Dear Travel Professionals...
Please allow us to extend a warm invitation to visit these three
timeless villages in Midcoast Maine. Why come and write about
Camden, Rockport, and Lincolnville? Because somehow we are the
small towns that live in everyone's imagination, with tree-shaded
greens, small friendly shops, Soapbox Derby races, historic opera
houses where the same footlights illuminate national and local
productions, and a fleet of graceful schooners, known as windjammers,
take passengers sailing for a few hours or a few days.
Get started with the selection of sample story ideas listed below!
Retiring in Camden-Rockport-Lincolnville
Business Week cited this region as one of America’s top places to retire with good reason. These communities blend the atmosphere of traditional small-town life with all the latest in progressive amenities. Neighbors know each other here. They socialize in clubs, on committees and local golf courses. They lend their expertise to community service organizations, town government and the local school districts. Their experience is coveted and sought after. Our safe and welcoming neighborhoods offer retirees a host of residential options, from retirement communities to condos – our region provides the perfect place to retire.
Getting Married
Whether pledging eternal love for the first time or renewing your vows, come be married in a place as timeless, beautiful and enduring as your commitment. Few places tempt perfection or capture inspiration more than our region. Here, you will find the perfect marriage of pastoral beauty and progressive amenities. Hold your ceremony in the sun-dappled splendor of an outdoor amphitheatre overlooking a dazzling harbor; atop a local mountain bordered only by breathtaking vistas; aboard a schooner as a following breeze guides you past postcard islands and into waters as deep as your love; or in a century-old church topped with a spire that seems to reach to eternity. Perfection and inspiration are not seasonal phenomena in the Jewel of the Maine Coast. Lupine and lilac provide a fragrant and soothing pastel backdrop in springtime; pristine summers are so spectacular they seem to coax smiles even from the surrounding landscape; autumn’s kaleidoscopic natural brilliance adds unforgettable color to any special moment; and a flickering hearth warming winter’s kiss adds distinctive intimacy.
Shopping, Shopping, Shopping!
Century-old storefronts house a menagerie of wares ranging from spectacular to sublime. Fine art and fabrics, hand-crafted wares and furniture, books, gifts, toys and clothing to suit every taste and need lure residents and travelers alike. Shopping in our region is an experience both contemporary and historical.
Hit the Trails
Backstopped by a handful of pine-shrouded mountains, the Camden, Rockport, Lincolnville region is a haven for hikers and bikers. Regardless of whether you are the casual hiker, a backcountry pro, or a seasoned rock-climber, our local mountains offer trails with the right fit. All lead to picnic-friendly peaks with amazing vistas. From on high you can observe, up close, two of North America’s largest birds, the American Bald Eagle and the osprey, as they casually ride updrafts over sparkling lakes, or take in the majestic views of the Megunticook region. Local nature conservancies offer less taxing trails through blueberry fields and unspoiled woodlands. The terrain is perfect for mountain biking. The region offers competition-quality trails for serious cyclists and a multitude of less intimidating paths for casual riders.
Double Diamonds and The Jewel
The region is host to a timeless community ski hills that plays host to the world once each year. Ragged Mountain Recreation Area is home to the Camden Snow Bowl, one of Maine’s few remaining community-owned ski areas. The hill features trails for every skill level, a quaint lodge, tubing hill and the famous Jack Williams Toboggan Chute, home to the U.S. National Toboggan Championships each February. The Snow Bowl is a great winter retreat for the entire family with affordable passes and lessons for all age groups. It is also the only place in Maine where you can ski trails with an ocean view.
Washington Street Speedway
Tradition comes alive each June in Camden as children of all ages compete in the Mid-Coast Soapbox Derby race. The road to Akron begins on Camden’s Washington Street for local youngsters, many of whom are second or third generation racers in the annual coaster car race that brings out the entire community.
Flora & Finery
A pair of annual tours allows visitors an intimate look inside the doors and dooryards of the region’s most elegant homes. The Camden Garden Club’s annual House & Garden Tour day treats participants to a dazzling display of color, beauty and exquisite decor. The Merryspring Kitchen Tour offers tastings, with a side of history, as it introduces you to dazzling kitchens that run the gamut from contemporary to eclectic.
