48 Hours Exploring the Best of Maine’s Central MidCoast

Maine’s Midcoast and Islands region boasts pristine coastline, scenic mountaintops, and working farmland. It’s the perfect spot to experience all that Maine has to offer! Follow our suggestions for a two-day tour of central Midcoast. You’ll tour lighthouses, sample local food, and enjoy sublime hospitality!

 

Day One
No matter where you’re starting from, take Route One to the St. George Peninsula. If you’re coming from the north, take Route 73 south from Rockland to Route 131. From the south? Go through Thomaston to hook up to Route 131.

 

 

Marshall Point Light
Your first stop is pretty Marshall Point Lighthouse and Museum. From Route 131 take a left onto Drift Inn Road and follow the signs. The lighthouse grounds are open year-round from sunrise to sunset. The museum is open seasonally from May to October. If you’ve seen the movie “Forrest Gump” then this lighthouse might look familiar. You can learn more about the filming of the movie inside the museum.

 

 

The current lighthouse tower was built in 1858 and was electrified in 1935. By 1971, Marshall Point Light no longer needed a lighthouse keeper. The light was automated and, today, runs on batteries. You can learn more about the lighthouse and the various keepers at the museum or by visiting the Marshall Point Lighthouse website.

 

Port Clyde
Your next stop is the town of Port Clyde. Continue to follow Route 131 until you reach the village (and the end of the road!). The ferry to Monhegan Island leaves from Port Clyde three times a day from the end of May through mid-October. The trip between Port Clyde and Monhegan takes approximately one hour, and advanced reservations are strongly recommended. If you’d like to take a day trip over to the island, we suggest hopping on the 10:30 a.m. ferry in Port Clyde and returning on the 4:30 p.m. ferry, which is the last one of the day.

 

 

You can also explore the harbor and nearby Hupper Island by kayak. Rent a single or tandem sea kayak from Port Clyde Kayaks for a few hours on a first-come-first-served basis. They also have stand up paddleboards if that is more your speed.

 

 

Enjoy open-air dining at Dip Net, located right behind the Port Clyde General Store. Seafood this fresh should be enjoyed wharfside! We recommend starting with the Hot Maine Crab Dip or Maine Mussels to share. For their traditional lobster rolls, they toss fresh lobster meat with a bit of mayo, serving it on a toasted bun. The delicious Haddock Sandwich we ordered was fresh…and HUGE! The portions are generous and the waitstaff is welcoming and friendly.

 

 

Be sure to meander through the Port Clyde General Store after lunch. They have an excellent array of gourmet provisions and wine offerings. Grab a bottle to enjoy later on. You might even find some Maine-made treats to bring home as souvenirs or gifts.

 

Next door to the General Store is a sweet coffee shop called Squid Ink Coffee. Grab a specialty iced coffee before you head out. Have a seat in one of the Adirondack chairs overlooking the bay and enjoy the view. The owners moved to Maine from Washington, D.C. “We had been coming to Maine together for the past 30 years,” says Jan Lipson, CEO (Chief Espresso Officer). “We wanted to create a place where people could gather.” Most of the baristas are local high school kids and the place has a fun, relaxed, local feel.

 

 

If coffee isn’t your thing, grab an ice cream cone at Village Ice Cream. There really isn’t anything better than enjoying an ice cream cone on the water in Midcoast, Maine…

 

 

Spruce Head
Once you’ve had your fill of Port Clyde, head over to Spruce Head and The Craignair Inn and Restaurant. To get there, head back north on Route 131 to Route 73. The owners are a young couple that left corporate life in Boston to make their way on the coast of Maine. “Instead of spending 50 to 60 hours working apart all week, Lauren and I now get to work together,” says Greg Soutiea. Lauren and Greg are committed to living a sustainable lifestyle and have been making some green changes at the inn and restaurant. They offer guests a free electric vehicle charging station, 100% cotton sheets and towels, and guest amenities that are not tested on animals. They have also worked with their chef to expand the menu to feature more vegan meal choices.

 

The Craignair Inn is also dog friendly! The Vestry Building welcomes guest traveling with pets. Dog guests get their own welcome basket at The Craignair Inn, which includes treats, bowls, linens, and pick up bags.

 

 

Depending on the time of year and number of guests, you may want to make a dinner reservation. Ask about beer and wine pairing with your meal. Greg frequently works the dining room and is happy to make recommendations. The view out the dining room windows is spectacular! Feel free to take a post-dinner walk to explore the causeway that connects the mainland to Clark Island.

