Aug 29, 2025

The Way Life Should Be

Are you ready for peace and quiet, the feeling of seclusion, yet it’s still a place where nice people are also looking for the same thing? Call this Vacationland. The tagline is printed on many Maine license plates since 1936, and for us, nothing beats late summer here. We have been to Portland, Maine, a few times before and fell in love with the seaside nature and laid back, calm vibe of the industrial port city. But we have always yearned to go further north and explore more parts of this wonderful state.

Flights into Bangor, Maine

We were grateful to have some vouchers and miles to use with United Airlines, so this gave us a little vacation budget for some more fun. Flying into Bangor International Airport (IATA: BGR) was easy as the airport is small, and the rental car counter was conveniently located right by baggage claim.

However, next time we will likely fly into Portland (PWM), or Boston Logan (BOS), and drive up. This is because we love the beaches and coastal towns like York, Wells, Ogunquit, Kennebunk (and Kennebunkport) along the way! And don’t forget we’ll definitely be shopping in Freeport at the L.L.Bean Flagship and other stores!

But Bangor has a nice downtown area right along the Penobscot River, so it’s worth exploring if time permits! Be sure to take a picture with the Paul Bunyan statue on the way out of town, too!

Where to eat + drink in Bangor

The Butcher - The Baker is only minutes from the airport. They offer a scratch kitchen, and walking in feels like a place everyone knows one another! It was amazing to have wonderful hospitality upon entering.

For starters, we ordered cocktails with house-infused spirits. They were incredible and locally focused, too. Food portions were huge, filled with delicious flavors. The menu at The Butcher - The Baker has a surprising variety of cuisine from Italian, Pan-Asian, and even German! The Drunken Noodle was loaded with large prawns, and crisp yet juicy pork belly. The schnitzel was the largest piece ever, and pickles with arugula were a nice touch.

We were so glad to stop here and fill up before driving the hour and a half to Camden!

Camden: Where the Mountains Meet the Sea

Camden, Maine. It’s winning awards, taking names, and we can understand why. Travel + Leisure just named Camden one of the most beautiful small towns in the U.S. This small town is just like one you’d see in a Hallmark Channel Christmas movie. There is undeniable charm, and also the mystique of all the boats, schooners, and yachts in the harbor. We could spend days by the water on a bench just watching all the activity. Below is just a taste of what we did in Camden over two days time.

Where to Stay

Camden is filled with many mansions, converted into tasteful bed and breakfast style accommodations as well as larger inns. Then there are a few hotels. And of course, apartments, cottages, and cabins for rent. If you want, there are also campgrounds nearby! We chose to stay at the Blue Harbor House Inn, walkable to downtown located on Elm Street.

Meeting innkeepers Matt and Michelle was amazing. Matt makes delicious treats, and we received cookies at check-in. Breakfast was served with coffee and tea. Saturday we had banana bread with fresh whipped cream. Then the main was a quiche with ham and leeks, and salad served with Fiore Olive Oil and Fig Balsamic.

We stayed in The Chart House, a two-bedroom suite with a private entrance to the parking lot. The living area on the first level was a nice spot to enjoy in the evening, featuring a sofa, a side chair, and a TV. The two bedrooms upstairs were cabin-like with exposed rough-sawn wood planks on the vaulted ceilings. We slept well in the comfortable beds with the softest sheets from Comphy by Coop.

Blue Harbor House Inn offers a happy hour daily from 3-6 pm, featuring an extensive cocktail and drink menu. Pub mix and baked goods were given to us as well! How sweet is that?! It was amazing to talk with Matt and Michelle, as some other guests joined us at the bar. They are incredibly personable, wanting to ensure everyone has a great experience in and around Camden!

What to see

Camden Hills State Park / Mt. Battie

Camden Hills State Park and Mount Battie are 8 minutes by car from the Blue Harbor House Inn. We drove to the summit, but many bike and hike to the top as well. When there, we experienced serene views of Camden and the surrounding area from Mt. Battie. Imagine: Ocean, and harbor. Rocks. Islands. And a breeze blowing at your back. This is one of the best ways to start the day!

