Camden, Rockport & Lincolnville

The towns of Camden, Rockport and Lincolnville are located in the heart of coastal Maine along Penobscot Bay. Rockport and Camden have working harbors full of fishing boats, schooners and boat yards. These seaside towns have a vibrant artist community – Route 1 is lined with galleries and shops where you can peruse locally made arts and crafts.

Things to Do in Camden, Rockport and Lincolnville

In the summer, stop by the Camden Windjammer Festival, the largest gathering of windjammers in the northeast. There are events all day including the exciting (and odd) lobster crate races. You can hike the 30 miles of trails and choose from among more than 100 campsites at Camden Hills State Park. Take in a show at the historic Camden Opera House. Each year, filmmakers from around the world come to Camden to the Camden International Film Festival.

Winter here is a blast! At the nearby Camden Snow Bowl, you can ski, go snow tubing and ice skating or ride down the 400-foot toboggan chute. Each February, you can watch or participate in the U.S. National Toboggan Championships. Santa arrives by boat to celebrate Camden’s Christmas by the Sea, a time to enjoy shopping and festivities.

If you’re yearning to learn while on vacation, this area has you covered. Rockport is home to the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, which provides courses in furniture making and related skills; the Maine Media Workshops, which holds classes in photography, writing and filmmaking; and Avena Botanicals, which offers herbal workshops and tours of their gardens. Salt Water Farm Cooking School in Lincolnville gives guests the opportunity to create local, seasonal fare.

In Rockport, Maine, you’ll feel ocean breezes and you can visit gorgeous parks. If you’re adventurous, plan to go hiking, sailing, bicycling, skiing, birdwatching and other outdoor activities. Rockport was home to Andre the Seal, who for 20 years came up from the Boston Aquarium to spend summers in Rockport Harbor as a welcome guest. His statue is now in Rockport Marine Park.

You can golf beside the ocean at the Samoset Resort Golf Club in Rockport. From the Samoset, you can also walk along the Rockland Breakwater to the lighthouse. At the 66-acre Merryspring Nature Center in Camden and Rockport, you can enjoy walking, birdwatching or cross-country skiing.

In Lincolnville, take part in tastings of grape and blueberry wines and tour the winery and vineyard at Cellardoor Winery, Maine’s first winery. Lincolnville Beach is a popular spot to enjoy the sand and sea.

Where to Stay in Camden, Rockport and Lincolnville

The Samoset Resort is one of MidCoast Maine’s favorite year-round hotels. In Camden, Rockport and Lincolnville, you also have your choice of many fantastic inns and bed and breakfasts, including the Captain Swift Inn, Camden Maine Stay Inn, Victorian By the Sea, Lord Camden Inn and the Camden Riverhouse Hotel. Want a cozy cabin in the mountains? Check out Point Lookout Resort. Glenmoor By The Sea is popular with families looking for the perfect spot to relax and the Lincolnville Motel offers comfort with a vintage feel. There are too many great places to stay to name them all!

Restaurants in Camden, Rockport and Lincolnville

Looking for a place to eat in Camden? You’re in luck. The Hartstone Inn’s restaurant is highly regarded for fine-dining, Peter Ott’s on the Water serves up seafood, classic comfort nibbles and burgers, and the Waterfront boast the best views in Camden on their harborside deck.

In Rockport, Nina June and 18 Central Oyster Bar overlook Rockport Harbor.

In Lincolnville, visit McLaughlin’s Lobster Shack for great seafood in unpretentious settings. Owen’s General Store offers delicious snacks and quick meals perfect for picnics.