Family, friends, and visitors new to the coast are out-and-about exploring our busy villages and beautiful attractions. What a wonderful season so far, with plenty of fun excursions, community happenings, and walkable downtowns to enjoy!

Here’s an easy way to really relax, leaving the crazy driving and looking for parking behind. On Fridays and Saturdays, the Midcoast Trolley gets visitors to downtown Boothbay Harbor and Newcastle-Damariscotta, the Pemaquid Lighthouse and Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.

In both Twin Villages and Boothbay Harbor, these downtowns are chock full of unique shops, art galleries, excellent restaurants, harbor views, and history. The Trolley Schedule is ideal for a 2-hour visit to Damariscotta-Newcastle and about a 4-hour stay in Boothbay Harbor.

Mid-day Friday and Saturday, the Trolley leaves from the corner of Main and Pump Streets in Newcastle and takes visitors to the Lighthouse or Colonial Pemaquid. The Pemaquid Lighthouse Park is an amazing place with its rocky cliffs, crashing waves, a Fishermen’s Museum and, of course, the stunning 1827 Lighthouse. It’s celebrated on the Maine State Quarter, making it the first lighthouse to be featured on a piece of US currency. You can also visit the Pemaquid Art Gallery, which features original artwork by top regional artists.

Take a pleasant trolley ride from the Twin Villages or downtown Boothbay Harbor to the number one attraction in Maine – the Gardens. Whether it’s perennials, native plants, roses, or “rare and extraordinary” plants, there’s plenty to see and do for all generations. The Trolley leaves Newcastle at 10:15 a.m., picks up in downtown Boothbay Harbor at 10:45, and then drops riders off for about a 3-hour visit, a perfect amount of time to tour the many garden areas, have lunch and totally relax.

Make your summer visit more enjoyable, save money ($5 round-trip), fuel, and time—hop on board the Midcoast Trolley. The Trolley will operate through Saturday, Sept. 3. For more schedule info, visit the Midcoast Trolley Maine facebook page, Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission’s website (www.lcrpc.org), or call 380-7201.