Marshall Point Lighthouse

Marshall Point Lighthouse is in the fishing village of Port Clyde, Maine. We drove our rental car on a scenic 45-minute route from the Blue Harbor House Inn. You may recall the Forrest Gump scene filmed there when he runs to the east coast! It is beautifully restored. The walkway out to the lighthouse is being worked on as well after hurricane damage last summer. Be sure to stop into the museum and gift shop with children’s books written by local authors.

Owls Head Lighthouse

After lunch at McLoon’s (see more on this below), we drove up the coast and stopped at Owls Head. After a short walk with some stairs, it is just a little lighthouse peaking out of the hillside, along the rocky coastline of Maine! The stairs up were fun to climb for us and we enjoyed looking out to the ocean below. We even saw a bald eagle!

Curtis Island Lighthouse

The Curtis Island Lighthouse Overlook is a hidden gem of a trail off Bayview Street, that takes you down to a bench where you can look over at Curtis Island and the lighthouse. Our friends Matt and Michelle at Blue Harbor House Inn recommended this spot to us.

Camden Public Library

Be sure to stop by the Camden Public Library. It is right up from the harbor in Downtown Camden. The architecture is striking. The hill next door offers views of the boats moored as well as activity happening and people watching from park benches on the hillside.

Where to eat + drink

McLoon’s Lobster Shack

Just a short drive from the Marshall Point lighthouse, we found McLoon’s Lobster Shack on Spruce Head Island. It’s very well known by the locals and tourists alike. We waited in line for 25 minutes. But it went fast as we were able to watch the lobster boats. This is a really cute spot, across from the area’s oldest lobster wharf. The lobster rolls had a generous serving of lobster meat on a buttered and toasted bun. Edward ordered a burger since he doesn’t like seafood. We had to try the Maine Root Blueberry Soda. David has said over and over that this is the best lobster roll he’s ever had!

Zoot Coffee

The cold brew at Zoot Coffee woke us up! The strong blend helped give us fuel for our drive and day ahead! The coffee shop is cute, with floor to ceiling windows and the counter front and center to the cafe. We noticed ample seating and good WiFi, so many work here and enjoy time with friends!

The View Restaurant

Head inside the 16 Bay View Hotel, just off of Main Street. Then take the elevator to the rooftop to The View Restaurant! First up were delicious crafted cocktails. Bites and small plates were amazing. The views of Camden and the harbor didn’t disappoint for sunset! It was great to enjoy an espresso martini for a little energy after a day of walking around the lighthouses on the Maine MidCoast.

Where to shop

Planet Toys

Planet Toys is THE toy store in downtown Camden. Planet has something for every age, and for kids at heart, too. We picked up a bib for our future arrival, and Edward found a wooden robot toy to complement another one he already has for in his office.

The Smiling Cow

You cannot miss stopping into The Smiling Cow, Camden’s amazing souvenir shop. The Smiling Cow has been family owned for over 80 years! They have a great variety of locally made goods, treats and toys. You will find a great selection of screen printed t-shirts here, too!

Blue Jay Baby Boutique

We were so excited that we were able to shop at Blue Jay Baby Boutique for the cutest baby and children’s clothing. Blue Jay Baby Boutique also has some classic book titles in hardcover. How could we resist some of the lobster sweaters for our soon to be little guy?!

Hearth and Harrow

We were drawn in by the beautiful textiles in the window at Hearth and Harrow. Local to Rockport, Maine, Hearth and Harrow specializes in hand drawn patterns and prints on linens that can be used in the kitchen, home, or worn as bandanas and shawls. Ones that we particularly loved are the ginkgo leaves and otters screen printed in a variety of colors that will look amazing in any season!

We look forward to returning

Camden, we’ll see you again soon! It’s been so nice meeting wonderful people and experiencing life as it should be, right here in MidCoast Maine! We are eager to introduce our little guy to all there is to do and see in a town like Camden. The charming New England atmosphere here matches up to our pace harmoniously. From outdoor adventures to fun dining experiences, and historic sites, there is something for everyone in and around Camden, Maine.