Coast Encounters — Attraction in Wells

We booked a tour with Carol at Coast Encounters and we are so happy we did. My girls, especially my six year old, absolutely love critters of all kinds. This was the perfect activity for her (and the rest of us). Carol picked us up at our campground, drove us to a beautiful spot in Kennebunk so we arrived right around low tide. She provided water shoes (if you need them), some safety tips and we were off into the tide pools! She helped us pick our way through the pools, all along the way looking under ledges, cracks and rocks for sea life. We saw crabs of all kind, snails, young lobsters, sea stars (formerly known as "starfish", we learned), sea urchins and tons of other little creatures. We learned a lot about the local ecosystem, including which seaweed is edible (turns out to be a lot of it). Carol is very knowledgeable about the area and we all learned a lot. We had a great time!

On the drive out and back, she also was very helpful providing us with some local information (where to get the best ice cream, where to park for free, places to go and see, etc.) We're already putting the info to good use on our stay in Maine. We highly recommend a trip with Coast Encounters. The highlight of our trip to Maine so far. Thanks Carol, we had...

Today, our 10yo mentioned Coastal Carol by name--this is notable because our tidepool tour was more than a week ago and she still remembers Carol! We spent a whirlwind week in Montreal and Maine, and we did some amazing things, yet our tidepool experience with Carol was the highlight of an awesome trip. I cannot say enough good things about Coast Encounters! I and my hubs were nervous about walking in the tidepool area, which is understandably slippery. Thank goodness Carol loaned us some nonslip shoes, and she even helped us put them on so they were properly adjusted. We felt totally safe and free to enjoy the tidepool flora and fauna. We saw animals we never would have found on our own, and Carol was incredibly knowledgable about everything we found. She very patiently answered our kiddo's million questions. We will 100% patronize Coast Encounters again when we visit the area! Wonderful memories and worth every penny. Thank you, Carol, for a truly magical experience and for showing us the real...

We had the absolute BEST time with Carol at Coast Encounters! She made tide pooling an unforgettable adventure for our whole family. From holding crabs and lobsters to finding giant pieces of seaweed, every moment was hands-on and full of fun and learning.

Carol was incredibly knowledgeable and patient, making sure everyone—from the brave to the squeamish—felt comfortable exploring and discovering. The kids were completely engaged, and we all walked away having seen and learned so much about the amazing creatures living right at our feet.

This experience was one of the absolute highlights of our trip — we highly recommend Coast Encounters to anyone looking for a unique and interactive way to experience the Maine coast. Thank you, Carol, for such a...