Do you love oysters? Then you’ll love the Maine Oyster Trail, a new tourism trail designed to help people find Maine oyster farms and restaurants that offer delicious, fresh shellfish.
About Maine Farmed Oysters
Two species of oysters grow in Maine. The Eastern oyster (also called the Atlantic oyster) is native to Maine and has been a favorite in Maine for centuries, as seen by the large shell middens that line river banks along our coastal shore. Belon oysters (also called European oysters or European Flat) are native to the Belon River in France and were brought to Maine by scientists in the 1950s. Only around 5,000 Belon oysters are harvested in Maine each year.
Oysters can vary in flavor depending on where they were harvested (similar to clams or scallops) and by species. Oyster flavors are named after the region they were harvested, such as Glidden Point, Dodge Cove, Norumbega, Pemaquid Wawenauk, Wiley Point, Whaleback Cocktail, Bagaduce, Little Island, Gay Island, Flying Points, North Haven, Winter Point and Taunton Bay oysters. There is no one flavor that is “better” than another- just like wine, one person may prefer the flavor of oysters from one location while another prefers oysters from another, yet both are delicious!
Sometimes when I need outdoor therapy I jump in my Jeep and head off, destination unknown. I’m usually seeking scenic roadside stops or hiking trails; trailheads are common roadside attractions throughout the state of Maine. Most trails give you a quick map and trail distances in miles for each trail. When you don’t have a pre-planned hiking destination, you never know how long your adventure may be.
Visit the Maine coast in real time with these live coastal web cameras. Most cameras offer a view of the ocean for current tide and weather information. Each listing offers the name of the web cam, where it is located, who maintains the web cam, and a description of the view.
Click here to visit the Downeast Fisheries Trail Facebook page for up-to-date information and events!