About Searsport

Searsport is located midway between Rockland and Bar Harbor on the beautiful Maine coast. Searsport was settled in the late 18th century and incorporated as a town in 1845. It has nearly 10 miles of coastline on Penobscot Bay and has a rich history of shipbuilding and seafaring. In the early to mid-1800s there were ten shipbuilding facilities and the town had a larger population than it does today. By the mid-1800s Searsport was famous for its sea captains and was once home to ten percent of all American deep-water shipmasters. These sea captains traveled the world and brought home their treasures, some of which are on display in the Penobscot Marine Museum's historical buildings. 

Local Restaurants

The Rhumb Line

200 East Main Street

Searsport, ME 04974

(207) 548-2600

A very nice restaurant, the menu includes vegetarian options and the executive chefs will accommodate any dietary requirements.

 

Chase's Daily

96 Main St

Belfast, ME 04915

(207) 338-0555

www.eatlocalchallenge.com: Chase's Daily

Chase's Daily is a vegetarian restaurant open for breakfast and lunch every day except Monday, and for dinner on Friday evenings (dinner reservations are a must). It is a very popular restaurant.

 

Darby's Restaurant and Pub

155 High Street

Belfast, ME 04915

(207) 338-2339

www.darbysrestaurant.com

Darby's is a nice restaurant and the food is good. They have vegetarian items on their menu and are very helpful in meeting people's dietary needs.

 

Belfast Food Co-op

123 High St.

Belfast, ME 04915

(207) 338-2532

www.belfast.coop

Fodor's Review: The Co-op is a very special place in Belfast, and it's not unusual to hear the expression: "I'll meet you at the Co-op." The French Club meets here, and the Writers Club sometimes meets here. Everyone in town seems to meet here at one time or another. As the name would imply, this is a members cooperative store that sells organic locally produced vegetables and other food provisions. But you don't have to be a member to buy things. It operates a popular café serving coffees, teas, sandwiches, and homemade pastries. A local wag once said: "Belfast is a retired hippie heaven." That is not really true, but if you just visited the Co-op, you might think it was.

 

Three Tides (offer vegetarian items daily)

26 Marshall Wharf (by the harbor)

Belfast, ME 04915

(207) 338-1707

www.3tides.com

Fodor's Review: Owners and managers David and Sarah Carlson have created a labor of love here, and if you like the idea of dinner on a deck overlooking the bay, this is the place. Some of the popular-with-locals favorites are the varied tapas, the crab quesadilla, and the steamed mussels and oysters. They also make their own home-brewed beer and ale. Closed Mondays.

 

Bay Wrap (close to Chase's Daily)

Main Street

Belfast, ME 04915

(207) 338-9757

 

Alexia's Pizza

29 Main Street

Belfast, M 04915

(207) 338-9676

 

Scoops & Crepes

35 (lower) Main Street

Belfast, ME 04915

(207) 338-3350

Fabulous ice cream, crepes and a limited daily menu.

 

Dockside Family Restaurant

30 Main Street (overlooking harbor)

Belfast, ME 04915

(207) 338-6889

 

Penobscot Bay Inn

192 Northport Avenue

Belfast, MR 04915

(207) 338-5715

 

Dos Amigos

144 Bayside Rd. (U.S. 1), 3 miles south of Belfast,

Northport, ME

(207) 338-5775

Fodor's Review: This great Mexican restaurant is much larger than it looks from the outside. Its multiple rooms are nearly always filled with people enjoying good food and drinks at reasonable prices. It has both indoor and outdoor dining.

 

Seng Thai Restaurant

160 Searsport Ave (Rt. 1)

Belfast, ME 04915

(207) 338-0010

 

Ming's Restaurant (Chinese take-out)

176 Searsport Avenue (Rt. 1)

Belfast, ME 04915

(207) 338-2216

The Penobscot Marine Museum
The museum is dedicated to the history of Penobscot Bay and the maritime history of Maine. The exhibits, artifacts, souvenirs, and paintings are displayed in a unique setting of eight buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings, including two sea captains' houses, and five other buildings in an original seaside village. The exhibits provide fascinating documentation of the region's seafaring way of life. Visit the beautiful Penobscot Marine Museum Store.
www.penobscotmarinemuseum.org

Antiques
Searsport is described as the antiques capital of Maine. There are numerous antique shops in the area and the Antique Mall alone has 70 separate dealers.

