Eat & drink
Scales
Amazing seafood, lively atmosphere and a wonderful wine list. Book ahead and try to sit at the bar.
View on Google Maps ↗There are more things to do in Maine than you could fit into one trip. This isn’t a comprehensive tourist guide — it’s a collection of our favorite places and local rituals, arranged roughly south to north, with a few worthwhile detours.
There’s a welcome book at the house with even more ideas. Have fun exploring!
01
Portland
A food lover’s city
Portland is worth making time for. These are the places we keep coming back to.
Eat & drink
Leeward
Incredible wine, a relaxed atmosphere and interesting plates. Perfect for a leisurely dinner.
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Fore Street
Bustling dining room with an industrial feel and a great selection of meat and vegetable dishes, plus some fish. We love the bar.
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Lucky Cheetah
Upscale dumpling lounge with underground vibes and excellent Asian-inspired dishes. The vegetables are especially good.
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Highroller Lobster Co.
A fun, retro lunch spot. Excellent fish and chips, and great lobster rolls too.
View on Google Maps ↗Shop & stock up
Sawyer’s Butcher & Deli
Our favorite Portland butcher. Excellent for picking up meat and provisions before heading to the house.
View on Google Maps ↗Shop & stock up
Browne Trading Co.
Fresh fish, caviar, fine wines and high-end groceries for a special dinner at home.
View on Google Maps ↗02
Wiscasset
A little destination dinner
Eat & drink
In a Silent Way
If you can get a table, you’ll be blown away. Worth planning ahead for.
View on Google Maps ↗03
Thomaston & Owls Head
A museum and a swim
Explore
Owls Head Transportation Museum
A fascinating visit for anyone who enjoys historic cars, aircraft and engineering.
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Birch Point State Park
A lovely place for a summer swim.
View on Google Maps ↗04
Rockland
A stop for book lovers
Shop
Arctic Tern Books
Don’t miss this independent bookshop.
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Lemon Bar
A funky bar with retro bar snacks and mini martinis that will blow your mind.
View on Google Maps ↗05
Rockport
Come hungry
Eat & drink
18 Central
An amazing raw bar. Sit at the bar if you can.
View on Google Maps ↗06
Camden
Harbor-side dining
Eat & drink
Lyman-Morse waterfront
Check out the harbor development for outdoor dining right on the water.
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Long Grain
Excellent Thai food, whether you eat in or take out. The Nightmarket Soup is incredible.
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Rooftop bar at 16 Bay View
Spectacular views over Camden Harbor, with excellent cocktails and small plates.
View on Google Maps ↗07
Belfast
A whole day, easily
Walk the harbor, explore downtown, eat your way around town and enjoy the beautiful City Park.
Explore
Harbor Walk & City Park
Two lovely ways to spend time outdoors, with waterfront views and space to unwind.
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Belfast Summer Nights
Thursday evenings in summer: free live music at Steamboat Landing. Bring a picnic and blanket or pick up food in town. Check the current schedule.
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The Back and Forth
Take a bay cruise or learn about lobstering. Some outings include a stop at Young’s Lobster Pound.
View on Google Maps ↗Eat & drink
Young’s Lobster Pound
Do not miss this one! Our favorite lobster rolls, right by the water. To live like a local, bring your own drinks, cups and side dishes — most locals even bring a tablecloth!
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Satori
Excellent sushi, craft cocktails and a wonderful atmosphere in a historic Gothic building.
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Vinolio
A lovely shop for wine and provisions. Look for Tuesday streetside oysters, small plates and wine, plus tastings and excellent sandwiches on selected days.
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Marshall Wharf Brewing
A waterfront local haunt for beer, oysters, pretzels, bocce, live music and big games.
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Dos Gatos
Small, funky underground bar with street seating, inventive tacos and lots of tequila. Walk-ins only.
View on Google Maps ↗08
Searsport
Maritime character
Wander the small downtown shops and visit the maritime museum.
Explore
Penobscot Marine Museum
A fascinating look at the area’s seafaring past.
View on Google Maps ↗Eat & drink
Homeport Inn & Tavern
American fare with an English-pub feel, Guinness, a beer garden and weekend live music.
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Maineport Brewing
Local beer, relaxed vibes and often a food truck.
View on Google Maps ↗09
Stockton Springs
Coastal picnic stop
Explore
Fort Point State Park
Visit the little lighthouse, picnic or use the charcoal grills, explore trails and enjoy the tidal shoreline.
View on Google Maps ↗10
Bucksport
Our home turf
We also have a vacation rental here, about 30 minutes north of Belfast. There’s plenty of local character and more than a few ghost stories.
Explore
Bucksport Waterfront Walk
Great views of the Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Fort Knox, with an interesting self-guided historic walk.
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Penobscot Narrows Observatory & Fort Knox
The observatory is spectacular on a clear day; Fort Knox is a lovely way to spend a morning outdoors.
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Craig Pond Hatchery area
A favorite local picnic and summer swimming spot. Expect company and pack in, pack out. Popular for ice fishing in winter.
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Silver Lake
An easy 2.5-mile stroll around Bucksport’s water source, with the haunting legend of Sarah Ware.
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Phoenix Café
A block from the Lodge: a tucked-away courtyard, weekend live music, lunch and dinner, and sometimes Sunday brunch.
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Bucksport Waterfront Restaurant
Breakfast, brunch or lunch with water views. Try the omelette; there’s a good wine list too.
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Sweet Cheeks Bakery
A 24-hour vending machine for midnight sweet treats.
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Dairy Port
There is always a line! Great ice cream and good conversations while you wait.
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Bucksport House of Pizza
Our choice for takeout pizza after a big day.
View on Google Maps ↗Shop & stock up
Roadside farm stands
Keep an eye out for fresh local strawberries and blueberries — perfect for breakfast.
View on Google Maps ↗11
Orland & Alamoosook Lake
A lakeside detour
Eat & drink
The Inn at Alamoosook
Beautiful lakeside dining with rotating menus. The interior is a little dated, but the setting is lovely. Check opening dates around weddings.
View on Google Maps ↗12
Castine
A scenic peninsula detour
Eat & drink
Pentagöet Inn & Mister’s Pub
Historic inn and bar with lovely patio vibes. Look out for Monday Shucks oysters.
View on Google Maps ↗13
Blue Hill
Worth the drive for dinner
Eat & drink
Barncastle Hotel & Restaurant
Excellent food and a live music series in the barn out back.
View on Google Maps ↗Explore · Scenic drive
Caterpillar Hill
Drive beyond Blue Hill toward Sedgwick and take in the spectacular scenery along the way. Pull into the roadside overlook at Caterpillar Hill for breathtaking views across the islands. The drive itself is worth the trip!
View on Google Maps ↗14
Ellsworth
On the way to Acadia
Cute downtown shops and a useful stop as you head toward Mount Desert Island.
Eat & drink
Provender
Inventive, sometimes experimental dishes in a vintage, rustic bar setting. Book ahead.
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Zeppa’s New York Pizza
Order a whole pie — the slices aren’t nearly as good. Definitely get the cannoli.
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Cilantro Indian Restaurant
Not the prettiest part of town, but the food is worth it. Our favorite Indian food between here and Portland.
View on Google Maps ↗Take the scenic route. Stay a little longer. Enjoy Maine.
Local hours, seasonal openings and event schedules change, so please check before heading out.
With love from Spofford Lodge.
With love from Spofford Lodge.