New England has hundreds of miles of scenic coastline, from the small inlet beaches of Rhode Island to the craggy coast of Maine.
The mid-coast area of Maine between Brunswick and Rockland is known as the real Maine.
Villages hugging the rugged coastline provide visitors with history and culture. The one drawback is Route 1 - picturesque, but famous for miles of traffic. There is an alternative route, the Maine Eastern Railroad which travels between Brunswick and Rockland, with additional stops at Bath and Wiscasset.
Start your visit in Brunswick, home of Bowdoin College. Stay at the Brunswick B&B and walk to the nearby museums, shops, and restaurants.
Although the Bowdoin College Museum of Art, is closed for restoration until 2007 you can visit the Chamberlain House Museum was home to Civil War general Joshua L. Chamberlain, a Bowdoin graduate and president of the college from 1871-1883. Chamberlain commanded the 20th Maine Regiment at the battle of Little Round Top at Gettysburg.
In nearby Bath the Maine Maritime Museum has an extensive collection of exhibits on Maine's maritime history and shipbuilding days. Walking streets lined with Federal style 18th century sea captain's houses you will understand why National Trust for Historic Preservation has named Bath one of America's Dozen Distinctive Destinations for 2005.
Now, for that alternative to Route 1, leave your car at the train depot in Brunswick and board the Maine Eastern Railroad to Rockland. No traffic hassles on this 2-hour trip that takes you through estuaries, tidal marshes and coastal villages.
Once in Rockland it's an easy walk from the train depot to museums, shops, restaurants and three of the village's most elegant inns; the Berry Manor Inn, the Capt. Lindsey House and the Lime Rock Inn, collectively the Historic Inns of Rockland.
Called the Gateway to Penobscot Bay, Rockland's history dates back over 200 years. Its harbor, dotted with working lobster boats bobbing alongside sleek schooners, is a beautiful backdrop for this coastal village.
Located on Main Street, the infamous Route 1, is the Farnsworth Art Museum and Wyeth Center. That's Wyeth, as in N.C., Andrew and Jamie. The museum's relationship with the Wyeths began in 1951 when it hosted the first public exhibition of Andrew's paintings.
The Farnsworth houses over 7,000 works of art by artists such as Fitz Hugh Lane, Rockwell Kent, Edward Hopper, George Bellows and, of course, the Wyeths.
The copyright of the article Mid-Coast Maine in NE U.S. Travel is owned by Fran Folsom. Permission to republish Mid-Coast Maine in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Comments
Sep 3, 2006 11:05 AM
Barbara Rogers :
Your timing was good -- I was traveling up the coast to New Brunswick and decided to stop in Rockland as you suggested. There was so much to see that we ended up spending an extra night there on the way back.
Farther north, in Waldeboro, we made a detour from Route 1 on Route 220 (turn at Borealis Bread -- a wonderful bakery) and visited Morse Sauerkraut. The German family that owns it has recently added a little restaurant (breakfast and lunch only) and sells wonderful sausages and European foods, along with the sauerkraut they make there. Maine has so many small family food producers that you could eat your way around the state.
We are going back later in the fall -- do you (or other readers) have any other suggestions? We'd like to camp near the coast and do some kayaking.
Sep 3, 2006 11:26 AM
Stillman Rogers :
Recompence Shores is a very good campground in Freeport, right next to Wolfe's Neck Farm. The campsites are well-separated, the owners are really nice and you can put in your kayaks by the bridge, just up the road.
And speaking of food sources, Wolfe's Neck Farm raises organic beef, so you can buy meat there to grill on the campfire.
Sep 3, 2006 12:16 PM
Fran Folsom :
Hi, Now I want to go to Waldoboro,I love sauerkraut! There are a few state parks in the Rockland area. Birch Point State Park is in Owl's Head Maine 1-207-941-4014. Warren Island State Park in Lincolnville 1-207-941-9014 is very remote, campers must use their own boats to get to the island. Camden Hills State Park, 1-207-236-3109,about 30-minutes from Rockland,atop Mt. Battie with excellent views of Penobscot Bay.
Sep 3, 2006 12:26 PM
Fran Folsom :
Further up the coast in Down East Maine. Eastport offers two campsites, Seaview Campgrounds 207-853-4471 and Harris Point, 207-853-4303 has cabins and campsites. www.eastportmaine.com
Sep 3, 2006 1:31 PM
Barbara Rogers :
We have have gone deep sea fishing with Harris in Eastport -- such nice people! And we always come home with a cooler full of fish, too. But I did not realize they had campsites.
I haven't been to Eastport in several years -- it was like stepping back into a coastal community of 50 years ago, with those nice brick buildings and little independent businesses. But it was having rough economic times when I last saw it. Is anything new happening there?
Sep 5, 2006 5:19 AM
Fran Folsom :
Eastport is on the way up. The downtown is restructing headed up by an organization called Eastport for Pride.
Lots of new businesses; shops, art galleries, a new general store that's open year round. Many buildings are under restoration. A group of 5 women have purchased two buildings in downtown, one they made into a cooperative artisans gallery, the Commons. The other, the old canning factory, they are restoring into a boutique hotel with a bistro, health spa, and luxory condos.
This is a town that hit bottom when the sardine industry left, it has no place to go but up now.
Nov 20, 2006 12:13 PM
Fran Folsom :
The Pies on Parade event takes place in Rockland Maine on two weekends; January 14t-16th and 21st-23rd. Contact Historic Inns of Rockland.
