Rockland can be considered a classic coastal town in the state of Maine, as well as one of the world’s biggest shipping centers for lobster, making the town the “lobster capital of the world.” The mid-coast Maine town has also been called the “Coolest Small Town in the United States” by Budget Travel, one of the “Top 9 Small Foodie Towns in Maine,” and National Geographic Travel’s “Top Adventure Town in Maine.” Restaurants and cafes serve fresh local seafood, in addition to the town hosting the Maine Lobster Festival every year.
1. Farnsworth Art Museum
Consisting of over twenty thousand square feet of art gallery space, the Farnsworth Art Museum is home to a collection of over fifteen thousand works of art and always offers something new for visitors to see. The art museum includes one of the largest collections of Louise Nevelson sculpture works in the country. Open throughout the entire year, the Farnsworth Art Museum is also the only center that’s solely dedicated to Maine-inspired and American artwork. The museum complex in Rockland is also made up of the Wyeth Center, a library, the Olson House, and the Farnsworth Homestead.
16 Museum St, Rockland, ME 04841, Phone: 207-596-6457
2. Rockland Breakwater Light
The Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse is situated near the end of the granite breakwater stretching more than 4,340 feet into the Rockland Harbor. Construction of the Rockland Breakwater seawall was finished back in 1900, with the lighthouse completed two years later in 1902. Since the Rockland Breakwater Light is all the way at the end of the breakwater, visitors should be prepared for a walk that’s around two miles round trip. The lighthouse is open to the public on weekends during the summer months and those wanting to visit should be sure to wear comfortable shoes with good traction.
Rockland, ME 04841, Phone: 207-594-4174
3. Center for Maine Contemporary Art (CMCA)
The Center for Maine Contemporary Art, or CMCA, in the seaside town of Rockland is an institution for the contemporary arts, showcasing a series of changing exhibitions throughout the year that feature works by both established and emerging artists with connections to the state of Maine. The Center for Maine Contemporary Art is located within the downtown arts district.
21 Winter St, Rockland, ME 04841, Phone: 207-701-5005
4. Project Puffin Visitor Center
The Project Puffin Visitor Center first opened in the Rockland, Maine community in 2006 with help of private donors, local businesses, and Audubon and has since become a popular destination with both local residents and visitors. This unique center celebrates the successful Project Puffin, which works on bringing back puffins and other rare seabirds of Maine back to their historic nesting islands. At the Project Puffin Visitor Center, guests can watch puffins and a number of other seabirds through an impressive video system in real time. There is also a theater showing a twenty-minute film, a gallery, and many exhibits.
311 Main St, Rockland, ME 04841, Phone: 207-596-5566
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5. Harbor Square Gallery
The Harbor Square Gallery is housed within one of the most beautiful historic buildings in Rockland, Maine. The graceful structure dates back to the year 1912 and today is home to the Muir Garden for Contemporary Sculpture and the Contemporary Art Gallery, featuring some of the state’s most beautiful works of art. A gorgeous spiral staircase leads up to the rooftop sculpture garden overlooking Main Street and the blue harbor. Inside the gallery’s collection specializes in gold jewelry.
374 Main St, Rockland, ME 04841, Phone: 207-594-8700
6. Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
The Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge encompasses over sixty offshore islands, along with four coastal parcels, giving it a total of over 8,200 acres across over 250 miles of the coastline of Maine. THe wildlife refuge aims to restore and manage the nesting seabird colonies. The national wildlife refuge has a visitors center, however, in the downtown area of Rockland, at which guests can find a variety of information, such as how they can see the Atlantic puffins in Maine, as well as a number of conservation-oriented exhibits and free weekend or night programs on occasion.
9 Water St, Rockland, ME 04841, Phone: 207-594-0600
7. Home Kitchen Cafe
First opening its doors in February of 2009, the Home Kitchen Cafe has a mission of serving good, satisfying, hearty, and fresh food that’s all made on-site at the restaurant. The cuisine offered at the Home Kitchen Cafe is comfort food with a hint of the American Southwest, prepared using the highest quality seasonal and local produce available. Popular dishes on the menu include the famous lobster tacos, the “Home Schooled,” and the “Home on the Range.”
