Astray Fish

Reid State park is a charming day trip destination, located on the southern end of Georgetown Island. It offers both saltwater and freshwater swimming, miles of wooded and coastal trails, and some mild climbable outcrops. It is about a 1 hour drive from Portland, Maine along Route 1. Bring a picnic lunch and plan for a relaxing day. We arrived late morning on an off season Sunday, but suggest getting here early on peak summer weekends.

Here is a link to a map of the park: https://www.maine.gov/dacf/parks/docs/maps/reid.pdf

Once within the park, drive to the second parking lot. There you can park near the large pavilion which offers restrooms.

Mile Long Beach:

Heading through the pavilion on your right is a shockingly long 1 mile stretch of soft sandy beach. When we visited, it was after peak holiday season. It was not crowded at all. Unfortunately, that also meant no lifeguards so keep an eye on the children. Kids enjoy splashing through the surf, but the water was too cold for me. You could easily spend a few hours beachside here building sand castles and relaxing.

Griffith Head:

If you walk straight out of the restroom pavilion, there is a short trail up a large rocky hill. Kids love climbing up here. Wear sturdy shoes and help young ones on the slopes. From the top you can see distant islands. It is also a great spot for a family photo. There are some flat outcroppings which make good bench options for enjoying the peacefulness of the coast.

The Lagoon and trail:

Heading away from the coast and behind the dunes, you will see a large fresh water pond called “The Lagoon.” Swimming is also allowed here and the water was a bit warmer. There is a non handicap accessible trail around the pond. It heads away from the parking lot and follows the route of the accompanying river. It offers a vista of the rolling marshland, and some park guests were fishing here. As you continue, you will reach the river outlet. There are many opportunities to climb on rocks and look for shells here.

We took our time visiting and walked about 1.5-2 miles in total, but we only saw a small part of the park. Consider heading towards the first parking lot and visiting East Beach. If feeling energetic, consider heading to Todd’s Point. The day we visited, the road to Todd’s Point was closed to cars. Nonetheless, it is open to hikers, and we plan to visit there next time.

Marine Maritime Museum:

Along the way the kids will enjoy the view from the bridge over the Kennebunk River. Looking south you can see Bath Iron Works, and often there are U.S. destroyers and other naval ships pulled into port there. If this interests the family, consider a quick side excursion to the Maine Maritime Museum. There you can learn about the history of shipbuilding in Maine. https://www.mainemaritimemuseum.org/

No kids today? Try shopping

To extend the day, make a stop at any of a variety of small Antique shops. These shops dot the route in Brunswick, Topsham, Freeport, and Falmouth. There are also many potters along the route. Consider stopping at the famous Georgetown Pottery, just 10 minutes away on the route to Reid State Park. https://www.georgetownpottery.com/

Muddy Rudder

If home or hotel is south towards Portland, there are numerous places to eat in any of the above mentioned towns. One of the hardest to miss along the way is the well known Muddy Rudder. It’s been a a Maine institution for almost 50 years. Seated on the banks of a tidal river marsh, conveniently right off the highway. The Rudder offers cozy indoor and outdoor eating. And importantly, although it is not listed on the website, they DO have a kids menu. I had a delicious lunchtime cobb salad with chicken and it was fresh and overflowing. https://muddy-rudder.com/

Update: Muddy Rudder closed in 2024 after 50 years in business! I still have hope that someone else will reopen this restaurant in the future! In the interim check out one of the many restaurants in Freeport, Maine.

TIPS:

Comfy but sturdy closed toe kids sandals that hold up to both trails and beach are hard to find. Our family really loves these by Keen, they come in many colors for both boys and girls. Keen toddler and kids Newport sandals (#ad)

Need a last minute but authentic Maine Made housewarming gift but no time to travel? Support a Maine small business owner. Consider a Georgetown Pottery handmade high quality item, a few pieces are now available on Amazon. I think the utensil holder is a nice gift, dishwasher safe! Georgetown hand thrown pottery utensil holder (#ad)

I hope this snapshot of Reid State Park entices you to spend a day there. I intend to return soon for it’s tranquil blend of beach, woods, pond, and trails. Please send me your tips for enjoying this beautiful Maine coastal gem!

kit@astrayfish.com

Unless otherwise stated, all photos throughout this blog are my own and cannot be printed or distributed without my permission.