An Unforgettable Oyster Adventure in MidCoast Maine
Discover the Maine Oyster Trail
Lobster and blueberry pie might be at the top of your list to indulge in on a visit to the coast of Maine but there’s another delicacy that is finding its place in the spotlight – oysters! From farm tours and tastings to raw bars and excursions, there are plenty of ways to taste, learn about, and experience oysters in MidCoast Maine.
Wondering where to find these rising stars? Look no further than the Maine Oyster Trail. This interactive online guide connects visitors to all the oyster-related experiences in the state. Tasting oysters — raw, fried, steamed, or grilled — is just the beginning. Meeting oyster farmers, kayaking amongst oyster farms, and cruising the “Napa Valley of Oysters” are just a few of the many ways to dive into the oyster scene in Maine.
As you venture off the beaten path and plan your stops along the trail, embrace the opportunity to get to know the creative, ambitious oyster farmers of Maine. Each is excited to share stories about the history of oysters in Maine, the science of growing oysters, and the unique challenges and opportunities that come with farming on the water in Maine. With each stop along the way, you will discover there is something for every type of oyster adventurer to enjoy.
The “Napa Valley of Oysters” – The Damariscotta River
The Damariscotta River area has been referred to as the “Napa Valley of Oysters” for good reason. The peninsula surrounding the river is dotted with farms located in waters perfectly suited for oyster growing. Because each farm is in a different section of the river and each farmer has specific growing processes, the oysters vary in size and salinity. That said, let go of the mindset that if you’ve tasted one oyster, you’ve tasted them all. Plan to explore several farms and see for yourself just how different (and delicious) they all are!
Enjoy a quiet escape at Tops’l Farm in Waldoboro
To create the perfect MidCoast Maine Oyster Trail experience, come and stay for a bit. The perfect “home base” for exploring the Damariscotta River area of the trail is Tops’l Farm in Waldoboro. Situated on 83 acres of woodland property, with a “Maine. Life. Simplified.” philosophy, Tops’l Farm offers a quiet escape from the busyness of life. From A-frame cabins to a cozy cottage to a gorgeously renovated farmhouse, there are accommodation styles for all types of adventurers. After a day of oyster exploring, you’ll love coming “home” to Tops’l Farm!
Get Out on the Water and Up Close to the Oyster Farms
With your “home base” established, it’s time to get out on the water and explore the oyster farms. Two ways to see oyster farms in action are via kayak or river cruise. For a more physical excursion, head out on a kayak with MidCoast Kayak. They offer a three-hour Oyster Ecology Tour that highlights the history of oysters and the aquaculture industry and provides information about the ecology of the Damariscotta River. While the trip focuses on oysters, you’re also likely to see plenty of wildlife, perhaps a bald eagle family hanging out near their nest, an osprey diving for its dinner, or seals sunbathing on the rocky islands. Of course, the tour ends back on land with a shucking demonstration and tasting.
Damariscotta River Cruise Wine and Oyster Tasting Cruise features thoughtfully paired wine with each type of oyster
For a bit more relaxing adventure on the water, set off on the Damariscotta River Cruise Wine and Oyster Tasting Cruise. On this slow-paced cruise, you’ll sample oysters from the farms they were grown at as you pass by them on the river. A sommelier on board serves thoughtfully paired wine with each type of oyster, completing the tasting experience. If you’d rather cruise during the daytime, they also offer an Oyster Farm and Seal Watching Tour. Venturing out on the Damariscotta River is a can’t-be-missed MidCoast Maine experience!
Shuck Station, downtown Newcastle, Maine
Jolie Rogers Raw Bar pop-up at Maine Booch Brewing in Damariscotta, Maine
Raw, Fried, Steamed, or Grilled, there are Plenty of Ways to Eat Oysters Along the Trail
Oysters can be served several ways and you’ll want to try them all as you explore the trail. In the Damariscotta River area alone, you can dine outdoors for lunch or dinner, find an oyster pop-up, and sample oysters shoreside at the farms.
