1st time to Maine - free weekend

I%26#39;ll be up in Wolfeboro, NH for business later this summer and have a free weekend. Never been to Maine and would like to drive over for a few days. I%26#39;m thinking possibly the Portland - Rockland area. Not a big fan of crowds and looking for some suggestions for what to do and where to go.

Any suggestions for a Friday - Sunday itinerary?

1st time to Maine - free weekend

I bumped up a post called ';3 days in Portland'; that has some answers to a similar question. You might want to check it out.

1st time to Maine - free weekend

If you aren%26#39;t a fan of crowds, you%26#39;ll want to check the events listing on the Maine tourism web site, VisitMaine.com to make sure your visit isn%26#39;t coinciding with a major event, like say the North Atlantic Blues Festival or the Lobster Festival.

Be aware the the gorgeous little town of Wiscasset can have some killer trafic back-ups on weekends, especially Friday afternoons. Best to allow extra time for the drive if you%26#39;re thinking of taking Route 1.

Hi Jnev,

If you want a quiet, relaxing and enjoyable trip where you won%26#39;t fight the crowds and will experience a beautiful section of Maine, try staying in the Tenant%26#39;s Harbor area.

This little town is located at the southern tip of the St. George peninsula and home to the East Wind Inn. This Inn is loaded with old, quaint, and charming, has rolling green lawns down to the boat filled harbor, a nice restaurant, and a great lobster-shack type restaurant named The Cod End, is right next door. You could stay here the entire time, sit on the rocking chair porch and watch the harbor activity, kayak, read, dine at the Inn%26#39;s restaurant or the shack next door, and be perfectly happy.

However, if you%26#39;re the antsy type, a few miles away is the Marshall Pt. Lighthouse and Port Clyde. The lighthouse and it%26#39;s grounds are beautiful and definitely worth some time.

From Port Clyde, a small fishing village, you could take a boat out to Monhegan Island, one of the most enchanting places along the Maine coast. Just keep in mind that the trip would take up an entire day and if you%26#39;ve only got a couple, then you might decide to something else.

From Tenant%26#39;s Harbor you could drive up to Owl%26#39;s Head Lighthouse (about a 10 minute or so ride) and climb to the top and enjoy spectacular views of the Camden Hills, Penobscot Bay, and islands. Also on the grounds nearby are some easy hiking trails that offer nice views of the bay.

About a 10 minute or so drive north from Owl%26#39;s Head is downtown Rockland which is never super busy unless it%26#39;s during the Lobster or Jazz Festival weekends.

In downtown Rockland is the Farnsworth Art Museum, home to lots of Wyeth paintings and other Maine artists whose work consist mostly of the Maine coast, etc. Also included in the museum ticket is entrance to the Olsen House, located on the St. George peninsula, which is truly worth a trip. This is the home in Andrew Wyeth%26#39;s painting ';Christina%26#39;s World'; that sold for over $25 million at auction a few years back. It%26#39;s also an incredibly enchanting sort of place that you won%26#39;t soon forget...

Rockland also has a few good restaurants and some nice shops. In addition it is home to the ferry that goes out to Vinalhaven, another wonderful place to while away a day hiking, etc.

Or you could just take the ferry roundtrip as it would be well worth the ride, especially if you want to get out on the water at all. There%26#39;s nothing like going out to sea to really appreciate how wonderful the coast of Maine is!

A bit further north of downtown Rockland is the lighthouse which is accessable by an almost mile long jetty. This is a lovely (and very safe) walk and a great place to fish, have a picnic lunch, and/or just to take in the views of the Camden Hills, Penobscot Bay, and all manner of boats. A great place to buy a take-out lunch is the Brown Bag just north of downtown and almost across from the ferry.

Camden/Rockport is the next area north. Both are lovely but Camden is almost always jam packed in the summer, so it might not be the place for you.

Instead you could head south a bit and visit the Pemaquid peninsula which is absolutely lovely. This would be about an hour%26#39;s drive south of Tenant%26#39;s Harbor in the opposite direction of Camden/Rockport.

You could start the day with a trip to the lighthouse which sits high on a bluff overlooking the Atlantic. There is also a nice little restaurant that serves excellent chowder and lobster rolls at a reasonable price (you can get the small or the large lobster rolls for $10 or about $16 respectively and trust me, the small one is plenty unless you have a really hearty appetite).

All the tables here have spectacular ocean views due to the wall of windows looking out to sea. Also on the lighthouse grounds is a great art gallery showcasing Maine artists that have painted Maine scenes.

Nearby is a wonderful road called the Pemaquid Loop Rd. This offers pretty views out to sea, woods, and wonderful homes and cottages and would take you about 5 to 10 minutes to drive.

Also a nice sightseeing drive while on the Pemaquid peninsula would be out to Christmas Cove and then around to Round Pound. Both places are loaded with pretty views of quiet coves and harbors, charming summer homes, and a restaurant or giftshop or two.

Last but not least while on the Pemaquid peninsula, take a ride to the beach. This is a lovely small, cresent shaped beach with almost no waves, lots of sand, and pretty views out to ocean and islands. There is also a snack-bar and restrooms. What%26#39;s nice about this beach is that though it may get a bit crowded at the height of the season, the crowds don%26#39;t overwhem and it%26#39;s mostly summer people and/or families and has a delightful feel about it.

Keep in mind that both the St. George and Pemaquid peninsula%26#39;s are pretty much quiet areas where you won%26#39;t see neon signs, modern buildings, lots of shops, gas stations, fast food places, or tourist attractions. But they are home to many a summer cottage owner who appreciate the natural beauty, quiet, and charm of the areas.

Good luck with your trip and please post back and let us know where you decided to go and how your visit went! It helps others when people give feedback :).

cozyharbor