The 11 Best Things To Do in Beautiful Mid-Coast Maine USA

I’m going to write about something just a wee bit different this week and that is the best things to do in Mid-Coast Maine, USA.

I know.

I’m a Europe Specialist.

But sometimes I need to explore a bit closer to home.

And just a couple of weeks ago I spent a week in the area — and just fell in love with it.

I’d been to Maine once before spending most of the time in Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor.

That was 16 years ago.

I really loved Maine then and always wanted to return.

But you know…

I ended up falling in love with so many places in Europe and then started this Europe travel planning business.

So Maine sort of fell off the radar.

However since I am unable to venture too far from home right now due to my dad’s failing health, I decided that this was the year to re-visit Maine.

And Mid-Coast Maine (which I’ll define below) was the particular spot that called to me.

Let’s dive into this amazing destination in the USA.

Where exactly is ‘Mid-Coast’ Maine?

Mid-Coast Maine is the area from Brunswick to Searsport and is mainly — as the name suggests — the area along the coast.

The bay here is called Penobscot Bay.

And it’s simply breathtaking.

However, this region does stretch inland so don’t be fooled into thinking it’s just coastline and coastal towns. 

There is a stunning interior to this piece of Maine for sure.

So where should you go and what should you do?

I’ve got a few ideas for you.

Walk around Camden

Camden is one of the popular towns in Mid-Coast Maine. 

It’s charming and adorable. 

But also quite touristy and pretty darn busy.

Even in early October I was surprised at the number of people walking along the streets.

However, it’s definitely a cute town to walk around

And it has a wonderful harbor area to check out.

One of my recommendations is to wander down some of the streets where the people live.

You know, get away from the main street with all its shops, restaurants and cafes — and tourists.

The old homes are so amazing!

Some of them date back to the early 1800’s.

There are larger, stately homes as well as more modest houses.

Some need some love.

But most of them are in good condition.

In the heart of town you’ll find some good restaurants, cafes and shops.

And you’ll find a few spots down by the water to eat and shop too.

Camden is a charmer for sure.

Go out for a cruise on Penobscot Bay and learn about lobster fishing

One of the experiences I didn’t have (but I wish I had) in Mid-Coast Maine is to take a cruise out on Penobscot Bay.

Camden harbor certainly has some tours and I know some of the other towns along the coast do too. 

Rockland will be one to check out as it’s a good sized town in the Mid-Coast Maine area.

Anyway…

I met a couple who had taken a cruise that focused on lobster fishing.

So they learned all about what this profession entails.

They were quite impressed and said they learned a lot.

I think this would be the cruise I would take. 

Next time!

But you can also take a simple cruise around the bay and get those views back to the landscape.

A tour on a boat is a must for time in Mid-Coast Maine.

Explore Camden Hills State Park and Mount Battie

Another of my next time experiences is to get into Camden Hills State Park and hike or drive up Mount Battie.

Believe it or not, this was one of the top things I planned to do in Mid-Coast Maine.

But then I ended up doing some other things first. 

I was going to go on my final day before I made the drive down the coast to Boston where I flew into.

However, Mother Nature decided to give me a misty day on that day.

I knew I wouldn’t get the fabulous views from Mount Battie that I really wanted.

So I just didn’t do it. 

Folks rave about the views and say it is so worth it.

So I know I have to go back to Mid-Coast Maine so I can experience the views from Mount Battie.

And get out on some of the trails in Camden Hills State Park.

Discover Belfast

One of the places that was not on my list but was added quickly for my trip to Mid-Coast Maine is the town of Belfast.

Located just a wee bit north of Camden and Lincolnville Beach, Belfast is another of those charming harbor towns with exquisite old homes.

Belfast actually has a Celtic heritage to it as it was settled by Scottish-Irish families.

So there are some events that occur throughout the year that honor that Celtic heritage.

What I loved about this town is that it was definitely less touristy and busy than Camden.

Belfast is smaller, but still has some nice shops, restaurants and cafes.

It has a harbor area as well with a nice park next to it.

I found myself wandering down the residential lanes, taking in the old homes and all the trees.

This is a good spot if you want to visit a town that is a bit less touristy than Camden but still is charming as hell.

Stroll around Rockport

The town of Rockport is just south of Camden.

And while I didn’t actually visit the town, I did meander about the harbor area.

My B&B hostess does recommend a visit to the town as she says there are a few excellent spots to eat as well as some lovely shops.

I enjoyed simply walking about the harbor area. 

It’s quite picturesque.

Visit Owls Head and Owls Head Lighthouse

Just a wee bit south of Rockland, you’ll see signs for Owls Head and its lighthouse.