Sears Island, the largest uninhabited island off the coast of Maine, is less than two miles east of Searsport. The forested island, a wildlife sanctuary, spans some 940 acres. There are hiking trails on the island and you can walk the 5-mile shoreline perimeter.

Moose Point State Park
Moose Point is two miles west of Searsport. Hike the beautiful trails through woods or along the shore and then enjoy a picnic lunch at this beautiful day use park. Moose Point State Park was featured in the May 2008 issue of Down East Magazine and praised, among other things, for its beautiful views of Penobscot Bay.

Fort Point
Fort Point State Park is about three miles off U.S. Route 1 in Stockton Springs, and named for the point on which Gov. Thomas Pownall established Fort Pownall in 1759. The park occupies a long peninsula with panoramic views of the Penobscot River and Penobscot Bay. On its 120 acres, the park features more than a mile of rocky shore, a tidal sandbar, and diverse habitat for a variety of plants and animals. The park also includes Fort Point State Historic Site and the Fort Point Light Station.
website

Swan Lake State Park
Swan Lake State Park in Swanville is a day use park and offers warm water swimming, picnicking, and a playground.
website

Camden Hills State Park
The park is located just north of Camden, a quintessential New England town featuring shops that are within walking distance of the working harbor. Harbor cruises, whale and puffin watches are available daily. Camden Hills State Park signature location is the scenic vista high atop Mt. Battie where sweeping views of Camden, Penobscot Bay, and surrounding islands await. On a clear day, visitors can see Cadillac Mountain at Acadia National Park. Mt. Megunticook, the highest of the Camden Hills (and highest peak on the mainland) is a moderate climb by foot trail. Other hiking opportunities abound and are well-mapped. Download a trail map.
website

Hiking and Birding
This area is blessed with many wonderful places to hike and watch birds in parks and on conservation land. I have maps and trail guides and can help you plan your days.

Orono Bog Boardwalk
The Orono Bog Boardwalk is a one-mile boardwalk loop trail where you can experience beauty and fascinating plants and animals of a Maine bog. The trail begins at the forested wetland edge in the Bangor City Forest. Along the way, it passes through changing vegetation and environments on its way to the open, peat moss carpeted center of the bog. In addition to the boardwalk, there are 9.15 additional miles of trails through the Bangor City Forest.
www.oronobogwalk.org

Coastal Mountains Land Trust
Coastal Mountains Land Trust is dedicated to conserving lands that significantly benefit the public by protecting the ecological and scenic assets which make life in the western Penobscot Bay region of Maine so special. Website calendar lists lectures and outings (guided nature walks, bird watching, etc.)
www.coastalmountains.org

Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition
BBWC is a group of organizations and individuals working to support conservation and stewardship of natural, scenic, historic, and public access resources of local lands and water. Join them for an educational program or workshop, or for one of their weekend outings as they explore wild places on foot or on water. For more information call 338-4427 or 338-1147.

Birdsacre: Stanwood Wildlife Sanctuary in Ellsworth is dedicated to preserving the home and vision of pioneer ornithologist-photographer Cordelia J. Stanwood. Hike a network of trails winding through the 200 acres of woodland, visit Stanwood Museum, the house built in 1850 where Cordelia was born and lived, and see the rehabilitated owls and hawks that now call the Sanctuary home.
www.birdsacre.com

Kayaking
Enjoy the beautiful, unspoiled woods, lakes and waterways from your kayak. There are many places to paddle in mid-coast Maine. New and experienced kayakers will enjoy the calm waters of the bay or the excitement of the seas - www.mainekayakrentals.com

Sailing

• Sail Penobscot Bay on a 40 ft. wooden ketch - www.searsportcharters.com
• The Maine Windjammer Association offers sailing adventures aboard some of the most beautiful tall ships in the world - www.sailmainecoast.com
• Day sailing and charters, Belfast - www.sailbelfast.com
• Sail out of Belfast on the FRIENDSHIP SLOOP AMITY - www.friendshipsloopamity.com
• Take a day trip to Castine on the GOOD RETURN and watch Captain Melissa pull in lobster traps - www.belfastbaycruises.com
• Experience Penobscot Bay on CHIMERA with all day and overnight cruises - www.penobscotbaycruises.com

Golf Courses (open from Mid-April to mid-October)

• Searsport Pines Golf Club
• Streamside Golf Club in Winterport
• Bucksport Golf Club
• Country View Golf Club in Brooks
• Northport Golf Club

Galleries and Museums
Fine art, pottery and artistic photography are displayed and offered in wonderful galleries throughout the Mid-coast area.

