Midcoast
Imagine a rugged coast of granite boulders, pine trees and lighthouses, a sparkling sea dotted with fishing boats and islands, and in the distance the magnificent sails of a historic windjammer. This is Midcoast Maine.
Where the Mountains meet the sea. There are only two places along the Atlantic coast where the mountains meet the sea, both are in Maine. One of the two is the area from Rockport up through Camden to Lincolnville, where the Camden Hills seem to rise out of the sea on the skyline, as seen from the harbors.
Newcastle is a thriving year round community. Whether you like to shop, kayak, visit art galleries, hunt for a special antique, hike, watch a play or go sailing, there is something for everyone in Newcastle, the town between two rivers.
Once among the largest harbor cities on the East Coast, Rockland developed rapidly in the 1850s around shipbuilding and lime production. The opening of the Knox and Lincoln Railroad in 1871 brought an influx of tourists, yet lime production and later fish processing dominated the economy here. Rockland is also a foodie haven with world renowned art galleries, offering much for travelers to explore.
In fair or foul weather, snow sleet or sunshine, there’s always something of interest indoors in Maine’s Midcoast. If you’re entering the region from the south, don’t go through Bath without visiting the Maine Maritime Museum offering exhibits about Maine's maritime heritage, culture, and the Maine’s important role in regional and global maritime activities.
Oyster lovers everywhere are sure to enjoy the world-renowned oysters harvested from the Damariscotta River, near Newcastle and Damariscotta. And while you’re there, be sure to check out Maine’s other unique foods – the famous whoopie pie, Maine’s wild blueberries, fiddle-head ferns, along with fresh produce from strawberries to pumpkins.
Midcoast Outdoor Fun and Festivals
The Midcoast offers a myriad of opportunities for outdoor adventure, year-round. The lure of the Atlantic dominates the outdoor adventure here. The Midcoast includes Penobscot Bay, Maine’s largest bay at roughly 40 miles long and 30 miles wide, dotted with hundreds of small Maine islands.
The Maine Lobster Festival, held at the end of July/beginning of August annually, is when Rockland hosts a five-day festival celebrating your favorite crustacean. With carnival rides, parades, beauty contests, live music and vendors of all kinds, the festival has the atmosphere of an old-fashioned county fair and attracts upward of 100,000 people each year.