Midcoast Maine, which stretches roughly eighty miles from Brunswick (twenty-six miles north of Portland) in the south to Searsport in the north, is more idea than place — a conglomeration of towns rather than a like-minded region. And yet the name serves its purpose, celebrating the area's recent rejuvenation and promoting its accessibility. Rockport and its intimate neighbors of Camden, Rockland and Lincolnville are at its heart. (The area code for all four towns is 207.)
Where to StayInn at Sunrise Point is an upscale B&B right on the ocean. Route 1, Camden; 236-7716; sunrisepoint.com. Samoset, a full-blown golf resort on 230 oceanside acres, has a sprawling hotel, time-share condos and rentable private houses. 220 Warrenton Street, Rockport; 594-2511; samosetresort.com. Lord Camden Inn is smack in the middle of shop-lined streets. 24 Main Street, Camden; 236-4325; lordcamdeninn.com.
Where to EatBoynton-McKay Food Co. serves lusty breakfasts to diners in wooden booths. 30 Main Street, Camden; 236-2465. Francine's owner, Brian Hill, turned this ex–coffee shop into a perfect little bistro and drives to far-flung farms for the best organic meat and produce. 55 Chestnut Street, Camden; 230-0083. In Good Company has a mission statement on its menu: "We believe in a life of balance.... One must eat and drink only good things...in good company." It delivers! 415 Main Street, Rockland; 593-9110.
Primo is Melissa Kelly and Price Kushner's popular restaurant—a restored Victorian house amid the vegetable and herb gardens that fuel Kelly's Italian-inflected cooking. Route 73, Rockland; 596-0770. Lobster Pound serves what food critic Mimi Sheraton says "may be the best clam chowder in the state," and we agree. Route 1, Lincolnville Beach; 789-5550.
Rockport Corner Shop's simple food is as flavorful as the mix of locals who frequent the place. 23 Central Street, Rockport; 236-8361.
What to DoBay Chamber Concerts is a cultural icon with ambitious programs. Rockport Opera House and other locations; baychamberconcerts.org.
Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, run by Peter Korn, offers temporary exhibits and intensive courses that can help you become a fine woodworker or appreciate the artistry of others. 25 Mill Street, Rockport; 594-5611; woodschool.org.
Center for Maine Contemporary Art has had roots deep in the state's art scene since the '50s. Its carefully stocked shop features our favorite "Fear No Art" T-shirts. 162 Russell Avenue, Rockport; 236-2875; artsmaine.org.
Outdoor adventures can mean wilderness trips, hiking, fishing, camping, canoeing, kayaking, snowshoeing or sailing. To hire a guide, start with Ken Walker in Rockport (mainewildernesstrips.com); also try Maine Guides Online (maineguides.com).
Aldermere Farm, run by the Maine Coast Heritage Trust, hosts a schedule of public events and is home to those town mascots, the Belted Galloway cattle. 70 Russell Avenue, Rockport; 236-2739; aldermere.org. Marine Park in Rockport has a sculpture of Andre, the legendary harbor seal who spent summers there in the 1960s and '70s, along with restored remnants of the lime kilns that once provided Rockport's livelihood.
Where to ShopGoose River Exchange is a delightful world of ephemera—photographs, posters, postcards, antiques and books. Route 1, Lincolnville Beach; 789-5241.
Planet Toys sells playthings and children's books by Maine authors like E.B. White and Robert McCloskey. 31 Main Street, Camden; 236-4410.
LOG-IN TO POST A COMMENT
POST A COMMENT