Go wild in 2026 and venture off well-trodden paths in the picturesque harbor of Cutler, located along the jagged, unspoiled coast of Maine.
From the end of May until early August, the Bold Coast Charter Company’s 40-foot vessel leaves the small fishing village for a five-hour excursion to Machias Seal Island — the only place in the United States to see Atlantic puffins at close range. The caveat is that getting a ticket is like securing admission to a Taylor Swift concert. Sometime in March, ticket sales go live on the charter company’s website, and they’re gone within minutes.
Another challenge is the weather. The island with the puffins — and other wildlife — is in the Bay of Fundy, which can experience seas not conducive to a cruise. Sometimes you can get out to sea, but then not be able to board the slippery plank onto the island. I admit, it took three attempts before I successfully boarded the boat and the island. It was worth the wait! The birds are entirely unaware of your presence from a location in a small blind with a few other people. I took photos with my professional camera, but a cellphone works too.
If you happen to miss the boat, visit Lubec, about 30 minutes away. Take your passport and cross the border into Canada’s Campobello Island, where Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt’s cottage is open for tours. Also, Lubec is the easternmost point in the United States, so stand at West Quoddy Head Lighthouseat daybreak and be among the first in the country to watch the sunrise.
-- Susan Pierter is a writer and photographer based in Maine
