family-friendly Day Trips

TRIP #2: THE BEAUTY OF SEARS ISLAND

HERSEY

IF you’re looking for peace and tranquility mixed with fresh air, Sears Island is the place to be. Located in Waldo County, at the end of Sears Island Road, there is a causeway where visitors park their vehicles and travel on foot or bicycle to enjoy the small island in the Penobscot River known as Sears Island. Visiting this little getaway you’ll find sand, walking trails, wildlife, and so much more.

“Rich in wild beauty, Sears Island serves as an easily accessible spot for a short, peaceful stroll or a more ambitious outing,” said Rolf Olsen, board member of Friends of Sears Island. “The island offers miles of trails and shoreline to explore, including opportunities for wildlife watching, discovering abundant botanical and geological features, and spotting historic sites.”

As noted in the book “A History of Sears Island” by Joel Eastman, the island was originally known as Wassumkeag by the Native Americans, which means bright sand beach. This island changed ownership over the decades before being purchased by David Sears in 1813. Ownership was then passed down through four generations of the Sears family before it returned to its more natural state, which locals viewed as a public recreation area.

In the late 1980s, the state claimed 50 acres of the land by eminent domain and purchased most of the remainder in 1997 with an agreement to place 601 acres in permanent conservation. According to the Friends of Sears Island website, the Maine Coast Heritage Trust holds the conservation easement, and the Friends of Sears Island are the land’s caretakers, responsible for the natural and cultural resources.

“People of all ages, from all over the Midcoast region and beyond, enjoy and appreciate Sears Island,” said Olsen. “It’s easy to get to. It’s free to everyone, with many miles of trails and beaches, and it’s almost never crowded, even on a beautiful summer day.”

Sometimes, depending on the tide, visitors enjoying the shoreline can spot beautiful shells, crabs, a jellyfish or two, and even a man-made rope swing which youngsters can’t help grabbing a hold of and swinging through the air while listening to the background music provided by a variety of birds.

One of the newest additions to Sears Island is a StoryWalk® along Sears Island’s Homestead Trail, created by the Carver Memorial Library and the Friends of Sears Island. The trail itself is just over a half mile long and is part of what was the original road that led to the Sears family farm. Each page of the book is laminated and placed on a wide backer board attached to a wooden stake. These stakes are placed at different spots along the trail building enthusiasm for the next page of the story.

“We try to focus on things related to Sears Island, so we usually pick something related to nature, animals, or islands,” explained Sue McClintock, director of the Carver Memorial Library.

“Families with children especially enjoy our StoryWalk®,” Olsen said. “We also offer education programs for families with students, whether in school or home schooled. And for adults, we offer programs like yoga on the beach, monarch butterfly tagging, and more.”

According to Olsen, the annual Summer Solstice on June 21 always draws a crowd to Sears Island. The event includes live music, food, and fun activities for kids. However, there truly isn’t a bad time of year to visit this gem in Waldo County. Whether you’re in search of a getaway or a go-to destination, Sears Island is a great place where relaxation and learning can peacefully coincide along the shores of Maine.