Castine Touring Company - Castine, ME

The S. G. L.

We loved this experience!! It was so interesting and fun!! Detailed and informative tour around Castine with a local guide. It was great to be able to cover a lot of the town and learn unique about it's unique history. This was a fun way to spend the afternoon!! We really got to see a lot of the harbor and beautiful homes! Highly recommend!!

Parking was super easy!!

Capstone is a beautiful town. Everyone was very friendly! It is worth a visit and sure to capture your heart!

Corky A.

Very fun! We tried to book a golf cart tour online the morning we took our Little Toot cruise. (Also excellent!) and it showed nothing was available. When we returned from our cruise, there was a golf cart and guide waiting! Apparently they add extra volunteers when available. Our guide was great and we learned a lot! Absolutely a great tour!

Jen A.

Tour this adorable and historic town of Castine in the town golf cart, Scarlett. Tours leave from the town dock and are run by trained volunteers of the town. They'll take you all over and even bring you to the lighthouse! If you can't find Scarlett, drop in the visitor's center to inquire. Suggested contribution of $10 per person! A fantastic way to see this charming little town and soak up the history. This runs seasonally!

Lucy L.

We really enjoyed our tour of the historic town of Castine in the golf cart, Scarlett! The homes and flowers are beautiful! The view is breathtaking! Our tour guide Bill was excellent! He was very pleasant and shared so much information about the area. Would definitely recommend!
Requested donation is $10.00 per person but any amount is accepted.

Melissandra J.

Great experience beautiful Town extremely knowledgeable tour guide must do when in town

Bonnie S.

Beverly was the best storyteller and guide one could desire. She knew everybody, knew her town, and had us laughing much of the time. The Historic tour on Scarlett is a must, if you are anywhere near Castine. The drivers are all volunteers so be sure to tip them well. It was amazing!

Stephen M.

My female partner and I took the Castine Touring Company tour aboard their nice golf cart “Scarlet” with Bill at the wheel. We met-up at 9:00 a.m. just outside The Captain’s Catch restaurant at the Town Dock, 43 Main St #705, Castine, ME 04421. You don’t make a reservation or buy a ticket for the tour, you just show-up between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.. You will find their sandwich board there during operating hours with an indication when they will return for the next tour. Bill and all the other drivers are all volunteers who are justifiably proud of their town and want to share its history and architecture with you. Before doing research prior to the trip I didn’t even know Castine existed, but my research revealed that it was founded in the winter of 1613, predating the Plymouth Colony by seven years. Bill ran through Castine’s founding history and how it changed hands many times between the French, British, Dutch and American governments, including the Penobscot Expedition in 1779 which proved to be the greatest American naval defeat until Pearl Harbor in 1941.

Bill showed us many of the older homes and inns of the town and his narration included brief histories of the structures, architecture details and comments about the recent ownership. He also showed and described for us the Maine Maritime Academy and many of its ships. He showed us and told us about Fort George, Fort Madison State Park, and some of the other prior forts in the town. He took us to the Dyce Head Lighthouse and positioned the cart so we could get good pictures of it.

Bill pointed out many local businesses and encouraged us to check them out. He recommended lunch at The Captain's Catch, right where the tour started and ended. It seemed an unpretentious place, but the food was very tasty and reasonably priced.

The Castine Touring Company is a nonprofit and the requested donation is $10.00 per person but any amount is accepted. I gave $20 for the two of us and would have give a bit more if I had better change. It was a wonderful experience and I learned so much. Thanks Bill!

Doris S.

We had a thorough, informative and highly enjoyable tour on Scarlett. It is simply the best way to tour historic Castine! Ann and Wyllys helpfully accommodated our needs. During the tour Wyllys seemed to know everyone in town,. What a delightful outing!