8 Most Unconventional Towns In Maine
Maine is mainly known for its lobsters and lighthouses, being the only state with one syllable, and for having some of the most unconventional towns worth visiting this year or the next! From places like Bar Harbor and Greenville that are gateways to Maine’s most unspoiled and untainted wildernesses in America, and in destinations like Damariscotta and Castine that have contributed much to the historic achievements of the New England state, travelers will find all sorts of unusual and unique features in each of Maine’s towns. Prepare extra clothes or your best swimwear when going through the scattered islands and natural wonders in Maine, especially when vacationing in the most unconventional towns in Maine.
Camden
Camden comes with an array of majestic and memorable attractions on the west side of Penobscot Bay. The High Street Historic District, a living gallery of 19th-century buildings that have retained their image over the years, thrusts visitors into the past with its landscaped amphitheater at the Camden Public Library and its musical and artistic performances at the Camden Opera House. There are also arboreal and bucolic sceneries to behold from the top of the Bald Mountain Preserve and the Ragged Mountain Preserve. There are beachside activities and attractions to participate in at the Camden Hills State Park and Barrett’s Cove Public Beach. There are advantageous views from Mount Battie Tower and Mount Battie. Whatever you intend to accomplish in Camden, remember to rest and refresh yourself for a new day at the Camden Riverhouse Hotel and Inn, the Harstone Inn, or the Camden Harbor Inn.
Boothbay Harbor
An hour away north of the city of Portland, the beautiful town of Boothbay Harbor is one of the many excellent harbors that can guide you to the many exhilarating islands composing Maine. Programs such as Cap’n Fishes Whale Watch & Puffin Cruises can take travelers through scenic boat trips down Boothbay Harbor and Linekin Bay and even visit a number of nearby islands and neighboring mid-coast peninsulas like Tumbler Island, Mouse Island, Squirrel Island, and Capitol Island.
Within the port town’s homely confines, one can watch remarkable plays and artworks at the Lincoln Arts Festival or even purchase top-notch, stained glasses at the Richard Mac Donald Stained Glass. On the month of June, the town is filled with festive air due to the much-beloved Windjammer Days, an annual celebration since 1962 where recreations of pirate duels, tugs-of-war in the harbor, boat parades and lobster-eating contests and tours of the U.S. Coast Guard Station are available for all. If you wish to stay a lot longer in Boothbay Harbor, you should first book a room in one of the town’s accommodating abodes, like the Topside Inn or Flagship Inn.
Damariscotta
Damariscotta, about 29 minutes north of Boothbay Harbor, is a twin to the town of Newcastle beside the Damariscotta River. Both towns share a handful of amenities you can admire, such as the Whaleback Shell Midden State Historic Site, where 2,500-year-old oyster shell middens were discovered—remnants which the Wawenock (or Walinakiak, meaning "People of the Bays") Abenaki Native Americans left behind when they vanished from this area in Maine.
Damariscotta suffered greatly from King Philip’s War in 1676, and attempts to rebuild the town were hindered during the French and Indian War. Then, in King William's War on September 9, the Battle of Damariscotta occurred, and Captain John March killed 25 native men. Eventually, with the construction of Fort Frederick in 1729, Damariscotta prospered as a trading town and a thriving tourist spot for individuals eager to see history and modernity merge.
The name Damariscotta is a corruption of the Algonquin word "Madamescontee" which means "place of an abundance of alewives.” Alewives—small, salty fish found in Damariscotta Lake—are beloved among the townsfolk, and they celebrate the Alewives Festival in spring in a place called Damariscotta Mills. So, for those of you intrigued by Damariscotta’s charms, you can certainly seek a place to stay, such as Newcastle Inn.
Kennebunkport
Between the cities of Portland and Portsmouth, you will be entranced by the splendid sights of Kennebunkport. From Goose Rocks Beach and the relatively smaller Arundel Beach, you can be treated to long stretches of sandy shoreline that are soaked with the waves of the Atlantic Ocean. Those with an eye for locomotives can peruse one of the largest collections of streetcars at the Seashore Trolley Museum. Individuals who are seeking a place to pray can do so at the Saint Ann’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, built in 1887 and situated at the mouth of the Kennebunk River.
There are endlessly dramatic wave crashes to take photographs of at the Blowing Cave Park and photogenic views of islands and islets from atop the historic Goat Island Lighthouse. Even though you will not find any porpoises at Cape Porpoise, you will be entreated to delicious and fresh lobsters to dine on. Pitch perfect tents at the Sandy Pines Campground, or go trekking through numerous wilderness routes outside Kennebunkport like the Edwin L Smith Preserve Trailhead. But if you get exhausted from all the wanderings, then you can settle down for tomorrow at the Kennebunkport Inn, The Nonantum Resort, The Breakwater Inn, or The Colony Hotel.
