The Port of Searsport is a beautiful town on Penobscot Bay with a rich maritime history. Visitors will discover historic inns, fine restaurants and pubs, art galleries, gift and antique shops, and the Searsport Pines Golf Course. Fishing from the town wharf is popular, and local fishing and hunting guides are available.
The Port of Searsport has a humid continental climate characterized by large differences in seasonal temperatures. Summers are warm and can be hot, while winters can be extremely cold. Snow falls every year, and deep snowfalls are common. Thunderstorms and the rare tropical storm bring summer rains. Temperatures range from an average high of 26°C (80°F) in July and August to an average low of -12°C (10°F) in January. Precipitation is greatest from November through January and in March and April, and snowfall can be as much as 20 inches in January.
Accessible by causeway from the Port of Searsport, Sears Island is one of the biggest uninhabited islands on the United States' East Coast. Bikers, hikers, and snowshoe enthusiasts will enjoy the 3.2-kilometer (2-mile) paved road that stretches across 940-acre the island. There are also several natural hiking trails. At low tide, you can walk the 4.8-kilometer (3-mile) circumference of the island. Kayaking is popular at Sears Island, and visitors may get to see seals or whales.
Sears Island is part of the Port of Searsport township, although the State of Maine owns it. Many wildlife species occupy the island today including amphibians, mammals, fish, and birds. Campfires are prohibited on Sears Island, and there is a carry-in/carry-out policy for all waste. During open seasons, hunting is allowed, so visitors should be mindful of the possible danger.
The Port of Searsport's Penobscot Marine Museum is the State's oldest maritime museum. Located in the heart of downtown Port of Searsport, the museum consists of seven exhibit buildings that tell the story of Maine's seafaring and boat-building history.
Among the permanent collections at the Penobscot Marine Museum in the Port of Searsport are exhibits on marine art and photography, regional watercraft, model ships and boats, navigation instruments and nautical gear, scrimshaw, industrial artifacts, China trade artifacts, and ships' papers and records.
This Port of Searsport museum is open from Monday through Saturday from 10am to 5pm and on Sunday from noon until 5pm. Admissions are $8 for adults and $3 for children from 7 to 15 years old. Children six and under and museum members are admitted free. Family and group rates are also available.
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