My husband and I are visiting Maine later this month. We are in our mid 40's are very active, love to hike and run and love good food. We are renting a cottage in Owls Head and are hoping to rent bikes while we are there. We want to have some down time, but also want to explore. We have 5 full days and then will spend our 6th and last day in Portland, before we head back home. We plan to do a day trip to Acadia (leaving super early in the morning, do a moderate hike and then hopefully check out Bar Harbor afterwards) and would like to spend one day exploring Pemaquid Beach/Rachel Carson Preserve and then spend a couple of hours strolling around Boothbay. We have booked a Full Moon Kayak tour for my birthday one evening and have dinner reservations at Primo. Would love any recommendations for hikes, things to do, fabulous Farmer's Markets, towns to check out, great eats, etc. Thanks in advance...

Bikes just for getting around Owl's Head maybe, but for long rides on those very busy two-lane roads in and out of town, use caution.

Boothbay is a bit of a drive for much of what you can find nearby in Camden and Rockport (shops, seafood, boat trips etc). I think with just 3 days unplanned, you'll find that Owl's Head, Cam-Rockport, Rockland, Mt Battie, Tenant's Harbor, South Thomaston and Port Clyde will keep you more than busy.

Rockland has a pretty good farmers market. We recently visited the one in Boothbay (Thursdays). We got a lobster roll at Karen's Hideaway and took it to a little park near Maine Coastal Gardens. The park had picnic tables and good parking area/boat launch. The park is on a tiny island accessed by a footbridge. The drive around East Boothbay is nice. East Boothbay General Store has terrific breakfast sandwiches, sandwiches and gourmet pizza.

Our newest favorite lobster shack is McLoon's in South Thomaston but our former favorite was Waterman's. Both near Owl's Head. Owl's Head Light is about an hour and half from Harpswell area - Cundy's Harbor is another great lobster roll place. You can download a list of conservation areas in the Harpswells area. The Giant Steps/Stairs is a short but scenic walk along the water. When you go to McLoon's you will think you are lost in among marine warehouses but you turn a corner and there it is. Small place with picnic tables. When they ask mayo, butter or both, choose both. They just smear the toasted roll with mayo and give you a cup of melted butter to dip the big pieces of lobster that are piled on the roll. dh got the Lobster Rolls Royce which is on an extra long hot dog roll. He did not get the jumbo lobster roll at Karen's because it is served on a hoagie roll which we have decided is too much bread in proportion to lobster. It was a beautiful day at McLoon's and we were just ahead of the small crowd arriving for lunch and just as we got there, there was an eagle swooping around the boats trying for lunch. It's a working harbor, great scenery. Rockport is a beautiful harbor but it's pleasure boats. I understand the big sailboat that takes people out for sails was built by the owner.

There's a great seafood menu at Claw's in Rockland right on Rt 1. Might be the only lobster burger in Maine (husband's choice). I chose the sampler which was a small cup of seafood chowder (heavy on the dillweed) and lobster bisque (seasoned differently than traditional) plus a crabcake. I enjoyed the seasonings in the soups. My husband did not. Unfortunately, we were too full to try the banh mi at the food truck parked in Rockport Harbor but enjoyed sitting on a bench looking at the boats and watching some children go out in little sailboats for sailing lessons. Interesting preservation of lime kilns there, too.

If you go to the Harpswells, it's like turning back the calendar. Very rural. You drive thru Bath to get to Brunswick (great farmers market on Fridays). Bath has the Maritime Museum and dh loves the downtown area. There's a small natural foods store where you can get Maine Roots sodas (love their root beer) plus across the street a small candy store where you can buy Needhams which are made using a traditional recipe which includes potatoes.

Personally, I don't care for the congestion around Boothbay Harbor but got a groupon for a motel in East Boothbay which worked out for visiting Maine Coastal Gardens before our visit to Rockport.

Morse's Deli is out in the middle of nowhere. I had seen it recommended but we only stopped because we accidentally found it while going around to some of the wineries. If you decide to go for a wine tasting at Cellar Door Winery, the location in Lincolnville just north of Camden is much nicer than their retail store on Rt 1 if they are still doing tastings there.

Pemaquid Point is one of those places where we like to find some shade, look at the water, and just sit but we recently found the lighthouse park at Marshall Point near Port Clyde. Beautiful place but we weren't there when the museum was open.

If you like books, on your way to Acadia, stop at the Chicken Barn Antiques and Used Books.

For really great eats, also check out the Owl's Head General Store one day for lunch and order the hamburger -- the best you'll ever have in your life!

There's plenty to see and do in the Owl's Head area -check out my trip report, "Cottage in Maine".

I'm renting in the area again in September. I fell in love with it.

Monhegan Island is another day trip you can take from the Owl's Head area. I think it leaves from Port Clyde.

I missed it last time but plan to do it this time around.

Monhegan Island is a great suggestion. We took the boat from Boothbay but there are several ways to get there depending on where you are in Maine.

dfrost, I'm going to check out some of those places you mentioned for lobster rolls!

All good suggestions to which I would add:

The spectacular view from the top of Battle Mountain just north of Camden.

A windjammer day cruise from Camden.

Rockport, a tiny village with an incredibly picturesque harbor and an interesting history. It is tucked in between Rockland and Camden on the water side.

The villages on back roads south of Rockland -- Friendship, Port Clyde, etc.

The art museum in Rockland. The museum also owns the Olson house, site of the Wyeth painting "Christina's World". You can visit the Olsen house on your villages tour, but the locals sometimes move the signs.

Every time you pass a rural grocery, see what they are offering on their chalk boards outside.

More great suggestions from Ackislander.
Have fun trying all the lobster rolls, Panecott. We have yet to try Red's despite spending time in Wiscasset.

Take a picnic lunch to Monhegan and don't forget your binoculars. Top of Mount Battie is another good picnic place.