Stonington
Stonington, located on Deer Isle and about an hour’s boat ride away from Camden, is a dearly delightful town worthy of a vacation. More pounds of lobsters were harvested from around Stonington than in any port in Maine, and granite continues to be extracted from the many quarries on Deer Isle that are still in operation. Among the many beautiful landmarks and features you can gallivant near Stonington are the Crockett Cove Woods Preserve, the Barred Island Preserve, and the Edgar M. Tennis Preserve. Additionally, you can head to the Isle au Haut Boat Services for daily trips to Isle au Haut or to other nearby islands like Swans Island and Little Deer Isle. You might be interested in taking photos of the lonesome little lighthouse known as the Deer Island Thorofare Lighthouse on Mark Island. Or you might want to spend your evenings in one of Stonington’s resplendent establishments, such as the Inn on the Harbor.
Castine
Approximately 53 miles from Camden, the historic town of Castine can be found on the east side of Penobscot Bay. From its tumultuous beginnings in the 1820s, the nations of England, France, and the Netherlands have contested over Castine due to its position and resources. Fortunately, much of the New England architecture composing Castine has endured the worst of warfare. One can see the military barracks of Fort George that repelled many an army, while the Wilson Museum and the Castine Post Office both give a contextual narrative of the town’s history, particularly as the latter is the oldest continuously operating post office in the US.
Travelers ought to admire a 24-foot-long quilt honoring the Castine’s bicentennial in the year 1996 and offer more images of the town’s past. At the Maine Maritime Academy, you will find graduate officers and engineers for the United States Merchant Marine training for their careers and for the US. No need to worry about lodgings in Castine, not when you have places like the Pentagoet Inn, The Castine Inn, or Castine Cottages attending to your daily and nightly needs.
Bar Harbor
Do not be barred nor feel burdened when you are free to travel and discover in the bountiful town of Bar Harbor. Situated on Mount Desert Island (pronounced as “dessert” in French pronunciation) along Frenchman Bay, Bar Harbor has accommodated thousands of visitors for two centuries. Prior to settlers from Europe arriving on the island, the Wabanaki people prospered in the area. In the 19th century, affluent American families such as the Pulitzers, Vanderbilts, Rockefellers, Morgans, Astors, and Fords built grand summer “cottages” around Bar Harbor. The business magnate John D. Rockefeller Junior, in particular, contributed to the community by preserving the well-known Acadia National Park, a region of arboreal lands with Cadillac Mountain looming over all.
However, aside from being the Gateway to Acadia, Bar Harbor is also the home base for two leading research‐ and technology‐focused organizations, the Jackson Laboratory and the MDI Biological Laboratory. If you are looking for more points of interest, you can visit the Cranberry Islands and the Porcupine Islands, trek through the Wild Gardens of Acadia or along Sand Beach, or listen to the high waves crashing against the foaming rocks of Thunder Hole. At the end of the day, you should definitely take a break and relax in fine establishments like The Pathmaker Hotel, The Inn on Mount Desert, or The Elmhurst Inn.
Greenville
At the lowest point of Moosehead Lake, the largest body of freshwater in Maine, travelers will be enamored by the welcome treatment that the town of Greenville promotes. This village deep within Maine’s mainland is a gateway to some of the most mesmerizing and magnificent outdoor recreational areas that you can go exploring. Whether you are traveling for nearly a hundred miles through the Appalachian Mountain Club 100 Mile Wilderness Conservation Area, boating and kayaking in the riverways at the Nahmakanta Public Reserved Land, or seeing the wonders of Moosehead Lake from Lily Bay State Park, Greenville will always be ready to prepare you for the journey ahead. Furthermore, Greenville will be prepared to welcome you back with its serene lodgings like Moose Mountain Inn or The Lodge at Moosehead Lake. Get excited for more opportunities for adventures like climbing to the top of Mount Kineo or participating in the Wilderness Dog Sled Race during wintertime.
The Takeaway
Many flock to Maine for various reasons—eating Maine’s delicious lobsters, purchasing retain items from L. L. Bean, which was founded in Maine, and visiting some of the most unconventional towns in Maine. One can sojourn through the dynamic and demanding landscapes of the Acadia National Park near Bar Harbor, tour the diverse islands near Stonington, and stroll along the coasts of Maine in beachside towns like Kennebunkport. Each small town in Maine promises its own surprises and wonders worth experiencing,g whether at the end of this year or at the start of the new one. So go boldly towards the one-syllable state on the east coast of the USA.
