Sick of melting? With warm weather back with a vengeance, it's time to finally break out the swim trunks and pool noodles.

Below is a list of places to beat the heat.

Hendricks Head, Southport

Hendricks Head beach, located near the Southport General Store, is Maine in a microcosm.

There's a lighthouse, a little sandy beach, some rocky coastline and a big hunk of a rock in a quiet cove where lobstermen haul-out traps.

The water's not exactly warm, but for a compressed Maine landscape, few can compare with Hendricks Head Beach.

The beach is actually private, but the family allows swimmers to come and use the space “respectfully.”

Ocean Point, Grimes Cove

When one thinks of Ocean Point, swimming isn't typically the first thing to come to mind.

Ocean Point evokes images of crashing waves, craggy shoals and where the ocean truly meets Maine.

But, on nice days Grimes Cove does offer a place to swim in a protected cove. If the water's too choppy, just hop onto the public trail and clamber over rocks for some of the region's best views.

Barrett's Park

Want a place close to town to cool off but don't want people looking at you funny for jumping off the footbridge? (Note: Do not, as in ever, jump off the footbridge. It's illegal and you will be known as the New Town Lunatic, supplanting Pigeon Whispering Tony).

Try Barrett's Park; it's a short walk up Lobster Cove Road and has plenty of room to spread out, enjoy a shaded picnic and cool off in style.

Plus, people won't refer to you as the lunatic who jumped off the footbridge.

Knickerbocker Lake

Want to stretch out but the ocean seems scary? Try Knickerbocker Lake, which makes up in big-pond charm what it lacks in scaly, toothy malevolent sea monsters.

The lake, which is located a short distance from Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, would seem more at home where alpine skiing is more popular than water skiing (if water skiing is still popular anywhere). It's big and spread out and peaceful: the trifecta for a perfect summer swimming hole.

Pemaquid Beach

With white sands that look more Bimini than Brunswick, Pemaquid Beach is something of a Maine oddity.

The white sanded-crescent overlooks Johns Bay and sits within striking distance to Fort William and Mary, Pemaquid Point Lighthouse and the public boat launch.

The quarter-mile long beach can accommodate quite a few sunbathers and swimmers alike. The beach also has rocky outcroppings book-ending the beach for a chance to explore.

Other places

West Harbor Pond doesn't have public access, but if you are able to talk your way into someone's back yard and into the water, it might be the premier place to take a swim in the region.

It's big, it's warmer than the ocean, has rope swings and rocks and turtles and it's a reasonable distance to town. If you ask nicely, the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club will allow non-members to swim in the pond via its waterfront property for no charge.

But again, the pond itself has no public boat launches or beaches.

Damariscotta Lake is a bit of a trek from Boothbay Harbor, but it does have public access, is large and is quite pretty.

Ben Bulkeley can be reached at 207-633-4620 or benbulkeley@boothbayregister.com. Follow him on Twitter: @BBRegisterBen.