By subscribing to our newsletter(s) you agree to our User Agreement and Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement. Curtis Island Light is located at the entrance to Camden Harbor and is still actively used by the US Coast Guard. If its a bad day you might want to be in an area with indoor attractions - museum, etc. First stop is Sand Beach. Once you're in you'll want a sampling of oysters, of courseas many as your party can manage, and stay local; it's why you're here. You'll believe the hype. We tend to like the quieter, more rural areas which is why I suggested the Harpswell area for exploring. There are many delicious restaurants lining the downtown and waterfront areas, where guests may enjoy freshly caught seafood and other scrumptious meals or take an order to go and head to one of the many public parks in the area for a scenic picnic. thanks. This is the coast road. Some dayssome tripsjust need to end that way. The views are only slightly less epic, but you get a sweeping lawn, a small but lounge-ready pool, and the dormers and eaves of small(er) scale New England architecture. The restaurant is spacious; it sits above a wide meadow with access to the pondand if you have time, by all means make the short hike to check it out. It is worth a day trip to visit one of Camdens outlying islands, Isleboro, Vinalhaven, North Haven, Isle Au Haut or the many other smaller islands in the area, accessible by boat or ferry out of Camden Harbor. In September things won't be too crowded. Lively Lady offers harbor cruises from Camdens docks daily. Don't miss Portland Head Light, and just south of Portland is Cape Elizabeth, check it out for Two Lights, great lobster in the rough on the rocky shore. Check out Yankee Magazine's website for more ideas. Get off the streets for a walk through well-manicured Harbor Park, which gracefully notches the top of postcard-pretty Camden Harbor, on your way to grab a drink with a water view at the Rhumb Line (bar seats are best), then do dinner at Long Grain, a no-frills-in-the-dining-room, high-class-in-the-kitchen Thai joint on Elm Street. Not much on the menu besides lobster and pie! Five Islands is probably a prettier setting but Waterman's is quieter. Once you're checked in, cross that lawn to the Shore Path. Sand Beach, living up to its name in Acadia National Park. But Ill assume that, like me, youre only of modest ambition; and so I'll suggest that, like me, you do Cadillac at the end of the day rather than the beginning. It provides access from most major regions of the country, making Portland the perfect in and out. Take Main Street as your artery. Hi yestravel, it's Waterman's Beach. Cookie Policy - As for tea, the reputation's rock solid. Maine's coast hardly needs a sales pitch. Save some time (and energy), though, for that trip up Cadillac Mountain. It'll be crowded (for good reason), so put your name in and use the time to pre-tour the Old Port. The former home of Maine's biggest newspaper transformed into a beautiful boutique hotel downtown. All good suggestions. Yep, that's right: Skip the lobster (this time), and order their Pad Seuw, whose noodles are hand-made daily, and the Maine crab fried rice. Just remember to put the top up when you park: Summer thunderstorms aren't unheard of. For dinner, head to Havanaalso on Main Street, but away from the center of town. Reservations are a good idea unless you plan to show up after 4 p.m. 1937 1916 Owl's Head Light is a great recommendation. After lunch, make your way back to 73 toward Rocklandbut tack east on North Shore Drive before you arrive, to get out to Owls Head State Park. guernsey ufo 1836 1854 dispatch I hope you'll stick around for awhile! You won't find a lot of shops and fancy homes. Our most popular newsletter for destination inspiration, travel tips, trip itineraries, and everything else you need to be an expert traveler in this beautiful world. but her soul is a, There is nothing more powerful than a daydream , Walks hit different on a summer morning in a state, A few of my favorites from my morning in Camden, What I hope to see the next time Im in Camden , The First Timers Guide To The Grand Canyon, 14 Things You Didnt Know About Thanksgiving, 10 Things To Do At Badlands National Park, 9 Things To Know Before Visiting Salem in October, Cost: $$$ but justified because these are really high quality products. The southern coast such as Ogunquit and Kennebunk are nice but also crowded (except mid-week in many places). There is no other commercial activity on the road. There are plenty of scenic areas around Boothbay. Go for a pain au chocolat, but the brioche and croissant are great too, and if it's Thursday or Saturday you'll find rugalachall baked fresh, of course. Privacy Statement - Looking forward to a visit in August. There are plenty of things to do in Camden during the winter as the town becomes a hot spot for winter sports. These Are the 10 Best Places to Live in the World, The Most Underrated European Cities, According to Seasoned Travelers, 8 Chic Seaside Hotels Where You Can Live Out Your Coastal Grandmother Dreams. More on our Top Towns to Visit in Maine as you Tour the Coast. If location's your priority, the Bar Harbor Inn's tough to beat, slung as it is along the waterfront's ridge just below the town's center. Maidens Cliff is one of the more popular hiking trails, an 800-foot rock cliff that provides spectacular views of Lake Megunticook and the Maine countryside. Your email address will not be published. But the trio of cities herePortland, Camden, and Bar Harborform