Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, Maine

Rachel Carson NWR, Wells, Maine: Named for the renowned author of Silent Spring and The Sea Around Us, Rachel Carson Refuge consists of a series of estuarine habitats along the southeastern coast of Maine. Here one will find salt marshes surrounded by stands of 75-foot white pines sheltering pink lady’s slippers and trillium. A tidal pool at the mouth of the Saco River supports a complete ecosystem of sea creatures and is considered one of the best birding areas in the state. The upland areas support deer, otters, and coyotes while the coastal areas are home to various sea ducks and shorebirds. Endangered piping plovers nest here, as do black ducks and mallards. The mile-long nature trail near the refuge headquarters is wheelchair-accessible.