I highly recommend making the drive here and visiting this natural area with its lighthouse.

First of all, the drive is splendid as you wend your way along small roads with trees, boggy areas and old homes.

As you take the small road to the lighthouse, you do enter a state park area.

The walk to the lighthouse is not very long, but it is a walk.

Then there are quite a few steps up to the actual lighthouse. 

The views from here are marvelous!

Owls Head Lighthouse itself is not very big or tall.

But it is a fantastic spot.

As you leave the lighthouse parking lot and drive back the way you came, you’ll pass a place called Richard Carver Harbor Park. 

Stop here and take a walk out to the harbor area.

It’s a wonderful spot to get some pics of the boats and some stunning homes that are nearby.

Get your Forrest Gump on at Marshall Point Lighthouse

Along with Owls Head you can visit Marshall Point Lighthouse.

I did just this on one of my days which ended up being one of my favorites on my visit to Mid-Coast Maine.

This area — where you find Owls Head and Marshall Point — is known as St George Peninsula.

And to be honest, I wish I had spend even more time here as there are some beaches, small parks and lovely scenery — both along the coastline and inland.

Anyway…

Marshall Point Lighthouse is also a small lighthouse.

But it has a bit of story to it.

Remember the movie Forrest Gump?

Remember when he ran from one side of the USA to the other?

Well, when he runs out to a lighthouse, it’s actually Marshall Point Lighthouse.

What I like about this lighthouse is that it has a nice grassy area with picnic tables and fabulous views.

Also, at low tide, you can walk around the lighthouse on the rocks and explore the sea life

And you’ll get some different angles of the lighthouse and its lovely house/museum.

I was fortunate to have a gorgeous day so I explored the shoreline then sat at a picnic table and talked to some other travelers.

A definite must for your time in Mid-Coast Maine.

Spend some time at Megunticook Lake and Fernald’s Neck Preserve

A destination in Mid-Coast Maine that may not be as well known to tourists is Megunticook Lake and Fernald’s Neck Preserve.

Megunticook Lake sits just a bit inland from Camden to the northwest.

The lake is a beauty surrounded by trees, hills and even some cliffs.

Barrett’s Cove is a beach area on the south end of the beach.

I suggest stopping here especially if you have good weather. 

You can swim there in summer. 

It is a busy spot in summer.

But I stopped there on a misty day, so had the place almost to myself.

Fernald’s Neck Preserve is this good-sized piece of land that almost bisects the lake.

It’s run by Maine’s Coastal Mountain Land Trust and it’s a spectacular spot.

First of all, I’d say it’s frequented more by locals.

Secondly, even though you spend a lot of time in the trees, it’s still beautiful and so very peaceful.

You get spots where you are along the lake so you will get some lake views and views of the soft mountains of the area. 

I just fell in love with it.

I found a few spots to just sit by the lake and take in the stunning views and enjoy the serenity.

Of course, you can get out onto Lake Megunticook as well.

I think taking a canoe or kayak would be a brilliant way to spend some time in Mid-Coast Maine.

Next time!

Tour, taste and drink in the views at Cellardoor Winery

One of my absolute favorite days and experiences in Mid-Coast Maine was touring and tasting at Cellardoor Winery.

You know me, I love wine.

But I tend to love European wines.

And I tend to be pretty skeptical of wines from places that aren’t California, Oregon or Washington — because these states probably do make the best wines in the US

But I was surprised at how good the wines are at Cellardoor.

Now, they do source some of their grapes from Washington so that speaks to some of the good red wine they have.

However, they do have about 6 acres where they grow their own unique grapes that can handle the colder Maine climate.

Bettina Doulton is the owner and has a fascinating story that I encourage you to read at the website.

Anyway…

I took a complimentary tour which they run for free on Saturdays and Sundays at 11:15am. 

I then had a couple of hours to explore the estate, camera in hand.

There are chairs out in the vines so I walked out, taking many photos of the trees, vines and surrounding landscape, then sat down in a chair and soaked up the sun. 

The estate is gorgeous.

From the stunning old barn turned tasting room/gift shop to the beautiful long bar and dining room that can be rented out for special occasions (not weddings) to the outdoor decks all around that allow you to drink delicious wine and take in the stunning views…

*Sigh*

It is an amazing place for sure.

After my photo wandering, I then experienced a hosted tasting with about 10 other folks as we sat around the U shaped bar in the old barn.

And we were treated to Bettina being our hostess.

What a fabulous tasting experience!

She walked us through the wines she selected and even brought out a few bonus ones for us to try. 

