The Heart of Every Village is on Main Street

If you want to really know a place, take a slow walk along Main Street. The villages and towns in the MidCoast have their own vibe, energy, and rich history. You can feel it in the shops, hardware stores, galleries, and the restaurants and coffee shops. The more time you take to explore, the more you’ll discover. Surprising gardens on side streets, small craft shops and farmers markets that stay open until hard frosts. Whether a few blocks long or a leisurely mile, Main Street is where people like to meet and where everything happens.

 

 

Lincolnville Beach – Main Street by The Beach

Few villages anywhere can claim to have a beautiful, sand beach along Main Street. In the summer, the ocean views from Lincolnville Beach attract artists, writers, boat builders, and people who want to wade, swim, or put in a kayak. Want to get out on the Penobscot Bay too? You can take the State of Maine ferry from the terminal on the beach for a short thirty-minute ride to Islesboro Island. The village’s small business area has a variety of antique shops, galleries, a local museum, and several restaurants that serve some of the freshest lobster imaginable.

 

 

Rockport – Foodie Bliss on Main Street

The length of Main Street isn’t long, but only a few places in New England can rival the charm of this nearly-hidden, harbor village. Rockport’s ocean vistas and rocky terrain have inspired artists and creative professionals for years. The small harbor attracts windjammers, yachts and other boats. It’s a scenic setting that will easily relax any visitor. Laid-back is the best way to describe Rockport. Few gift shops are here. But it’s well-known for its outstanding restaurants. Nina June restaurant in the historic Union Hall serves contemporary expressions of Italian-Mediterranean cuisine, and they also has a market offering local and imported selections from their pantry, along with wines, to-go cocktails, sauces and more (shown above). Next door, 18 Central Oyster Bar & Grill is the place for amazing oysters and cocktails. Both places have outdoor spaces overlooking the harbor far below.

 

 

Belfast – Hip and Historic

There are a few older cities in Maine, but few have the late-1770’s historic charm of Belfast and the mix of hip breweries, vegetarian restaurants, and cool shops. A walk along Main Street leads to the center of Belfast and from there, you can wander side streets past galleries, book stores, and hip clothing shops. Belfast is home to Maine’s largest year-round farmer’s market and to the stunning, art-deco Colonial Theatre. An easy stroll will lead to the working harbor of fishing and pleasure boats and to a few spots for local seafood and craft beers.

 

 

Wiscasset – Architectural Splendor

Every traveler who drives through the MidCoast on Route 1, will know Main Street in Wiscasset. The street begins at the bank of the Sheepscot River and passes through what has been called the prettiest seaport village in Maine. Wiscasset was once a busy center for shipbuilding and lumber and at one point in its history, was in the running to become the state capital. No wonder. Many of the Maine’s most famous architectural landmarks are on Main Street. The Nickels-Sortwell House (shown above) and Victorian-style, Castle Tucker with two-story high windows are outstanding landmarks.

 

 

Damariscotta – Oyster Nirvana

Damariscotta, and its “twin village” of New Castle, share the same Main Street that crosses the Damariscotta River. Both villages are home to grand mansions and historic business and public buildings. Wander by the Lincoln Theater built in 1875 and past St. Patrick’s, the oldest surviving Roman Catholic church in New England, built in 1807. Shops, bookstores, and restaurants are everywhere, but a visit to Damariscotta, invariably will have you thinking about oysters. The river area is famous for its modern oyster farms and for the exquisite varieties of oysters that are shipped to restaurants throughout the U.S. However, to truly imbibe with the finest oysters on the planet, plan on attending the annual Damariscotta Oyster Celebration or the Pemaquid Oyster Festival. (Photo credit: Pemaquid Oyster Festival Facebook page.)

 

 

Boothbay Harbor – Puffins, Seals and Whales

A leisurely walk on Commercial Street – Boothbay’s true Main street – offers the best tour along this beautiful harbor waterfront. Both hilly and historic, the village is filled with charming streets, shops, art galleries, restaurants and cozy inns. Cross the 1,000-ft. Boothbay Footbridge that spans the inner harbor where you’ll see boats that range from tiny dinghies to magnificent pleasure yachts. If you find yourself daydreaming about the sea, take one of the many boat tours offered along the harbor. Whales, puffins, seals, and of course lighthouses are a few of the things you’ll enjoy on cruise around nearby islands.

 

 

Bath – Maine’s Cool Shipbuilding City

Shipbuilding has shaped the history and enlivened Bath for nearly 400 years and it continues today. Bath’s maritime heritage can be seen throughout the city. The homes of wealthy shipbuilders and handsome brownstone buildings line the streets. Front Street is Bath’s Main street and its trees and narrow adjoining streets encourage a slower pace and friendly pedestrian atmosphere. For all of its history, Bath is also known as “Maine’s Cool Little City” thanks to its unique shops, craft breweries, and small cafes. When planning a visit to Bath, be sure to include a few hours at the Maine Maritime Museum. Open year-round, the museum’s 20-acre campus along the Kennebec River offers a remarkable immersion into Maine’s seafaring history.

 

 

Camden – Mountains and Mansions

You can spend an entire day in Camden and never experience all of it. Described as the “Jewel of the Maine Coast”, Camden’s beautiful harbor is framed by mountains that reach to the water. The area is always lively with Windjammers, yachts and working boats. Main Street hosts busy shopping, galleries, and a terrific dining scene. However, Main street also takes on an older, worldly atmosphere created by the elegant mansions and estates that border the harbor. Designed in 1930, Camden Harbor Park, a few steps off Main Street, offers a panoramic view of the harbor where an hour or two can easily pass while taking in the sights. Need another day along Main Street? You can enjoy a taste of Camden’s gilded history by staying in several mansions now converted into bread-and-breakfasts.

 

 

 

Thomaston – Best of the 19th Century

Thomaston has such a wealth of early homes, that it’s easy to feel as though you’ve stepped back into a nineteenth century village. Main Street is a showcase of architectural beauty and is one of Maine’s best preserved, boat building towns. Wooden schooners and yachts have been built here for over 200 years and the craft still continues. From Main Street, follow Knox Street past still more historic homes to the town landing that overlooks the St. George River. While visiting Thomaston, you’ll find great cafes, antique stores, and small gift shops.

 

 

Brunswick – Get Here by Train

Yes, you can get to the heart of Brunswick by riding the Amtrak Downeaster from as far away as Boston. Train service ends at Brunswick Station just steps from the center of this quintessential college town. Brunswick’s Maine Street is a vibrant place that leads from Bowdoin College to historic the Fort Andross Mill building (shown above) that overlooks the Androscoggin River. A walk along Maine Street touches on history, but also offers bakeries, shops, boutiques, antique shops, galleries, and restaurants. Oh, and about the dining here – Brunswick has a growing foodie reputation for its farm-to-table dining and cuisines from around the world.

 

 

Rockland – Maine’s Art Capital

Rockland hasn’t always been a place that tourists sought to visit. With a hardworking history in the granite and limestone industry and in commercial fishing, the town is quickly evolving into a thriving arts center, restaurant, and shopping scene. Banners along Main Street happily and rightly declare Rockland as the Art Capital of Maine. Within a block of each other are the stunning Center for Maine Contemporary Art and the nationally-recognized Farnsworth Art Museum (pictured above). Located within a few more blocks are many more active galleries. A wide range great food is also on display from small diners serving classic lobster rolls to the award-winning garden-to-table restaurant, Primo.