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The Merrymeeting region is different. Fractured by glaciers, pounded by surf, and sliced by rivers, there is no place on America’s eastern seaboard that has more bays, sounds, coves, and estuaries. Two of Maine’s largest rivers intersect just before entering the ocean. The Kennebec River drains all of central Maine while much of western Maine pours into the Androscoggin River. They join at a place aptly named Merrymeeting Bay. The salt water of high tide breaks up winter ice, then to be flushed out at each low tide by the rush of fresh water from the rivers. This creates a major migration stop for waterfowl. Bald Eagles are notoriously common nesters around the bay.
 
There is something different about the shoreline, too. Points of land extend exceptionally far into the ocean. Pemaquid Point is a legendary example. It is this cliff that appears alongside the 4-masted Victory Chimes schooner on the Maine version of the U.S. quarter. Rachel Carson summered nearby and found inspiration for some of her finest publications here. Two of Maine’s best birding beaches are located in this region. In fact, beyond Popham Beach State Park and Reid State Park, there are no more mile-long stretches of sand beach until Prince Edward Island, Canada, far to the north.

Even the ocean is different. Unlike Casco Bay to the south and Penobscot Bay to the north, Muscongus Bay is extensive but relatively shallow. One of Maine’s largest Great Blue Heron colonies is located on an offshore island. Black-crowned Night-herons are occasional residents. At the outskirts of Muscongus Bay lies Eastern Egg Rock, the southern-most colony of Atlantic Puffins in the world. Hog Island is renowned as the headquarters of National Audubon’s Field Ornithology Camp. Roger Tory Peterson was one of its earliest instructors. The camp still thrives today under the auspices of Maine Audubon and it is also the headquarters of Steve Kress’ Puffin Project.

Because each peninsula in the Merrymeeting area extends so far into the ocean, away from Route 1, the communities that lie off the beaten track here enjoy a slower pace than ocean-side towns farther south and those to the north around Rockland, Camden, and Acadia National Park. Boothbay Harbor is best known among these but Phippsburg, Georgetown, and Pemaquid share in this luxury. The inns and restaurants in this area are among the best in Maine.