There is some food in the shop that you can buy to accompany this tasting.

And the food they supply is local.

I won’t go into all the wines I tried, but I did find a few that I definitely liked including Perfect Stranger — a white wine made of Cayuga grapes of the Finger Lakes area, Monti al Mare — a red blend sort of like a Super Tuscan, the Blanc de Blancs sparkling — made of 100% L’Acadie Blanc grown at the estate, and the Late Harvest dessert wine — made from 50% Frontenac blanc, 50% Frontenac gris also grown at the estate.

The tour was informational and entertaining.

The tasting was fun as we all chatted about where we were from and discussed the wines, travel and life.

Bettina is an amazing person and very passionate about what she does.

I found it really interesting that so many of the folks who were at my tasting were regulars — they visited Cellardoor at least once per year if not more often.

So many of them were from the Maine/Boston area.

I can see why they make regular visits.

If I lived nearby I would too!

A couple of spots further afield

Play in Acadia National Park

On my first trip to Maine I visited and stayed in Bar Harbor and explored a bit of Acadia National Park

I decided on this trip to Mid-Coast Maine to at least make the 2 hour drive from Camden up to Acadia and explore a bit more.

It is doable, but I do recommend leaving very early as this is a busy national park.

I got a late start and found the park to be packed since it was a Friday and going into a holiday weekend.

However, I managed to find a spot to park and took a walk around Eagle Lake on the carriage roads.

Acadia National Park is gorgeous with its mix of seaside, lakes, trees, mountains, bogs and hills. 

But since it is on the busy East Coast, it does see A LOT of visitors.

My recommendation is to spend a couple of nights in the area so you can truly experience the park as a day trip just isn’t enough.

A day trip is doable, but I think it’s not nearly enough time.

Peruse Portland

The largest city in Maine, and possibly where you might fly into, is Portland.

I’ve only spent a few hours here many years ago, but it is a lovely city by the water.

I heard that it’s become quite the foodie destination with some really good restaurants.

Portland is still small for being the ‘largest’ city with a population of 68,000 or so.

The greater Portland metro area, however, has about half a million people.

But it’s small size makes it very easy to navigate and see on a day trip from Mid-Coast Maine or as an add on for a couple of nights — especially if you are flying into the airport here.

Tips on visiting Mid-Coast Maine

I have to admit that I really fell in love with this area of Maine.

I think it was the combination of the coastline, rolling hills and all the damn trees.

And to be there as those trees were turning into bright reds, golds and oranges was the best!

The charming towns.

The historic homes.

Rural roads with hardly any other cars.

Yup.

It’s beautiful, peaceful and relaxing.

Mid-Coast Maine is not for everyone.

If you want a bigger city with lots to do, this is not the destination for you.

But if you want a slower pace with a rural landscape and some lovely villages and towns along the water, you’ll love it.

Here are a few recommendations:

Fly into Portland Maine so you have a relatively short drive from there to Camden.

It’s about 90 miles and will take 1½ to 2 hours.

You can fly into Boston like I did, but you’ll have 190 miles and a good 4 hour drive.

Do stay in a locally run guesthouse or B&B.

Camden will make a good base but don’t discount the Rockport area or Lincolnville.

I stayed at Victorian by the Sea which was about 4 miles north of Camden.

Yes, I had to drive to out to dinner but there are a few taxi services should you need one.

If you stay directly in Camden or Rockport it will be easier to walk to dinner.

Your choice.

Victorian by the Sea was more secluded and quiet.

So, for me, this was what I wanted and needed for this trip.

And it was a fabulous B&B to stay with an awesome owner in Caroline, delicious breakfast and a fantastic view.

Plus the old house is delightful!

Do be sure to give yourself time to drive from point A to point B.

Roads are more rural here so it will take a bit of time since speed limits are a bit slower.

Explore!

Mid-Coast Maine is a splendid area to simply explore.

Stop by any little village or wee park or lake or overlook.

The best time to go is mid-May to the end of October.

Summer will be very busy with families on holiday as will leaf peeping season (early to mid-October).

But leaf peeping season is amazing!!

Above all, enjoy yourself.

Slow down and really relish in the stunning landscape and the warm and friendly locals.

Please note that Wander Your Way is only recommending international travel to those who are vaccinated and feel comfortable doing so. While travel to Europe is getting easier, we are still not out of the woods with COVID.

If you do decide to travel internationally, please do your research or use a travel planning service such as Wander Your Way. Please stay up to date using official sources like the WHO and CDC.

And if you are ready to go soon, please contact Lynne for any assistance you may need.

 

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