650 Main St, Rockland, ME 04841, Phone: 207-596-2449
8. Primo
Primo, which opened in 2000 inside a more than 130-year-old farmhouse, offers several different dining options on top of a hill that overlooks the town of Rockland. Located on the ground floor are two intimate and historic dining rooms that offer a white-tablecloth setting for dinner, as well as the Primo Room featuring a more modern, country design. On the second floor of Primo, guests will find the Cocktail Lounge and the Counter Room providing dinner service at casual, cozy tables or at the bar. The restaurant also has its own on-site farm spanning across more than four acres.
2 Main St, Rockland, ME 04841, Phone: 207-596-0770
9. Rustica
Located on Main Street in downtown Rockland, Maine, Rustica Cucina Italiana serves an excellent balance of both eclectic and traditional Italian dishes made with using the freshest ingredients available and almost entirely from scratch. Highly-trained staff make homemade desserts, handmade breads, delicate pastas, house-made sausage, and an array of sauces and stocks. The carefully thought out wine list features all of the Italian favorites, along with a handful from other parts of the world. There is also a good selection of beer available on top.
315 S Main St, Rockland, ME 04841, Phone: 207-594-0015
10. Maine Lobster Festival
The Maine Lobster Festival in the coastal town of Rockland is five full days of lobster feasting and fun. The lobster-filled event takes place every year around the first weekend in the month of August, starting on Wednesday and ending on Sunday. Attracting visitors worldwide and hosting a wide variety of special events and activities, the Maine Lobster Festival includes twenty thousand pounds of lobster, the “world’s greatest lobster cooker,” a marine tent, cooking contests, numerous vendors and crafts people, fine art, the international crate race, “top notch entertainment,” a large parade, the sea goddess coronation, and much more.
Harbor Ln, Rockland, ME 04841, Phone: 207-596-0376
What is Rockland, Maine known for? What to do. What are the top attractions to visit in Rockland, Maine?
The top attractions to visit in Rockland, Maine according to local experts are:
- Farnsworth Art Museum
- Rockland Breakwater Light
- Center for Maine Contemporary Art (CMCA)
- Project Puffin Visitor Center
- Harbor Square Gallery
- Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
- Home Kitchen Cafe
- Primo
- Rustica
- Maine Lobster Festival
Where to Stay: Island View Inn
Situated on 23 acres of lush hillside overlooking a serene tidal cove at the shores of Penobscot Bay, Island View Inn is a contemporary hotel that offers bright, nautically themed accommodations with private balconies and beautiful ocean views. The hotel also provides individual cottages and houses for families and groups of friends and has an outdoor heated infinity swimming pool and pretty garden trails. In-room amenities include cable television, mini fridges, and complimentary wireless Internet, while hotel amenities include complimentary refreshments in the morning, continental breakfast (for an additional fee), a comfortable lobby and lounge with a fireplace, and free parking. Island View Inn is ideally located for exploring the tranquil seaside town of Camden, which is just five miles away, and its attractions such as the Farnsworth Art Museum and the Owls Head Lighthouse.
Guest Accommodations
Island View Inn features stylishly appointed ocean-facing guest rooms overlooking the picturesque Penobscot Bay near Camden. Guest rooms have comfortable king size beds with fresh linens, and en-suite bathrooms with bath/shower combinations, clean towels, and branded bath products. Living rooms open onto balconies or patios with table and chairs, and modern amenities in every room include air-conditioning and heating, mini fridges, televisions with cable channels, hair dryers, irons and ironing boards, in-room telephones with free local calls, and complimentary wireless Internet.
Dining
Guests can enjoy complimentary coffee and tea every morning, and a continental breakfast is available for an additional fee, which includes fresh seasonal fruit, hot and cold cereals, homemade granola, yogurt, assorted bread for toasting, and homemade pastries.
Amenities and Recreation
Amenities at the Island View Inn include an outdoor heated infinity swimming pool and pretty garden trails to explore. Guests can enjoy complimentary coffee and tea every morning, and a continental breakfast is available for an additional fee, and in-room amenities include air-conditioning and heating, mini fridges, televisions with cable channels, hair dryers, irons and ironing boards, in-room telephones with free local calls, and complimentary wireless Internet.
