Rockland, Maine

Slowly the rocking and rolling came to an end as the National Geographic Explorer made its way into the harbor of Rockland and anchored safely behind the breakwater. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and steadied themselves for the exciting day ahead. We had an entire day to explore the lovely New England working fishing town of Rockland, Maine. In the morning, trolleys provided transportation to the Weskeag Marsh for birding and natural history walks. Species of ducks, gulls, and pipers were seen feeding in the shallow marsh waters. Many shades of purple Asters were blooming along the roadside as we were granted a rain-free morning.

The afternoon allowed for plenty of free time for everyone to experience the idyllic seaside town. Several museums were open for Lindblad guests to peruse at their leisure. This included the famous Farnsworth Art Museum where there were numerous works by Andrew Wyeth. Many discovered the Lighthouse Museum where they learned that there are 68 lighthouses along the coast of Maine. Overall, a great day was had by all, even when the rain began falling. Luckily, it held off until the last hours of the day when most were ready to warm up back at the ship. The rain also cleared up the fog that had been hanging in the air all day and the National Geographic Explorer could finally be seen sitting quietly at anchor.