Rockland, Maine

Sitting on Penobscot Bay, in the heart of Midcoast Maine, is the harbor city known as the "Lobster Capitol of the World". And for good reason. After all, it is in Rockland, Maine where the annual Maine Lobster Festival is held.

But, Rockland is about much more than lobster...

With its central location on Maine's coast, Rockland is an ideal place from which to begin your exploration, by land or by sea, of some of the best attractions that Maine has to offer.

Attractions in Rockland, Maine

Rockland can be a great place to call "home" during a Maine coastal vacation. With its central location along the Midcoast of Maine, it is within an easy drive to many of Maine's other coastal towns, villages, and cities. And...

There is plenty to do right in Rockland - especially during the warmer months!

Every summer, Harbor Park in downtown Rockland, is home to the city's most famous festival, the Maine Lobster Festival. Thousands of people attend the annual gathering that runs Wednesday through Sunday, always beginning on the Wednesday before the first FULL weekend in August.

The North Atlantic Blues Festival and the Maine Boats, Homes and Harbors Show also call Rockland home, as well as several other lively festivals and fairs.

What else is there to do in Rockland, Maine? Lots!

For starters you can walk the nearly mile long Rockland Harbor breakwater to visit the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse and gift shop, open weekends and holidays seasonally. The Friends of the Breakwater Lighthouse post their schedule of hours at: www.rocklandlighthouse.com.

Or...

Drive to Owl's Head to the Owls Head Light State Park and see one of the 14 lighthouses that are within a short drive from Rockland. Although the Owl's Head Lighthouse and the keeper's house are not open to the public, the gorgeous grounds guarding the entrance of Rockland Harbor are, so feel free to bring a picnic.

Once you look out and see the billowing sails of a Maine windjammer it's going to be hard to resist setting foot on one of these magnificent schooners! And, you could not be in a better place to do so, as it is said that Rockland, Maine has the largest windjammer fleet in the country. You too can set sail through the northern Atlantic waters, amongst the rustic islands that dot the coastline - some of which are inhabited only by the wildlife that knows just how great Maine summers can be!

You'll have other boating options too...

Join Captain Hale on the Captain Jack Lobster Boat Adventure as he heads out to haul lobster traps on a 1-1/4 hour cruise. On board, you can pick up one of his fishing poles and try your luck at mackerel and cod fishing, or just sit back and wait for the seals, porpoises, and whales to make their appearance.

And...

Year round, the Maine Ferry Service operates from Rockland to Vinalhaven, North Haven, and Matinicus, allowing passengers a first-hand glimpse at how local residents work and play on these remote islands.

When your water adventures are over, there is plenty to do on Rockland's, historic Main Street, with its many shops, eateries and other attractions. The Strand Theater, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is here also, featuring films, live music, and special events, year round.

Rockland, Maine is also home to some unique museums...

The Farnsworth Art Museum and Wyeth Center exhibit the 18th and 19th century artwork of many famous American artists, with the Wyeth Center dedicated exclusively to the works of Andrew Wyeth, N. C. Wyeth and Jamie Wyeth. On the same grounds are the Farnsworth Homestead and the Olson House.

And, if you are fascinated by lighthouses you may enjoy the Maine Lighthouse Museum, also known as the Shore Village Museum, which on its website states that it has the "largest collection of lighthouse artifacts and mementoes". At the same location you can also visit the Maine Discovery Center for Tourism and the Lighthouse Depot Annex Gift Shop.

Just a two hour drive north of Rockland...

You can visit Bar Harbor, Maine and the Acadia National Park, where an afternoon can be spent atop Cadillac Mountain, overlooking Frenchman Bay and the northern Atlantic.

Less than two hours south of Rockland...

You can experience Portland - Maine's oldest city. Located on the waterfront its historic streets are filled with art galleries, antique shops, one-of-a-kind boutiques, coffee houses and restaurants.

On your way to and from Portland, you will have an opportunity to take some interesting side trips, venturing off Coastal Route 1 down less traveled roads that head straight out to the Atlantic, including ME-27 that brings you to the picture perfect village of Boothbay Harbor.

Or, you can spend a lazy day riding the Maine Eastern Railroad, as it travels from Rockland to Wiscasset - known as "Maine's Prettiest Village" - and then on to Bath, with a final stop in Brunswick.

Whatever your interests - fishing, golf, theater, hiking, boating, sightseeing, dining, or shopping - you shouldn't be at a loss for things to do in Rockland, Maine!

You may also be interested in:
Maine Lobster Festival, Maine Lobster Season, Maine Windjammer Cruises, Maine Vacation House Rental

Rockland, Maine Hotels, Motels, Inns and B&B's

With affordable family lodging available, as well as secluded retreats for romantic getaways - and everything in between - finding a suitable overnight accommodation in Rockland, or in its surrounding towns, should be easy.

Among your Rockland lodging options are the Historic Inns of Rockland, Maine - the Captain Lindsey House, the Granite Inn, the LimeRock Inn and the AAA Four Diamond, Berry Manor Inn - along with many other properties that are uniquely Maine, such as...

...~ripples~ Inn the Harbor, a New England Farmhouse Bed & Breakfast steps away from Rockland Harbor (yes, that is how the name is spelled!), the Navigator Motor Inn, directly across the street from the Maine State Ferry Terminal, or the Lakeshore Inn, nestled against Dodge Mountain and Lake Chickawaukie.

And, the downtown Tradewinds Motor Inn, on the harbor, the Victorian style Waterman House located in Rockland's Historic District, or the Viking Motor Inn on Main Street.

The list goes on, and as you travel north or south from Rockland you will find dozens of other great places to call home, including scenic RV campgrounds and wooded campsites as well as gorgeous private homes and quaint cottages.

Beware...
Seasonally, the Rockland area attracts thousands of visitors. Plan ahead! Make your reservations WELL in advance to avoid disappointment.

Rockland, Maine Restaurants

You will be in the "Lobster Capitol of the World", so you can imagine what that means! But there will be plenty of other choices as well, for both elegant and casual dining.

The family style Rockland Cafe serving breakfast, lunch and dinner offers all you can eat seafood specials, and...

...claiming to have "The Most Exclusive Lobster Menu in Rockland" is Oceanside Seafood and Steaks.

Wonderful culinary creations await you at Primo, and a creative menu is served for lunch, dinner and Sunday Brunch at Amalfi on the Water.

Dine indoors or out at WaterWorks Restaurant and Pub, or...

...try some lobster at Suzuki's Sushi Bar - yes, that's right, lobster on a sushi menu! But then again, you are in Rockland, Maine.

For those on the go, The Brown Bag - voted Best Healthy Lunch, Best Sandwich AND Best Chocolate Chip Cookie - may be perfect. Eat breakfast or lunch in, or take it with you. The restaurant also offers its patrons free wireless Internet.

And for the little kids, or big kids, that aren't quite up to the native fare, McDonald's, Burger King and Pizza Hut are right around the corner!

If you visit Rockland, Maine and have any Rockland attractions, a Rockland restaurant, or an inn or hotel in Rockland that you would like to share, please feel free to contact me and I'll add it to this site.

Thanks, Liz