what I think of as the heart of the state's allure, those top three tracks on the greatest hits compilation you can't stop humming. Cond Nast Traveler does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Cost: $50/Adult (16+) / $40 Child (10-15). For lunch, hit perennial favorite Eventide Oyster Co. It's cleverly styled with typewriter and printing-press motifs, and well appointed with locally crafted leathers and textilesbest of all, its close to everything you'll want to see. Every flavor has its fans, but I'm partial to the blueberry soft serve, because there's nothing quite so summer and there's nothing quite so Maine. If you're visiting in summer, there'll be crowds drawn by nearby Acadia; but as a rule they're genial, and nothing compared to what you'll find in park towns out West. In Camden, you owe yourself a walking tour. And there's no better tone-setter for this trip. The VisitMaine.Net team is the small team of authors and editors that research and write our in-depth guides throughout the site and update past articles to make sure they're still super valuable to you. (Shoes recommended.). Park yourself at the Press Hotel, a boutique spot that opened in 2015 in the building that used to be home to the Press Herald. If you finish on the south end, the path drops you right onto Wayman Lane, which in turn connects to Main Street; just turn left to head to the center. Vinalhaven is also famous for its resident swordfish captain and author Linda Greenlaw who wrote The Lobster Chronicles, A Hungry Ocean, Slipknot, All Fishermen are Liars and her own Maine Cookbook, Recipes from a very small island. Here things get a bit tricky: From 131 you'll grab 73 at St. George, and you'll follow it to Spruce Head Island, where you'll track down McLoon's Lobster Shack right on the water, south shore. Do Not Sell My Personal Information, Fodor's may use your email address to send you relevant information on site updates, account changes, and offers. Wine tasting at Cellardoor Winery in Lincolnville Bettina the propreitor departed Wall Street to pursue a passion in wine and elegant entertaining, shes spent beaucoup bucks on harvesting Maine wines, which areperhaps not legendary but fun & fruity, with a great tale & tour. All of Rockland has an artsy cool vibe and several exceptional galleries like the newer Center for Maine Contemporary Art across the street! Dinner's at Central Provisions, just off cinematically bricked-and-cobblestoned Wharf Street. Top Places to Dine in Camden Visit Camden State Park and Mt Battie, you can drive the auto road to the top for fabulous views of the Camden Harbor and often see as far as Cadillac Mt on Mt Desert Island. It's less than two hours' drive if you plow straight through, but of course that's not what you're about. Many love visiting the quiant villages ofRockportandRocklandand Owls Head just south of Camden. Order a lobster roll and a crab roll, even if you're all by your lonesome, and know that what you're eating got caught that morning in the waters you're looking at. Ogunquit, mentioned by Tanya, is 20 min further south. Kennebunkport is about an hour south of Portland. Theme by 17th Avenue. I have a soul that likes to wander, a desire to experience the unknown, and a curiousity to discover things off the beaten path. Afterward, finish your waterfront walk with an ice cream in hand. Guide to Caratunk Maine Hotels, Inns, and Lodging, Exploring the Best Lincoln Maine Lodges, Hotels, Inns, and Lodging, Your Guide to Bethel Maine. (The joint's name should give you confidence, but don't be fooled: The menu's more pan-Caribbean than strictly Cuban.) Eating our way through New Orleans, a brief trip report. Long Grain Advertising - They don't lean too hard on trends, which is my way of praising the fact that you'll actually find a handful that don't involve amari. Still, theres no great case for delay. You'll get great views of the rock formations along the shoreline, and of course the sweeping harbor, the islands, the ships tacking in and out. someone once told me to always It's made on premises. Enjoy yourstay in Camdenand tell emVisitMaine.netsteered you here. For lunch, head to Side Street Cafe in the center of town. or be driving. Bring a towel, or even a chair, because it's exactly what the name implies: a wide expanse of yellow sand with crystal-clear water that, depending on the time of year, just might be warm enough (low 60s on a good day) for the brave to swim in. There's a strong list of beers, including several local options like Atlantic Real Ale on draft, and cocktails. Battie for panoramic views of the Bay and nearby islands. Other Loop features include Thunder Hole, a rock crevice that booms spectacularly when the tides rush in (it would be worth visiting for the surrounding geoformations alone); the precipitous Otter Cliff; and pristine Echo Lake. This beautiful part of Maine sits on the banks of the Penobscot River, and, Read More Exploring the Best Lincoln Maine Lodges, Hotels, Inns, and LodgingContinue, The small town of Bethel, Maine,just 1.5 hours north of Portland and 5 miles from Maines most popular ski area,Sunday River, is a year, Read More Your Guide to Bethel Maine. live for the lit, When everything feels like an uphill struggle, jus, She might be down to earth Penobscot Bay itself has been said to be one of the best and most scenic sailing areas in the state of Maine. Visitors may choose to charter their own ships, or sail for several days on a majestic ocean vessel, learning to hoist the sails or relaxing on deck in the cool ocean breezes.