Sea Kayaking
Lessons, rentals, access everywhere...the cockpit is the perfect vantage point to take in the unique beauty of the land where the mountains meet the sea. By making your own way you’ll also be afforded rare access to lighthouses, marine life and a waterline view of historic schooners.
Our Historic Fleet
Under billowing sail passengers bask in the sun-soaked majesty of the Camden Hills region and Penobscot Bay on board a fleet of historic windjammer. Some of these vessels carry historic designation, others are loyal re-creations. All are skippered by talented crews with an intimate knowledge of the waters and local lore. Sails that range from two hours to two days offer passengers a chance to eat, laugh, take a turn at the wheel, or just relax.
Charter and Sightseeing Cruises
The region offers a host of sightseeing and charter boat options designed to offer passengers a true taste of Maine. Trips bring you close to marine life, historic lighthouses, and some even take you lobstering, with a sample of the catch on the tail end.
Coastal Cuisine
The corner chowder house was in “Bon Appetit,” the local take-out has been highlighted in “Glamour,” to say the least, food is a big part of the culture here. Local restaurants offer a wide range of sumptuous entrees, not least of which is seafood so fresh you can almost see where it was caught. To call those who prepare your meals chefs is classic understatement. Ours is a region of culinary artisans, all of whom place their unique perspective on your palate.
Spend the Night in History
A dozen century-old homes, built by prominent citizens and ship captains, have been restored for the benefit of our guests – with some receiving historic designation. Luxurious yet charming, these inns and B&Bs offer the perfect accommodation for travelers seeking to unwind and experience the essence of coastal living. The pampering occurs amidst a perfect blend of traditional and contemporary designed to suit every need.
Ever the Muse
Creativity has long been a touchstone of this collection of seaside communities. The simplicity of life along the Maine coast teases the muse and fosters an appreciation for all things beautiful. That beauty, and all its diversity, is captured by our local artists and artisans and displayed in what is best described as a continuous living exhibition. Work in traditional and non-traditional media, two and three dimension, by established and emerging artists is on display at galleries small and elite, as well has a host of indoor and outdoor shows throughout the year. Our region, the same land and seascapes that inspired three generations of Wyeth’s and Edna St. Vincent Millay, is home to hundreds of artists, artisans and authors.
Beacons of History
Keeping watch over our coastline are a dozen historic lighthouses. Located on islands and granite promontories, these sentinels are fascinating in their storied history, and provide a portal into our past. Most can be reached by car, others require a boat ride, all treat visitors to a spectacular perspective on the Maine coastline.
Creative Economy
The term might be new, but the lifestyle it implies is not in this region of Maine. The rise of the creative class in the coastal communities of Camden, Rockport and Lincolnville was in progress long before Dr. Richard Florida arrived on the scene. Today, this region represents the very definition of the “creative economy.” Culture, heritage and ideas make up a regional qi, a collective mojo that permeates every facet of life in these small towns along the shore.
Coastal Christmas
Each December, the coastal villages of Camden, Rockport and Lincolnville become a living Christmas card. In the first weekend of the month the annual Christmas By The Sea Celebration, now in its 21st year, heralds the arrival of Santa by boat, offers horse drawn carriage rides, a Holiday parade and community tree lighting ceremony, music, caroling, food, shopping and other special events.
Antiquing
In a region where many homes are over 200 years old, the treasure of yesteryear is abundant. From yard sales to estate auctions, valuable and elegant items await discovery. In between are shops and fine galleries. Even the odd roadside barn can unveil a historical piece of staggering quality. Steeped in tradition and history, this area is an antiquer’s paradise.
Golf
Four local courses are open to the public from Northport to Rockland; including the spectacular links at Samoset Resort, the former home of PGA events and current home of an ESPN satellite golf school. All of these courses offer breathtaking scenery, challenging 18-hole tracks, affordable greens fees and an unrushed, yet expedient, rate of play.
U.S. Toboggan National Championships
The only recognized championship of its kind in the country, the U.S. National Toboggan Championships are held annually at Camden Snow Bowl early February. Thousands of spectators turn out each year to watch more than 350 teams, from around the country and abroad, compete in 2-, 3-, and 4-person toboggan races. Sleds reach speeds of 45 mph in this event that is equal parts competition and costume party, and the winter equivalent of Burning Man. In 2008 the event will celebrate its 18th year.