 

After a long day of exploring, sink into your comfy bed at The Craignair and enjoy the sound of waves crashing over the rocky shore. We’re sure you’ll fall asleep in no time…

 

 

Day Two
Enjoy a fresh, homemade, complimentary breakfast in The Craignair dining room. From eggs to baked goods, fresh fruit, and coffee…it’s the perfect way to begin the next leg of your journey. Take your time and enjoy the views before checking out and heading north.

 

 

Thomaston
Thomaston is on Route One just off of the St. George Peninsula. Depending on when you leave the inn, you may have time to stop into the Knox Museum. This museum is located in the historic Montpelier Mansion and showcases Maine as it was during the American Revolution.

 

 

Downtown Thomaston is known for its antique shops and for Thomaston Place Auction Galleries, a major antique auction house. Stroll along Main Street and see what you can find! Head to the Thomaston Cafe for lunch. They have a great selection of soups, salads, and sandwiches served in style. High ceilings and big windows allow for natural light in this friendly little restaurant.

 

 

Clarry Hill Preserve
Your next stop is inland at Clarry Hill Preserve in Union. There isn’t great signage to lead you to this pretty spot, but these directions will get you there: Directions: From Route 1, take Route 235 5.2 miles and turn left onto Clarry Hill Road. After 1 mile, bear left to stay on Clarry Hill Road. After 0.5 miles, turn right to stay on Clarry Hill Road. In 0.8 miles, turn left onto Elmer Hart Road. Follow the stone road, which veers to the right after 100 feet or so, to the trailhead sign on the left.

 

 

Clarry Hill Preserve was created on a huge swath of blueberry barrens. The colors of green and red and purple are stunning, especially in the fall. The trail to Storer Pond is about 1.25 miles one-way. It’s marked and pet-friendly. The Medomak Valley Land Trust has a brochure and trail map for the preserve.

 

Savage Oakes Vineyard
After your hike, head over to Savage Oakes Vineyard and Winery to relax and sample some delicious wine and treats. Drive back to Clarry Hill Road and take a left onto North Union Road. Turn right on to Route 17/Heald Highway, then left again onto Barrett Hill Road. It’s about an 8-minute drive.

 

 

Savage Oakes Vineyard and Winery is built on farmland that has been in the Savage family for generations. Elmer and Holly Savage (whose maiden name is Oakes) both come from Maine farming backgrounds and wanted to create a value-added product for the local blueberries. “We found grapes that could handle Maine’s climate,” Holly says. “In 2005 we had our first harvest and opened the vineyard the following year.”

 

 

Ninety-five solar panels situated on the historic barn power the winery. Besides wine, the vineyard also sells naturally raised beef to their customers. Their popular Summer Concert Series has hosted guests like the Indigo Girls, Chris Isaak, Brian Setzer, and Rick Springfield, to name a few. Make a night of it and enjoy drinks, dinner, and live music under the stars!

 

 

David Robbins Homestead
Spend the night nearby at the historic David Robbins Homestead. David and Bess Robbins, along with their children, were the first family to settle in Union in the mid-1700s. They built this farmhouse on Seven Tree Pond in 1786.

 

 

Yvonne and Tom Pitzi run the homestead today. They moved from Massachusetts to be closer to their kids, who both moved to Maine to attend college. “Our house is the oldest standing house in town,” Yvonne says. “I think people like coming to stay here because it feels like home.” And it does. Enjoy a glass of wine by the campfire as you watch fireflies dart through the field. The sounds of crickets, loons, and the crackling firewood will be the only sounds you’ll hear.

 

 

There are three comfortable guest rooms at The David Robbins Homestead. Two have large beds while one has two twins — a perfect kids room! Enjoy a relaxing bath and sink into your comfortable bed for the night.

 

 

In the morning, meet Tom and Yvonne downstairs for a delicious homemade breakfast before heading home. If the weather allows, we suggest you enjoy sweeping views of Seven Tree Pond and eat on the porch.

 

Union, Maine is home to some great places to visit like Appleton Creamery where some of Maine’s most fantastic cheese is made, and peacocks roam and The Pour Farm, one of Maine’s great “nano” breweries.

 

Union is also close to the coastal communities of Camden and Rockport. If you have time, head to the coast and explore these unique downtowns. We suggest checking out what sorts of events are happening in the region before your trip and work them into your stay! Summer festivals and special live music and theater abound in Midcoast, Maine. These special events can enhance your trip and create memories to last a lifetime!

The team of Maine natives at Further North Consulting who captured this story are Melanie Brooks, a travel writer based in Maine, and Angela Arno the photojournalist behind the lens. They traveled from the Moosehead Lake region and Bangor area to tell this story.