BY CASEY BERNARD
For the full Castine experience, after touring the historic forts and lighthouse on land with Scarlett, visitors have two opportunities to tour Castine by sea.
Castine Cruises offers relaxing narrated tours of Castine Harbor aboard the bright red Lil’ Toot. Marking its 16th season with Castine Cruises this year, Lil’ Toot was built in 1983 and named for the 1939 children’s picture book written and illustrated by Hardie Gramatky.
Previously, Lil’ Toot worked in Manhattan, Sarasota, Bucksport, and Castine as a for-hire passenger vessel. Now daily public tours leave from the Castine Town Dock. Lil’ Toot accommodates up to 16 passengers and can also be booked for private tours. Excursion tours beyond Castine Harbor to Holbrook Island are also available. To book and learn more, visit CastineCruises.com.
For the adventure seekers looking for a more active tour on the water, Castine Kayak Adventures offers a variety of tour packages from half-day to overnight trips. Led by certified Maine Guides, beginner and experienced kayakers can get an up-close tour of Castine Harbor in individual or double-seater vessels. Kayakers come from all over the world to book a night-time tour to see the bioluminescent waters unique to Castine’s harbor. When the sun goes down, tiny plankton and other creatures in the water create a glittering sparkle in the water that is difficult to photograph and must be seen by the naked eye to truly experience the wonder of it. Visit CastineKayak.com for more details on kayak tour options.
