Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge – Wells, Maine

This wildlife refuge, one of more than 560 in the U.S., has been recommended as one of the top in the country by both National Geographic and Audubon in the last few years.

Established in 1966, it protects salt marshes and estuaries for migratory birds along 50 miles of coastline in two Maine counties, and includes other habitat areas such as coastal meadows, barrier beaches and dunes, and the rocky coast.

Visitors can see piping plovers, saltmarsh sparrows, ducks, many types of shorebirds, as well as New England cottontail rabbits.