Local Attractions
The Island View Inn is located on the shores of Penobscot Bay in the picturesque village of Rockport, which offers an array of activities and attractions for the whole family to enjoy, ranging from museums and art galleries to restaurants, cafés, and a variety of recreational and outdoor fun. The picturesque seaside town is home to a quiet and beautiful harbor filled with schooners and fishing boats and is renowned for its artists’ community, whose works are shown in numerous galleries and exhibitions in and around town. Outdoor lovers can hike and bike one of the many paths and trails around the city and further afield, while fishermen can fish off the harbor piers or take to the sea on a fishing charter.
Other things to see and do include a sunset schooner cruise on the 65-foot Schooner Yacht Heron, visiting Rockport Marine Park, which is home to several historical landmarks and offers day trips and sailing cruises, or enjoy a performance at the Rockport Opera House, which presents dance, music, plays and other activities all year round.
The nearby town of Camden also offers several attractions and activities, such as the mile-long Rockland Breakwater, the Camden State Hills Park, the Farnsworth Art Museum, and the Penobscot Marine Museum. Other attractions include the Owls Head Transportation Museum, the Merryspring Nature Center, and the Center for Maine Contemporary Art. There are also several scenic hiking trails and lighthouses such as Marshall Point and Owls Head.
908 Commercial St, Rockport, ME 04856, Phone: 207-596-0040
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More Ideas in Maine: Cranberry Hill Inn
The Cranberry Hill Inn is a charming, suites-only inn on Mt. Desert Island off the coast of Maine. Located in the town of Southwest Harbor, which is home to an appealing array of art galleries, museums, shops and restaurants, the lovely inn is the perfect place to enjoy a weekend getaway. The bed and breakfast-style hotel feature four stylishly appointed suites with kitchenettes, sleeper sofas, and private bathrooms and all accommodations boast stunning views of the gardens or the ocean. A gourmet breakfast is served every morning, and guests can soak up the views from one of the decks, patios or garden.
Guest Accommodations
The Cranberry Hill Inn features four well-appointed and individually decorated guest suites with pretty country-style décor and comfortable furnishings, king, queen, or twin beds with pillowtop mattresses and deluxe linens, and en-suite bathrooms with shower/bath combinations, thick towels and bathrobes, and organic bath products. Modern amenities in each suite include kitchenettes with microwaves, refrigerators and coffee makers, flat screen televisions with cable channels, climate control with heating and cooling, irons and ironing boards, hair dryers, and makeup mirrors, and complimentary wireless Internet throughout.
The Harborview Suite is an inviting one-bedroom suite with a king-size in luxury linens and a fireplace, and an en-suite bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub, shower, fresh towels and organic bath products. A charming sitting room decorated in soft yellow hues has a double sleeper sofa bed for additional guests, corner wood burning stove, tables and chairs, and a kitchenette with microwave, refrigerator, and coffee maker. The suite opens onto a private deck with glorious views of the harbor.
The Garden Terrace Suites is a one-bedroom suite decorated in soft whites and creams with a splash of color, and features a queen-size bed with luxurious linens, an en-suite bathroom with walk-in shower, fresh towels and organic bath products and a spacious sitting area with a sofa and armchair and a kitchenette with microwave, refrigerator and coffee maker. The suite opens onto a private terrace and patio with stunning views of the harbor.
The Captain Mayo Suite offers a queen-size bed with luxurious linens, an en-suite bathroom with walk-in shower, fresh towels and organic bath products and a spacious sitting area with a sofa and armchair and a kitchenette with microwave, refrigerator, and coffee maker. The suite opens onto a lovely garden with outdoor seating.
The Downeast Suite features a queen-size bed with luxurious linens, an en-suite bathroom with walk-in shower, fresh towels and organic bath products and a spacious sitting area with a sofa and armchair and a kitchenette with microwave, refrigerator, and coffee maker. The suite opens onto a lovely garden with outdoor seating.
Dining
A gourmet breakfast is served every morning in the sunny dining room or the sunroom or on the deck and includes cereals, granola, yogurt, fresh fruit, juices, hot entrées and egg dishes, freshly brewed artisan coffee and organic teas.
