Facing the sun at day’s end, a little red house at New Harbor, Maine.

There’s no such thing, at least in our book, as the prettiest fishing village in Maine.  Each one is prettier than the last, and all are unique.  But the most photographed one, according to Moon Travel Guide: Maine (July 2017),  is New Harbor in the Pemaquid Region.  And we happened upon it by accident.

New Harbor boats waiting for day’s end.

Our goal?  Drive from Newcastle to Pemaquid Point for a view of the lighthouse at sunset.  But, once we had taken pictures and walked around long enough to satisfy everyone in our party, there was enough light remaining in the day for a quick stopover in New Harbor.  We had no expectations.  No knowledge of what was there.  And no timeframe, except to avoid winding roads after dark.  But now, having seen New Harbor, we can safely say, “There’s just no reason to miss it.”

Whether it’s truthfully the most photographed fishing village of all is moot.  New Harbor at sunset offers views of quaint seaside homes, weathered buildings, and boats standing up to the sun, ready for photographers to snap.

Authentic.  Real.  And totally unpretentious.  Just the way we like Maine harbors to be. And add to the scenery a place to pick your own lobster and have it steamed on the spot (That would be Shaw’s Wharf), and you’ve got a Down East evening made for picture books.

Always work to be done at a seaside restaurant. This is Shaw’s Wharf getting a little attention.

So maybe New Harbor IS the most photographed fishing village — but who’s giving prizes?  They’re all pretty lovely — especially at sundown.

Sunset view of New Harbor, Maine — the most photographed fishing village? Could be!

For more of our Travel Series on Maine in October, go to Travel Series: Autumn Down East.  

Knoxville’s Sunsphere, with its gold-toned windows, became one gleaming glass ball behind the Museum of Art on this rain-threatening afternoon.

A gleaming Sunsphere in Knoxville, Tennessee

A flight from Tallahassee, Florida, to Knoxville left me no choice — no way sleeping through this gorgeous sight: rays of setting sun over puffs of gray-turned-amber clouds.

Afternoon flight from Tallahassee

And turning 70 is not so bad if you’re surrounded by friends: birthday boy Bert on the right with fellow septuagenarian Joe Benedict on the left, gleaming in the glow of well-wishing beach friends!

Happy birthday, Joe and Bert!

For more entries in this week’s Travel theme: Gleaming on Ailsa’s blog Where’s My Backpack, click here.

Beautiful South African sunset – ah, the great outdoors!

One of the prettiest places to be in the great outdoors is Thornybush Game Preserve, South Africa.  Our jeep pulled into an open spot on the plain so we could toast sundown with friends and revel in the fact that we were alive and traveling in beautiful South Africa near Kruger National Park. Such memories!

For more entries in this week’s Travel theme: Outdoors created by Ailsa of Where’s My Backpack, click here.

Sunset on the waterfront, Amelia Island, Florida

After walking the broad Fernandina Beach and touring Fort Clinch, we longed for one last coastal sunset before heading back to Tennessee the following morning.  Ah, yes.  This will do: the waterfront at Amelia Island.

As we arrived, a man standing on a ramp was ending what he later told us was a nightly ritual: pitching fish into the water at sundown.

Feeding the fish at 5:30, Amelia Island, waterfront

The birds (mostly pelicans) loved it as they flew, swam, darted, and pushed — eager to get in there and get fish at any cost!

Seagulls, brown birds, pelicans, and more.  Didn’t matter — all wanted a piece of the action.  And here they came, flapping wings, splashing water, honking and screeching.  We scrambled to focus our cameras to take it all in.

Perched on a post at Amelia Island waterfront

And just as we started taking pictures, one singular bird — a rather large, pensive pelican — perched atop a green post.  And sat there.  Watching.  Waiting.  Taking us in, or so we thought.  He’s harmless, right? But with that stern look, we weren’t so sure.

He looked left and right.  He stared forward and back.  But he always seemed to have one eye squarely focused on us.  And then, just like that, he was gone.

Taking flight.

By this time the feeding frenzy had ended, the man was walking back up the ramp, and birds began paddling around, content. We looked past the marina into the sunset once more as we heard the man, now behind us, say softly, It happens every night about 5:30.  Come back tomorrow.  It’s fun every time.  

Looking into the distance at the Amelia Island waterfront

And we wished we could, of course.

Sunset, Amelia Island.

For more information:

Check out this post on Kate Harris’s blog:  “Fifteen Things to Do on Amelia Island in 2015”

And also take a look at the site Welcome to Amelia Island full of suggestions for what to do and what to see on Amelia Island.

Here’s hoping you’ll have more time than we did to see this lovely coastal area!

For more on the Coasting series, click here.