News

These beautiful marine reptiles make frequent visits to the Maine Coast! By Melanie Collins  Have you ever asked yourself, “what is that giant, dark shape in the water below?” Maybe it was a shark or ocean sunfish passing underneath, or maybe you were just paddling over a sinking driftwood log. There are a myriad of…

Paddle as Often as You Like, All Summer Long, for a Flat Rate! Sign up by June 15th! This year we’re making it easier and more affordable than ever for locals to paddle regularly on Casco Bay. When you purchase a membership you get free rentals for four months – and lots of other benefits….

Renting a kayak for the Peaks to Portland Swim on July 20, 2024 Every year, tons of swimmers brave the cold Maine waters for Peaks to Portland, an annual event that benefits the YMCA of Southern Maine and happens to be one of the world’s oldest swims. Each swimmer in the event needs a “spotter”…

Upcoming Events in Greater Portland to Get You Excited About Paddling Season! Portland Paddle partners with a number of excellent non profit organizations around the greater Portland and Casco Bay region to preserve natural and open space, protect wildlife and ecosystems, and spread the joys of outdoor recreation. We are excited to share just some…

An Interview with P2 Community Member Cathy Nugent This winter we’re sharing a series of conversations with Portland Paddle guides, each one focused on a specific topic related to paddling the Maine coast. Today we’re talking with Cathy Nugent on falling in love with paddleboarding and getting started in SUP racing. Comments have been edited…

See the Historic Sites of WWII-Era Casco Bay By Sea Kayak Our recent post titled €œSix Historic Forts You Can Visit By Foot or Kayak€ covered some of our favorite forts to visit while kayaking on Casco Bay, including Fort Gorges and Fort Scammel. In this post we’re shifting our focus from these forts built…

Planning and executing the journey of a life time! Have you ever wondered what guides get up to in the off season? Many of us turn to winter sports like hiking, skiing, and ice skating. Others head south for more warm weather paddling adventures. While still others don the appropriate gear, brave the cold, and…

Forts of Casco Bay: Part 1 – European Settlement to the Civil War We’ll follow up this post soon with another featuring the fortifications surrounding Portland harbor that were built after the Civil War.  The sites of Portland’s earliest defensive structures are all a short walk or paddle from Portland Paddle’s site by the East…

An Exciting, but Potentially Troubling, First Sighting Gray Whales were once common in New England waters – photo courtesy of New England Aquarium The New England Aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life aerial transect research team recorded a grey whale feeding 30 miles off of Nantucket this week, the first time this species has…

The Joys of Tide Pooling and Beach Combing with Melanie Collins This winter we’re posting a series of interviews with Portland Paddle guides, each one focused on a specific topic related to paddling the Maine coast. Today we’re sharing a conversation with Melanie Collins about the intertidal zone! Melanie is a registered Maine guide, ACA…