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Plan Your StayHidden Gems of Rockland and Surrounding Villages
So, you’ve found your way to MidCoast Maine for a vacation by the sea. What are you going to do while you’re here? While there are loads of guides, influencers, and magazines you can consult, we have some tips you will not hear anywhere else. We’re locals. We’re experts in the area. We love to explore the St. George Peninsula, where we love, and up to Rockland, and beyond to Rockport and Belfast. There are so many nooks and crannies, little villages and surprising cosmopolitan towns, beaches and trails, rocks and swimming holes. Keep reading for the inside scoop.
Rockland
Rockland is a cool tiny city with a sublime art scene and a healthy dose of youth culture. For years Rockland has been host to the Blues Festival, which is a major event every July. But if live music is your jam, there are smaller venues and places to catch some tunes. Luce Spirits is a teeny tiny storefront on Rockland’s artsy Main Street. They specialize in handcrafted botanical spirits and floral cocktails. Sip on a small beer, browse the cassette tapes, and discover a local Maine musician that speaks to you. This is where acts that are bound to become huge players on the national festival scene are getting their start. It’s intimate. In summer it’s sweaty. It’s the kind of place where the audience interacts with the band. If you are a music lover, especially indie, folk, bluegrass, and punk, you are going to want to pull up a barstool at Luce Spirits on the north end of Main Street in Rockland.
What if you aren’t that into bars and bands, but are more a fan of ice cream? There’s a new parlor on the block; well, sort of. Newty’s started two years ago in a little shack behind the proprietors’ house in the south end of Rockland, by the boardwalk. It was a smash hit! The spot was adorable, especially at sunset and they sold locally made ice creams with a side of spunk. We could not have been more pleased to stumble upon a full-fledged brick and mortar shop when we were strolling Main Street recently. It’s also an espresso bar! Take in a film or live show at The Strand, enjoy First Friday Art Walk or a night at the museums, then dip into Newty’s for a cone, cup, or coffee. It’s the sort of place you talk about long after your Maine vacation ends.
Thomaston
Thomaston is a town you drive through on your way to points farther north. But you would be remiss to not stop in the quaint, tiny Main Street to stretch your legs and have a treat. There are two spots in Thomaston we must recommend, and one of them is practically brand new. The Picnic Basket offers provisions, easy grab and go foodstuffs and mercantile essentials. Find a fresh, artisan loaf of bread, flowers grown on a farm in nearby Cushing, a well-curated wall of wine, cheeses, tinned things like olives and fish, and who knows what else. The store just opened by Friendship entrepreneur and food writer, Kim Sullivan, and who knows how she will grow and what sorts of delicacies she is going to carry. Stock up on groceries for a picnic, a sail, a beach day, or your summer cottage. Everything is pretty and delicious there.
Tenant’s Harbor
Yet another new business in MidCoast Maine is Wharfside Coffee and Events, located in the teeny tiny fishing village, Tenant’s Harbor. While just a 10 minute drive from The Craignair Inn, and on the same St. George Peninsula, each little village has its own center and vibe. Wharfside opened at the end of June, and is located in a beloved dockside restaurant that for decades was run by one fishing family. The dock is still where the Tenant’s Harbor Fishermen’s Co-op is located, so visitors get a sense of what a real working waterfront is like. This is authentic Maine living. This coffee shop is charming, with colorful indoor seating and picnic tables outside over the harbor. Watch the lobster boats and sailboat whilst you sip a coffee and enjoy a pastry, toast, or sandwich. Word on the street is that they are serving lobster rolls now. Go where the locals go – spend a morning at Wharfside.
The best way to see this spectacular corner of the world is to drive around. Slow down, and take the roads less traveled. Turn off your GPS, and let an old map, or simply your adventurous spirit be your guide. Get out of the car. Meet some folks. Marvel at the clouds or the Oreo-Cookie Cows. Discover the undiscovered – it is still possible here. Wait for magic hour. Then wait for the hour after. There’s always beauty and wonder to be found. Stay curious. You’re on Maine time.
