Last weekend, we last-minute decided it would be fun to rent a boat for the day. It’s something that has been on our list to do this summer and when my friend Rory said they were free, we went for it! We’ve rented motor boats at Lake Winnipesaukee before – which was amazing – but to rent a boat in NH, you have to take a test and carry a boaters license to drive. In Maine, however, you just watch a five minute video at the marina and they let you go. Yet another reason to love Maine!
We originally wanted to rent on Sebago Lake, but all the boats were booked for the day. I reached out to other marinas in the area, and we lucked out! Long Lake, located directly above Sebago Lake and right in the same Maine lakes region, is 11 miles of beautiful waters and the second largest body of water in Maine (following Sebago).
DINGLEY’S WHARF
Dingley’s Wharf in Naples, Maine had their 24′ Premium Tritoon with Tow Bar available, and we chose to go with the half day – morning option from 9am-1pm. That’s right – a tritoon boat. It has three aluminum tubes under the boat instead of just the two that a typical pontoon has. This distributes weight more evenly and allows for more horsepower.
I cannot say enough amazing things about Dingley’s Wharf! The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful, clearly happy to be there, and knew what they were doing. It’s a smaller marina, with a few docks and a covered desk area for check-in, and free on-street parking in front. If those spots are full, there is paid parking in the lot across the street. They don’t have their own bathroom, so when my girls needed to go before we got on the boat, one of the members walked us across the street and gave us access to the closed restaurant to use their restroom, then walked us back. They helped carry all our items onto the boat and were totally unfazed by the craziness of trying to wrangle four kids under 5.
Dingley’s Wharf wasn’t the cheapest option, but the boat was beautiful, clean and had plenty of space in the front and back for all our stuff and for the kids to move around freely. They included a tube and attached it to the tow bar for us free of charge, and the first tank of gas was included! We didn’t have to worry about filling up at the end of the day, which is a relief with gas prices the way they are!
BOATING/ON THE WATER
We packed lots of snacks and lunch, sunscreen, and our own kids life jackets. The rental company had some available if you need them – children are required to wear them while on the boat. Long Lake was perfect for us – not super busy with too many other boats, the water was fairly smooth, and it was fun looking at all of the beautiful homes along the shore. The girls loved jumping off the back of the boat and climbing up on the tube. Rory and I went tubing and had such a blast! It felt like being a kid again 🙂
EXPLORE NAPLES
The only reference I’d previously heard of Naples, Maine was from my in-laws who have friends that summer up in Naples, Maine, and spend the winter down in Naples, Florida. Both very pretty, but completely different places!
Naples, Maine has a cute little downtown with a few marinas and docks, shops, and restaurants. There was an arcade right across the street from Dingley’s Wharf, so that was our first stop. It was blissfully air conditioned and self-run. We just used a credit card to put money on a game card and off the girls went! It was more of a play-for-fun arcade instead of a play-for-tickets type, and included classics like Buck Hunter and Skeeball.
Right in the heart of town is a beautiful historic landmark building, home to Rick’s Cafe, Naples Pizza, and BHIVE coffee. This was a 1902 casino and offers two stories of beautiful views overlooking the lake. What a perfect spot to relax, grab a beer and watch the sunset. Check out Rick’s Cafe’s website for menus, live music and other events.
While Rick’s didn’t have any music performing when we were there, we did hear some playing down the way, so we went exploring. We stopped in a few shops and spotted Naples Seaplane Adventures with the seaplane right there, ready to go! If you are looking for a unique way to see the lakes region, this might be perfect for you. Just watching the plane take off from the water was a fun sight for the kids.
We treated ourselves to some delicious ice cream from Lakeside Dairy Bar (so good!), walked down to eat it by the water, and found the live music!
Freedom Cafe & Pub is a great spot located in a 200-year-old building, with plenty of both indoor and outdoor seating, boat docks to pull up to, and live music on their waterfront lawn. Serving classic dishes such as burgers, captains platters, and lobster rolls, this is a popular spot for both tourists and locals alike.
While Naples isn’t hugely built-up like some other lakeside towns, it’s a wonderful place to visit for a little getaway. Long Lake is beautiful and I could see us renting one of those homes on the water one day. The water was clean and warm (well, warmer than the ocean), the sun was shining, and we had a perfect summer day.
Where is your favorite lake town and what do you love about it? Comment below!
Jacqueline ♥