Get Out and Explore with our picks for the Top Ocean Tours in and around York Beach, Maine

York Beach is a tourist’s dream come true, but the best sites to see aren’t always on land. Maine has become a hub of top ocean tours that let you experience Maine from a different perspective. For some, the boat tours in York Beach, Maine are once in a lifetime opportunities.

Take a look at the top oceans tours near York Beach and start planning the getaway you’ll remember for years to come:

Granite State Whale Watch

Located just below York in the seaside town of Rye, NH, guests venture out into whale country to catch a glimpse of these majestic creatures. Viewing whales in their natural habitat isn’t like a sightseeing adventure, but rather like an expedition that relies on your own observation. They have a 99% successful siting rate, so you’re almost guaranteed to spot a whale or dolphin on your journey. But in the rare case you don’t, they’ll give you a free pass good for one year so you can try again another day. 

Harbor Adventures

Locally owned and operated in York Harbor, this tour company lets you experience the chilly waters of Maine on your terms. You can book a spot on a guided tour by sea kayak and explore hidden beaches, islands, and other sites you can’t get to on foot. They offer sunset tours, half-day adventures, and even kayak lessons to help you get the most from your experience.

Silver Lining Sailing

Head up the coast from York Beach to the town of Ogunquit, where you can step aboard a sailboat tour with Silver Lining Sailing. Tours operate from Memorial Day through mid-October and depart several times per day. They’re one of the top ocean tours in Maine for many reasons, including their six-person limit that makes every experience feel personal.

Visit Some of the Top Beaches in New England Here in York Beach, Maine

Maine’s iconic town of York Beach isn’t a one-trick pony. Unlike many of the small beach towns you find along the Atlantic Coast, York Beach offers several unique stretches of surf and sand, all of which can prove to be the high points of your trip.

Whether you’re visiting for a weekend or planning a longer getaway, you’ll want to take advantage of these top three beaches in York Beach, Maine:

#1 – Short Sands

This aptly named beach isn’t the largest beach in town, but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in terms of scenery and activities.

Travelers and locals alike love coming here, especially since parking is just $2 per hour. Bathrooms are located at the parking lot, so there’s no reason you can’t plan to stay all day.

There are several shops and restaurants within walking distance, so you don’t have to risk losing your parking space when you take a break from the sun.

If you’re staying at our nearby York Beach Residence Club, you’re already within walking distance to the beach and all its glory. York’s Wild Kingdom is also close by, giving families convenient access to some of the best attractions and activities in York Beach.

We are truly lucky to call York Beach home. The ocean, beaches, weather, activities, and the beauty that is a Maine. One of our favorite things to do at the York Beach Club is telling our guests all the great things they can do during their stay. And when we say “all the things”, we mean ALL. As proud Mainers, we love to showcase our lighthouses. No light is a stunning as our own Cape Neddick Nubble Lighthouse. In all seasons the lighthouse is gorgeous, but for those lucky enough to be here in the winters, it is something special.  

Shedding a Light on Nubble Lighthouse

The livelihood of York, Maine depended greatly on mariner traffic and the rocky coast of Maine was treacherous. The colonial people of York petitioned the United States Government for a lighthouse to ensure mariners of the time safe travels. In 1874 President Ruthford B. Hayes appropriated the sum of $15,000 for a lighthouse to be constructed on the tiny island of “Nub”.

The History of Cape Neddick Nubble Lighthouse

Originally called the Knubble Lighthouse to honor the builder’s English roots, it was completed on July 1, 1879. The lighthouse order took amazing care of the light and the surrounding buildings until 1939. At that time, it was renamed the Cape Neddick Light Station and placed in the care of the U.S. Coast Guard. Assigned Coast Guard members would live on the island with their family. Over those years, the many servicemembers and families that called Nubble home proved to be wonderful caretakers.

With budget cuts and the increase in technological advancements, Nubble Lighthouse was automated in 1987. Russ Ahlgren, the last Coast Guard caretaker and his family moved from the island of “Nub”. The inside of the Victorian caretaker’s home has been left untouched to this day and remains a peek back in time to the ’70s.

People of York Maine Become the Owners the Nubble Lighthouse

With the future of the buildings and the island grounds in question, the people of York signed a lease agreement with the United States and had Nubble Lighthouse listed on the National Register of Historic Places ensuring the Nubble Lighthouse will be protected for years to come. 

The lighthouse was of great significance to the people of York. In 1994 The Main Lights program was developed to save all Maine’s lighthouses. With this came competition on who should become the permanent guardians and owners of Nubble Lighthouse. After a lengthy process, the lighthouse was acquired through legal action of the Congress of the United States on December 18, 1997.

Nubble Lighthouse Today

Today the daily duty to maintain the buildings and grounds are handled by the Parks Department who still use a two-person rowboat to commute from Sohier Park, donated by the Sohier-Davis Family, to the Island. The United States Coast Guard continues to maintain the light and the horn.

Nubble Lighthouse stands beautiful and proud today thanks to the people of York and the countless volunteers and is now one of the most photographed lighthouses on the Coast of Maine.

During your next stay with York Beach Residence Club, stop by Sohier Park and see this historical monument for yourself. Make sure to stop by the gift shop and pick up a souvenir. Proceeds go toward the maintenance of the Lighthouse and Sohier Park.