Daytripping with wayre: A Secret Beach & Exploring Downtown Bath, Maine

Ask me why I love Maine, and one of the top reasons out of my mouth will always, always be the natural beauty of this state. Visit Maine in the summer, and you’ll surely be charmed - perhaps you’ll even imagine yourself living here (I say, visit in February before you make that big move) - there’s something so special about the confluence of mountains, oceans, and the ecosystems in-between. Summer, especially August, in Maine is unparalleled, and one of my favorite times to explore the state. It’s hard to get me to leave during this all-too-brief but magical time of year, the weather is (usually) beautiful and the days are long and lazy, with just a hint that fall’s not far off. Chris and I celebrated our ten-year wedding anniversary (TEN YEARS?!) this past weekend, and instead of taking a big trip (something we’re not quite ready for amid the ongoing pandemic), we chose to do a few small day trips around the state. I took the day off on Friday, which offered the perfect opportunity to finally check out the Bates-Morse Mountain Conservation Area.

Morse Mountain has been on my list for a while but knowing that parking is limited, the timing had to be perfect - and Friday was it. This spot feels pretty special - it’s a solid hike in, although you’re on a small paved road for most of it - but once you hit the beach, it feels magical and like a well-kept secret. Knowing we’d be hiking and swimming, I wore the Shift & Snap Tank and Flow Short from wayre (shop through my link for 10% off!). wayre’s travel-friendly fabrics also happen to be ideal for exploring – they’re breathable, stink-proof, wrinkle-proof, and friendly for hiking or exploring a new town. This pairing turned out to be perfect because it was incredibly humid, like, dripping sweat standing still humid, on the day we hiked out and I’m not sure any other outfit would have been bearable (also, can confirm: 100% stank-proof).

Anyway, it’s the kind of spot that feels secret, and in many ways it is. The beach at the end of Morse Mountain trail isn’t easy to get to, and most items you’d think to bring to any other beach aren’t allowed (no umbrellas or beach chairs, no kites, etc.) because of the delicate eco-system. It’s the kind of place you go to appreciate nature as it should be: uncrowded, quiet except for the waves and the birds. We spent some time looking for shells, swimming, wading, and watching the sandpipers hunting for their breakfasts. By the time more people started to arrive, we were ready to hike out and move on.

Since Phippsburg is next to Bath, I was interested in checking out Bath’s downtown area, a spot I’ve really only driven through once or twice. I changed into the Seville dress from wayre in the Morse Mountain parking lot (no wrinkles!) to feel a little more refreshed in the humidity, and we were on our way. And friends, Bath, Maine is so cute! We mostly strolled downtown for a bit, but there were so many cute shops (and a pretty good Reny’s too, haha), a sweet little cafe and a vintage-looking ice cream parlor, and on the day we were there, there was an art walk going on as well. I’m looking forward to going back and exploring Bath more.

*If you’re thinking of visiting Morse Mountain, please be sure to read up on it and respect the rules.

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