Tidal pool explorers; image by Tom Adkinson.

BOOTHBAY HARBOR, Maine – Saltwater-loving singer Jimmy Buffet waxes poetic about being a tidal pool explorer in “Coastal Confessions” with lyrics that wouldn’t make much sense to these youngsters looking for crabs and other critters in the shallow water just outside the main lodge of Linekin Bay Resort. Meanwhile, just a few hundred yards offshore, a Maine lobsterman gives one last look to a pair of tasty crustaceans before dropping them into a packing crate.

Linekin Bay Resort has a century-old Maine hospitality and tourism story. It opened in 1919 as a summertime waterfront camp for girls. After World War II, it shifted gears and became a summertime family destination, with an emphasis on sailing. One family owned it from 1919 until 2015, and new owners have spiffed it up and expanded operation with spring and autumn dates. You can sample this slice of Maine relaxation from mid-May until mid-October.

Maine lobsterman; image by Tom Adkinson.

The resort village of Boothbay Harbor is a two-mile drive away, but it’s far more fun to take a slightly convoluted walk through the woods and along the water to get to the picturesque town and its many shops and restaurants. Boothbay Harbor became a tourism hit starting in the 1880s when steamer service from Boston and Portland opened.

Trip Planning Resources: LinekinBayResort.com, BoothbayHarbor.com and VisitMaine.com

(Travel writer Tom Adkinson’s new book, 100 Things To Do in Nashville Before You Die, is available at CornersOfTheCountry.com.)