Amenities and Recreation
The Cranberry Hill Inn offers a delicious gourmet breakfast served every morning in the sunny dining room, sunroom or out on the deck, refreshments are available throughout the day, and beautiful gardens and outdoor decks and patios where guests can relax and soak up the gorgeous views. The Inn is situated within walking distance of Southwest Harbor which is home to an appealing array of art galleries, museums, shops, and restaurants. Looking out over the harbor and Cranberry Islands, the Inn is ideally placed for exploring the area and enjoying all its attractions and activities, including ferry trips to Little Cranberry Island, visiting the Acadia National Park, and enjoying the museums, art galleries, and historical sites. Outdoor recreational activities range from hiking, biking, kayaking and canoeing to swimming, climbing, and long leisurely walks on the beaches and carriage paths.
60 Clark Point Road, Southwest Harbor, ME, Phone: 207-244-5007
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More Ideas in Maine: Belfast Bay Inn
The Belfast Bay Inn is a charming family owned and operated boutique Inn in the heart of Belfast, Maine. Located on Main Street in a pair of row houses dating back to the 19th century, the award-winning guest house is a historic landmark in Belfast Bay and features eight beautifully appointed guest rooms that overlook the harbor pier. The individually decorated rooms boast elegant décor and classic furnishings, en-suite bathrooms with marble vanities and walk-in showers, and some have separate living areas, fireplaces, and private balconies. A complimentary gourmet in-room breakfast is served every morning and amenities at the Inn include a manicured courtyard garden, a gift shop, and in-room massage services. The Belfast Inn is a few miles drive from the Penobscot Marine Museum and the Moose Point State Park.
Guest Accommodations
The Belfast Inn features eight beautifully appointed, individually decorated guest suites with elegant décor and antique furnishings, comfortable king or queen-size beds with pillow-top mattresses, deluxe linens, and hypoallergenic pillows. Oversize suites are located throughout the hotel and feature hardwood floors, exquisite woodwork and crown moldings, original French doors that open onto private balconies and gorgeous views over the Main Street.
Guest suites have spacious bedrooms with marble en-suite bathrooms that offer double vanities with granite counter tops, bath/shower combinations, thick towels and bathrobes and designer toiletries. Some suites have separate living areas with plush seating and fireplaces, and some have private outdoor sitting areas with tables and chairs. Modern amenities abound including flat screen televisions with cable channels, Bose clock radio and CD players with surround sound, irons and ironing boards, hairdryers, umbrellas and complimentary wireless Internet.
Dining
A hearty breakfast is served in the dining room every morning as part of the stay and includes fresh fruit and juices, cereals, yogurts, and freshly baked treats, along with hot entrées and coffee and tea.
Amenities and Recreation
Amenities and facilities at the Belfast Bay Inn include a manicured courtyard garden, comfortable communal areas throughout the Inn, a gift shop and in-room massage services on request. A complimentary breakfast is served every morning, and guests can relax in the garden over a drink in the evening.
Located halfway between Camden and Mount Desert Island on the mid-coast of Maine, Belfast Bay is a pretty little town that offers a variety of activities and attractions for the whole family. Accessed by the Belfast Bay Bridge, which arches over the meandering Passagassawakeag River, Belfast Bay is set on the banks of the river and offers beautiful views of the river to the east and the Atlantic Ocean horizon to the west.
The Belfast Harbor Walk offers a peaceful stroll along the river bank and extends all the way to Heritage Park, which features piers, docks, and a marina. The town’s main street is lined with historic brick and stone buildings with charming shops, cafés, and eateries and often hosts fairs and festivals in the summer months. Route One is home to an array of local art galleries that showcases work done by artists from the area. Footbridge Road, is an impressive masonry bridge built for walking and winds all the way to the harbor, and back to and boasts spectacular views of Belfast Bay.
Wedding & Events
The Belfast Bay Inn offers a variety of unique elopement packages, ranging from Diamond to Emerald Packages. These exclusive offers include two nights of luxurious accommodation at the Inn, complimentary breakfast delivered to the door every morning, a welcome glass of Prosecco, one-hour couple’s massage, and a wedding officiant for the marriage ceremony. Other extras include a choice of venue at the Inn for the function – either in the Great Room or the Courtyard, a bridal bouquet and boutonniere, a small wedding cake, and a bottle of Champagne on the day of the wedding.
72 Main St, Belfast, ME 04915, Phone: 207-338-5600
