I’m so excited to share all about our recent trip to Rockport, Maine. This was our second time visiting midcoast Maine and I will tell you that one week was really not enough to experience this part of Maine. Our dream would be to stay all summer and we may try to make that happen next year. I even joke that I would just move to Maine, but I don’t think I could handle the winters.
Rockport, Maine is a beautiful coastal town in midcoast Maine perfect for family vacations. It’s located between the towns of Camden and Rockland along Penobscot Bay. I think what drew us to the Rockport area last year was that it was peaceful, but didn’t lack in things to do for the entire family. We wanted a family trip where we could really get away from the busyness that is Atlanta. When we were planning our trip to Rockport this year, we decided that we wanted to be right in town within walking distance to the harbor and shops. The location of the house we rented couldn’t have been more perfect. We could literally walk outside and be down at the harbor in less than two minutes. It was such a dream to wake up and see the boats bouncing in the harbor.
How to Get to Rockport:
The easiest way to get to Rockport would be to fly into Portland, Maine. Last summer, we flew into Boston, which is also a great option. From Portland, it’s about a 90 minute drive north. This summer, we were coming from Upstate NY and Vermont, so we rented a car and drove from there. All of these options offer a scenic way to get to Rockport.
Where to Eat in the Rockport Area:
Buttermilk Kitchen
If you live in Atlanta, then you know all about Buttermilk Kitchen. Suzanne Vizethann moved to the Rockport area two years ago with her family and opened up another Buttermilk Kitchen right in downtown Camden. When we rented a house last year in the area, we had no idea at the time that was where the new Buttermilk was located. It was such a fun surprise. Buttermilk is the place for the most delicious breakfast. They also serve lunch.
Seafolk Coffee
When I travel, I love to go out for a morning latte. We walked to Seafolk every morning to go get coffee and usually a treat. They have the best views of the Rockport Harbor. I highly recommend ordering the Miel.
Mosaic Restaurant
We would’ve eaten here again and again. Mosaic is a Mexican-inspired restaurant and everything was so fresh and delicious. The service was amazing and you can even make a reservation. They are open for lunch and dinner.
American Flatbread
We ate at American Flatbread twice on our trip because one, their wood fired pizzas are so good, but two, we could eat outside and the kids could play. It was also only two minutes from our house.
Freya’s Crepes & Gelato
Need I say more? We loved walking to Freya’s after dinner for a nutella crepe and homemade gelato. They have the perfect view of the Rockport Harbor, as they are right next to Seafolk. My kids especially loved sitting out on the porch and playing chess, and Lucy with the light bright.
Bleecker & Greer
A butcher, cafe and market all in one, with a little sundae shack too. We enjoyed getting breakfast sandwiches on the way to the playground and then stopping by for sundaes after being outside all day. Bleecker & Greer was in walking distance to our house, so it was super convenient as well.
Graffam Bros Seafood
I’m not the person to ask about seafood because I’m allergic, but Troster and the kids loved eating here for lunch. I just sat at the picnic table and watched. Troster says the fish sandwich is out of this world. They also have a large seafood market across the street.
Mixed Greens
Caroline and I loved eating at Mixed Greens for lunch. Salads, bowls, tartines and all so fresh. My favorite thing to order is the sriracha lime tofu salad.
Union St. Sourdough
I found out about Union St, from my friend Suzanne at Buttermilk last summer. She recommended Bridget’s homemade granola and bagels. Bridget runs Union St. Sourdough out of her licensed cottage bakery in Camden. I cannot recommend her granola and bagels enough.
Owls Head General Store
We stopped in at Owls Head General Store after going to the Owl Head’s Lighthouse one day. Top notch sandwiches and burgers. They also had an assortment of yummy local sodas from Maine. Highly recommend.
Other Spots to Try:
Nina June– If we didn’t have our kids with us, or could have gotten a babysitter, we definitely would’ve gone to Nina June. It’s located right in downtown Rockport next to our other favorite spots. Farm to Table, Mediterranean inspired.
Lost Kitchen– The Lost Kitchen has been on my list for awhile now. We wanted to drive out for a day and check out The Little Lost Kitchen for lunch & shopping,, but didn’t have enough days.
Where to Stay In the Rockport Area
If you are staying in Rockport with your family, you can’t go wrong with renting a house. Airbnb and Vrbo offer so many rental options in the area. We stayed here this year, which was in walking distance to so many things from the harbor to restaurants. Last year, we stayed in this house in Hope, Maine and it was a short drive to Camden/Rockport. We loved staying in the house in Hope because it was right next to a wild blueberry field. It was so special going out in the evening after dinner and picking wild blueberries with the kids. If you want to be closer to everything though, staying in town is the way to go. I should also mention that Rockport and Camden also have beautiful hotel options.
What to do in the Rockport Area
Hiking/Nature Walks/Swimming/Fishing
I would say that we did more nature walks than hiking on this trip. My kids are 10, 7 and 2 and they are still in the discovery age where they want to stop all the time on trails and find treasures. Our absolute favorite place to explore was Fernalds Neck Preserve in Lincolnville. I don’t even know how many times we went to Fernalds Neck. We would walk for a while and then find a spot to go swim in Megunticook Lake. There was so much to see and the kids asked each day to go back. I’d recommend going to Fernald’s Neck on the earlier side because it was gets busy later in the day and parking can be tough.
Other places that we loved exploring:
Mount Battie
Camden Snow Bowl
Camden Bog
Rockport Harbor
Fishing at Megunticook Lake
Puffin Boat Tours (on our list for next time)
Shopping Around Rockport & Camden
I wish I brought another bag with me on the trip to hold all of the treasures I found on our trip. Rockport and Camden are home to some very cute shops. If you are in Rockport, you must stop at Raylston Gallery. Peter has photographed the coast of Maine since the late 1970s and his photographs highlight just how special Maine is. I bought a few of his prints and I can’t wait to frame them.
My kids would say their favorite spot is Planet Toys in Camden. They have toys, puzzles puzzles and all sorts of goodies for kids of all ages. A few steps away is Swans Island Company. They make our favorite throwthat we fight over on our couch. I decided to get one more on this trip and it has already made it’s way to Caroline’s room. A few steps away from Swans Island is Topo: Paper & Post, a stationary shop with some unique finds.
If you want a different shopping experience, drive down the road to Glendarrgh Lavender Farm (they also have a retail shop in Camden), pick some lavender in their field and then head to the barn to shop for all things lavender. You can pack a picnic and hang out as well. My kids loved clipping the lavender and making their own bunches to take home. It’s close to hiking spots too, so you can really make a day out of it.
What I wore in Maine
We lucked out with the weather while we were in Maine this summer. We had only one warm day, which I was grateful for since our house didn’t have air conditioning. We had chilly mornings, followed by warm afternoons and a cool breeze at night. A dream come true for someone who wishes to wear a sweater in the summer, aka me. These staples would be great for a fall trip to Maine too.
Planning your own trip to Rockport, Maine? Let me know if you have any questions, or drop your favorite Maine spots in the comments!
Warmly, Ash
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