s normal to see dogs leaning over the rails, tracking gulls, supervising waves, or falling asleep in the sun while boats glide past rocky islands and lighthouses. Luie Boone believes this is what his ancestors would have wanted, even if they were not sailors.
A trip to Boothbay Harbor with your dog naturally slows life down. You start noticing things like halyards clinking against sailboat masts, the steady rhythm of the water, and how your dog’s ears snap to attention at every single seagull. The town is wonderfully welcoming to dogs, making it easy to enjoy harbor walks, outdoor dining, and long coastal strolls without leaving your best friend behind. Luie Boone considers this correct planning.
Outdoor adventures are one of the biggest reasons to visit with a dog. Miles of scenic trails wind around the Boothbay peninsula, many of them dog-friendly with leashes. Favorites include Ovens Mouth Preserve with dramatic tidal views, Linekin Preserve and the Burley Loop Trail for shady forest wandering, Penny Lake Preserve for peaceful loops close to town, and coastal paths at Lobster Cove and Porter Preserve. Luie Boone confirms there are many smells and all of them deserve attention.
The harbor itself becomes part of the adventure, especially for dogs who enjoy being near the water. Cap’n Fish’s Cruises allows dogs on many sightseeing trips, and it’s common to see pups riding along on private charters leaving from Boothbay Harbor Marina. Luie Boone will bark about this fun adventure later.
Eating out with your dog is easy thanks to Boothbay Harbor’s many different outdoor patios and waterfront decks. The Boathouse Bistro Tapas Bar & Restaurant offers dog-friendly outdoor seating along with menu highlights like lobster waffles, lobster mac and cheese, scallop risotto, and spicy tofu tostadas. Mama D’s Café Mercantile is a go-to for breakfast or lunch, while Brady’s is a casual favorite for burgers and seafood stew. Luie Boone has opinions about Brady’s and will bark about them later.
Downtown Boothbay Harbor is small, walkable, and full of charm, making it ideal for exploring with a dog. Wandering along Commercial Street and the waterfront boardwalk past art galleries, souvenir shops, and Sherman’s Maine Coast Book Shop is part of the fun! Luie Boone's hooman sister, Rachel, will surely like to check out the book shop. She claims she can read, but Luie Boone's not too sure about that.
A dog-friendly trip to Boothbay Harbor is ultimately about enjoying simple pleasures: slow morning walks by the water, afternoons on quiet forest trails, and evenings watching the sun set behind the boats while your dog naps at your feet. With its mix of coastal beauty, relaxed pace, and genuine love for dogs, Boothbay Harbor proves itself to be a true Barky Haven. Luie Boone agrees.
Paws Rest Here
Luie Boone paw-selected this perfect vacation rental for your stay at Boothbay Harbor, Maine. Check it out below!
Rental Name: Compass Rose
This rental has 3 bedrooms with 4 beds and 1.5 baths.
Photos by VRBO.com
It features the following amenities:
100-year-old quintessential Maine cottage
Partially covered deck with expansive views of Linekin Bay
Outdoor grilling area
Private deep-water dock with swim ladder
Lilly pad
Three ocean kayaks
One tandem kayak
Two paddle boards
Fishing gear
Small, shared beach area next to the house
Can swim between mid and high tide
Can collect shells and sea glass at low tide
What does Luie Boone think of this rental? He woofed
We are going to Compass Rose Cottage in Boothbay Harbor, Maine, and I already know it will be excellent. It is right on the water, has a porch for watching the bay, and a small beach that appears at low tide, which is when the ground reveals very important smells left behind by dogs who came before me. I plan to read all of them carefully. My hoomans say lobster boats will float by, loons will fish nearby, seals will pop out of the water, and there might even be puffins, which look like birds wearing tiny fancy jackets. I would like to see a puffin. I would also like a stuffed puffin to honor the experience. There will be a private dock with kayaks, paddle boards, fishing gear, and a floating Lily Pad. I will supervise all water activities from the dock, the beach, or possibly the kayak if I am invited... I will probably not be invited, though, cause my tooshie is so big that it would cause the kayak to tip right over with my hoomans splashing into the water! Inside the cottage, there will be cozy couches for naps, big windows for bird watching, and a kitchen that makes excellent food smells. There will be neighborhood walks for sniffing, wildlife to observe, and plenty of time for swimming, napping, and watching the water. We have not been there yet, but I am so extremely excited about this vacation, especially the ocean, the animals, the other dogs who visited before me, and the strong possibility of meeting a puffin and its stuffed twin!
Paws Venture Here
Luie Boone sniffed out and dug up these local gems for you to check out while vacationing in Boothbay Harbor, Maine!