For an al fresco lunch or dinner, head to the Shuck Station in downtown Newcastle for fried oysters on tacos or bao buns. Cross the river into Damariscotta for raw or grilled oysters from the Jolie Rogers Raw Bar pop-up at Maine Booch Brewing (check their schedule for specific dates and other pop-up locations). Be sure to try their hot sauce mignonette if you’re opting for raw oysters or the garlic butter on the grilled option-both are superb!
If you want a more off-the-beaten-path experience, check out The Oysteria where you can dine amongst the pines on a “Sea-Cuterie” platter of fresh seafood. You can also purchase seafood and picnic fixings to go from The HUB Market located at The Oysteria and run by Pemaquid Oyster Company.
Glidden Point Oyster Farm, ten minutes from downtown Damariscotta
A trip to the area isn’t complete until you’ve visited a farm or two. A ten-minute drive off the beaten path from downtown Damariscotta is Glidden Point Oyster Farm. Book a tour and learn all about oyster farming as you explore their shoreside operations. Stick around after the tour and order oysters from the raw bar to shuck and slurp on the patio. As you head back up the peninsula, visit Ryan and Andy, co-owners of Scully’s Sea Products. Pop into their farm store and purchase shucking tools, homemade mignonette, and oysters, plus lobster and clams for a complete make-at-home seafood meal.
Eros Oyster in Robinhood Cove, Maine
Venture Off the Beaten Path for Idyllic Maine Oyster Experiences
The MidCoast region expands across several peninsulas, each home to unique stops along the Oyster Trail. From Bath head on a journey through the woods to Robinhood Cove, home to Eros Oyster. The off-the-beaten-path farm, named after the Greek god of passionate love, exemplifies the passion that the owners have for oysters. Take a tour with Mike to learn the science behind lobster farming, tour their shoreside farm, and, yes, sample their distinctively sweet oysters.
Maine Oyster Company’s Basecamp in Phippsburg, Maine
Down yet another MidCoast peninsula in Phippsburg, is Maine Oyster Company’s Basecamp. Located in the original West Point General Store on the working waterfront sits the most picturesque place to learn how to shuck oysters. Whether you’ve never shucked an oyster, or you want to improve your shucking skills, this is the place for a lesson. Not only will you become an oyster shucking pro, but you’ll also go home with a shucking knife, gloves, and a full belly after eating all your freshly shucked oysters.
After an idyllic Maine experience like this, you won’t want to go home quite yet, however. A bit further down the peninsula is Hermit Island Campground, offering a rustic retreat for tent and pop-up campers. It boasts seven beaches making it the place for a relaxing coastal camping retreat and, of course, oysters! As you head into the campground, pick up oysters from Hermit Island Oyster Company to eat fresh or grill on the campfire. Can it get any more Maine than this?
North Haven Oyster Farm
Island Hopping for Oysters
The fun on the trail doesn’t stop on the mainland. Just a ferry ride out into Penobscot Bay are two of the MidCoast region’s oyster farms. Located on Islesboro Island is Islesboro Oyster Farm. Owner Kim, who grew up on the island and whose children help her run the farm, started oyster farming during the pandemic. Contact Kim to purchase her oysters or arrange a charter or kayak tour through Quicksilver.
Head to North Haven for an island oyster adventure at North Haven Oyster Farm. Adam started the farm back in 1999 in the early days of oyster farming in Maine and currently runs it with his family. Sustainability is at the forefront of their business, which is evident in their innovative equipment and operational practices.
Before or after your island-hopping adventure, make reservations to dine at 18 Central Oyster Bar and Grill in Rockport. Try even more types of oysters from the region and complement them with other locally sourced seafood and non-seafood entrees.
Maine’s MidCoast and Islands region is home to the perfect Maine oyster adventure. Explore the Maine Oyster Trail online to help plan your trip and be sure to “check-in” to your stops on the trail to earn rewards along the way. From buzzing downtowns to off-the-beaten-path peninsulas, there are plenty of places to dine on oysters, meet ambitious farmers, and make unforgettable memories in Maine.
Written by Lisa Luken, a Maine-based writer and researcher exploring rural and coastal communities around the world. She writes and speaks on slow travel, off-the-beaten-path adventures, women’s leadership, community building, simple living, and happiness and well-being.
Photos by Capshore Photography, A Southern Maine duo whose passion is creating authentic images and video to tell stories using both traditional and aerial drone photography.
