Rockland/Rockport/Owls Head/Camden area of Maine
 

We will have a day in the Rockland/Rockport/Owls Head/Camden area (Wed., June 27)before driving to Southwest Harbor that evening; we'll be starting the day in Rockport.

I definitely want to go the Farnsworth Museum. How long should we allow for that? Do they offer guided tours? We are considering stopping by the Maine Lighthouse Museum, which is very close by. Is that worth a short visit?

I am debating between the hike to Owls Head Light vs. the drive or hike to Mt. Battie, and would appreciate opinions about this.

If you have any recommendations of a place for lunch, I'd welcome them. We'll probably get hungry for lunch while we're in Rockland, but could eat wherever we decide to go after Rockland, or along the way.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Or we could just go to the Farnsworth Museum and possibly the Lighthouse Museum and then go to Southwest Harbor (skipping Mt. Battie and Owls Head) to begin sightseeing there. We will only have two full days there.

I think two hours at the Farnsworth should really do it unless you have a special interest in some of the material.

When you drive to Camden, do be sure to take the back route so you can see Rockport Harbor. There isn't much going on their, but that's sort of the point!

Are you taking the same route back? I ask because you could go to Mt Battie on the way up and Owl's Head on the way back, since it is sort of in the opposite direction to Southwest Harbor. If you drive to the top of Mt Battie, it is a pretty quick trip. We saw some people from a Southern state that will be nameless who didn't even get out of their Ford 350; he just drove around the loop while she took pictures.

Where are you coming from? I ask because the Farnsworth Museum owns the Olsen (Olson?) house, famous from Wyeth's paintings. It is below Rockland and not simple to find, but if you like Wyeth, it is a great visit. Enjoy it now if you can because they are going to have to change it to preserve it.

No question - lunch here: http://www.watermansbeachlobster.com/

And this is worth a stop too, after lunch, right near the lobster pound:

http://www.ohtm.org/

Thanks for the comments.

On June 26, we fly into Portland, ME, arriving at 6:30 pm, pick up a rental car, and then drive to Rockport to spend the night. We will probably eat along the way (but unfortunately it appears that Waterman's Beach Lobster will be closed by the time we'd get there; I'd welcome other suggestions, including in Portland). The next day we'll wake up in Rockport, drive to Rockland to see the Farnsworth Museum and possibly the Lighthouse Museum, and end the day in Southwest Harbor, where we will spend three nights. After that we go to the White Mountains area and then to Portland, so we will not be retracing our steps through the Maine mid-coast area.

The Olsen House sounds interesting, but I don't think we'll have time to go there. Ditto the Transportation Museum.

My current thinking is to skip Mt. Battie and Owls Head (We'll do lots of hiking on the rest of the trip), unless they can be done fairly quickly (can they?) and are more spectacular than other things we'll see on the trip, and get to the Acadia area while it is still daylight.

Drive to the top of Mt Battie. It won't take long but don't forget your binnoculars. It overlooks Camden Harbor. Because there is usually activity, I like the view better than the one from Cadillac. If you're really lucky, you'll see a windjammer sailing. There are several based in Camden each summer. I consider it The Best view in Maine.
Owls Head Light is a short, easy hike with a nice view once you get there. It doesn't take long.

I would also make time for Waterman's Beach. We think it's the best place for steamed lobster. Wear hats and sunglasses and get a picnic table by the water. The setting is part of the allure. All that ocean, peace and quiet, make the lobster taste better.

I'll consider adding Waterman's Beach later in the trip on the day (a Thursday) when we go to Boothbay to see the botanical gardens. We're planning to get to the gardens in time for the 11 am tour.

I've heard that Port Clyde is a charming town. It may be worth adding, since we'd be close.

The only other thing I had planned for that day was to go to the L.L. Bean flagship store in Freeport. Now that day might be as follows:
- Drive from S. Portland to Boothbay
- Visit botanical gardens
- Eat at Waterman's Beach
- See Port Clyde
- L.L. Bean in Freeport
- Drive back to S. Portland
Is that reasonable for one day, or too much?

Nice trip but be aware that people crossing US 1 to get to Red's Eats may back up traffic for two or more miles, making what used to be a quick trip through Wiscasset and ordeal.

Port Clyde is wonderful, but if you are in that neck of the woods, I would bag Freeport and go to the Olsen house.

Are there other picturesque towns like Port Clyde that would be more on our way?

OP is heading to Botanical Gardens for an 11am tour so shouldn't have a problem with getting across the bridge in Wiscasset. Late Friday afternoon, however, might be a lengthy wait. US Rt 1 goes thru town of Wiscasset but has to stop for pedestrians. Add vacationer traffic to commuting traffic and it doesn't move.

I know we've been to Port Clyde but it doesn't stand out in my mind ... because there are so many beautiful areas along the coast. Damariscotta is nice but it's not on ocean front. We like Wiscasset but we don't eat at Red's. We like the Harpswell area because it is so rural.

I would get out on the water some place whether it be the mailboat cruise of Casco Bay out of Portland or a lighthouse cruise with the Maritime Museum in Bath. The trip to Monhegan from Boothbay is nice but it's all day and more open water less scenic coast.

The trip from Port Clyde to Monhegan is pretty brief.

If you are really going to Freeport, then I agree with dfrostnh. Harpswell-Orr's Island-Bailey's Island- Cundy's Harbor (access from Brunswick) is about as close as you can get to the coast of Maine in miniature. I mention this so often that I sound like a shill or a property owner, but I just love it. I would say, though, that like all the best parts of the Maine coast, there is nothing to do there (except eat Lobster) but that is the whole point. If you need stuff to do, go to Boothbay Harbor.