Cap'n Fish's Cruises
Like Luie Boone said he wanted to let you know that Cap’n Fish’s Cruises offers visitors the chance to experience Maine’s beautiful coastline while spotting whales, puffins, and other wildlife, all with one of the most experienced boat tour companies in the region. The tours also give guests and their furry companions a close-up look at the famous Maine lobster industry, which Luie Boone says is fascinating and smells very important. Fees vary by person and by tour, and dogs require a separate ticket, a detail Luie Boone finds reasonable since this clearly makes them official crew members! Call him Capitan Boone!
Lobster Cove Meadow
Lobster Cove Meadow is a 46.8-acre spot that’s perfect for exploring with your pup, featuring footpaths that wind through a mature softwood forest of white pine and spruce, before sloping down into an open grassy meadow dotted with ancient apple trees, and finally leading to an expansive marsh. Luie Boone says this is exactly the kind of place where every step deserves a pause, especially because there is a real chance of spotting one of Maine’s nine flycatchers, which he considers extremely suspicious birds.
Wildcat Creek
Wildcat Creek is easy to visit from the trail, and Luie Boone is pleased to report there are two very good ways to get there. Both the Zak Preserve Loop and the Zak Preserve White Loop offer easy hikes that lead you to the creek. This makes them paw-some for hikers, outdoor enthusiasts, and pups who enjoy a manageable walk with a rewarding water feature at the end. Luie Boone says any trail that leads to a creek is automatically a good trail, especially if it includes opportunities for sniffing, splashing, and standing very still while listening to the water.
Oak Point Farm
Oak Point Farm is a unique 32-acre preserve set along more than 2,000 feet of coastline on Hodgdon Cove. It is the last remaining undeveloped saltwater farm in Boothbay Harbor. Visitors and their canine companions can enjoy an easy 1-mile loop hike that wanders through open fields and forest with long stretches of waterfront views. There’s also a universally accessible 0.6-mile trail that leads to the shore, follows the shoreline, and loops around a 2-acre freshwater pond, making it suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. Luie Boone says it’s an excellent place!
Ovens Mouth Preserve
Ovens Mouth Preserve is made up of two scenic peninsulas connected by a pedestrian bridge, which Luie Boone considers very exciting because bridges mean pauses and looking down at water. The western side, known locally as Ice House Cove, has a long history. In 1880, it was dammed to create a freshwater pond. An ice house was built to meet the growing demand for ice, which was shipped by schooner to Boston and New York. Luie Boone finds this confusing, but he respects the effort. Today, the remnants of the old dam can still be spotted at low tide from the bridge, while a beautiful salt marsh has taken over where the ice pond once was. The preserve offers 3.6 miles of dog-friendly trails, including a long 1.75-mile loop that winds through woods and along the shore.
Ocean Point Walk
Ocean Point Walk is a scenic coastal stroll along Maine’s shoreline where you can take your best friend for sweeping ocean views, rocky shores, glistening tidal pools, and charming historic cottages. Leashed dogs are welcome along the route, which means plenty of chances to enjoy the salty breeze, pause for photos, and stop frequently because Luie Boone says the rocks, water, and wind all deserve careful investigation.
Cross River Preserve
Cross River Preserve is a quiet 19-acre spot with a 1-mile loop trail that winds through mixed forest, passes a freshwater wetland and stream, and eventually reaches the tidal shoreline and mudflats of the Cross River. The area was first settled in the mid-1700s, when much of the forest was cleared for pastureland, then abandoned about a century later, allowing the woods to slowly return. Today, the preserve features a variety of trees, including large red oaks and white pines that likely once marked old field boundaries.
Brady's
As promised, Luie Boone will bark more about this very important restaurant that was named after two Cocker Spaniels. Brady’s welcomes dogs on their outdoor deck, which overlooks the harbor. They also have dog bowls and beds that are available upon request. Luie Boone considers this the most excellent and paw-some hospitality! Here, hoomans can enjoy menu favorites like lobster stew, burgers, fish tacos, a fried chicken sandwich, fish and chips, and lobster dinners. There's no special doggy menu, so dogs can relax nearby, watch the boats go by, and wait, patiently in case any fiddles falls.
Luie Boone's Pet Peeve about
Boothbay Harbor, Maine
There's just so much to love about this vacation destination, but there's one thing that's got Luie Boone's leash in a twist. He woofed:
My hoomans planned this vacation to Boothbay Harbor, which already sounds promising. It's full of sea air, interesting smells, and the strong possibility of dropped food. While pretending to nap during an important kitchen conversation, I learned that there are five mythical trolls hiding in the woods at the Coastal Maine Botanical Garden there. The hoomans say the trolls lurk along the paths, are dangerous, not very smart, and definitely not fond of hoomans, which immediately makes me suspicious. Then, I learned the most important detail of all: dogs are not allowed in the Gardens. This is excellent news. It means I am not expected to confront trolls, negotiate with trolls, or bark bravely at creatures that are clearly above my pay grade. My role is to supervise from a safe distance, relax somewhere comfortable, and make sure my hoomans return safely, preferably carrying snacks. I am very satisfied with this arrangement! So Boothbay Harbor, here I come.
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