• Belfast Area Chamber of Commerce - www.belfastmaine.org
• The Farnsworth Art Museum and Wyeth Center - Nationally recognized collection of American art in elegantly appointed galleries. The Wyeth Center exclusively features the works of America's first family of art .
• Art Coast Maine
• Owls Head Transportation Museum - Landmark collection of automobiles, motorcycles, bicycles, carriages and engines is open year-round and offers many special weekend events.
• Center for Maine Contemporary Art , Rockport - www.artsmaine.org

Theater & Music Concerts

• The Belfast Maskers present live theater year round - www.belfastmaskerstheater.com
• The Alamo and Colonial theaters present everything from the newest releases to silent movies.
• Marsh River Theatre offers live music from bluegrass to "grand ole opry".
• The Bay Chamber Concerts in Rockport offer year-round concerts by award-winning international artists - www.baychamberconcerts.org
• Kneisel Hall Chamber Music School and Festival, Blue Hill - Friday evening faculty chamber music concerts - www.kneisel.org

Fort Knox
Explore the ramparts of this restored fort built in 1844 to protect the northern border between Maine and New Brunswick. Troops were garrisoned there during the Civil War and the Spanish- American War. "Nary a shot was fired".

Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory
The most unique bridge with its 420' observatory tower where you'll be able to view (on a clear day) from Mt. Katahdin to Stonington to Mt. Desert Island and possibly the Presidential Mountains. Entrance is thru Fort Knox. Rates and other information can be found at: www.penobscotnarrowsbridgeandobservatory.info

Lighthouses
There are 28 lighthouses in the mid-coast area including Fort Point Light and Bell Tower in Stockton Springs. Many of these are within an hour's drive of Searsport.

• Guide to Mid Coast Maine Lighthouses
• Islesboro
• Rockland
• Stockton Springs
• Camden
• Owls Head
• Port Clyde
• Bristol
• Monhegan Island
• Pemaquid Point Light

Wineries

• Tour the Winterport Winery specializing in fruit wines - www.winterportwinery.com
• Tour Cellardoor Wineries and sample their superb, unique wines - www.mainewine.com
• Barlett Maine Estate Winery on the Schoodic Peninsula is home to the best, most sophisticated fruit wines in the country for more than twenty years - www.bartlettwinery.com

Leaf Peeping, Blueberry Barrens and Cranberry Bogs
Drive the back roads in autumn and discover all the different shades of red, it is a tapestry of colors. Enjoy picking apples, blueberries, strawberries and cranberries in the orchards, barrens, fields and bogs throughout the season.

Blue Hill Peninsula - A delightful area of eclectic artisans, quaint working seaside villages and breathtaking Cape Rosier with the beautiful, unspoiled Holbrook Sanctuary and its numerous hiking trails.

Acadia National Park Drive - hike, bike or ride horseback to enjoy the scenic beauty or this national treasure. A distant part of Acadia, Schoodic Peninsula is an exquisite rocky beach where you can sit on the giant boulders surrounded by the crashing waves of the Atlantic. Whale, Seal and Puffin Cruises transport you to the islands and natural waters these shy creatures call home - www.barharborwhales.com

Boothbay Botanical Gardens - 248 waterfront acres, beautiful gardens, trails, sculpture, and more - mainegardens.org

SPECIAL EVENTS

• Memorial Day Weekend - The Penobscot Marine Museum opens for the season. This unique museum is actually a townscape of historic buildings. Every Wednesday the museum hosts a tea and talk on a variety of topics.
• Independence Day - Searsport. Experience an old fashioned parade, barbecue, crafts, antique auto show, and the grand fireworks finale over Penobscot Bay at dark.
• Belfast Arts in the Park, July 11 and 12, 2009
• Third Annual Celtic Festival, Belfast, July 17, 18, 19, 2009 Belfast Celtic Festival www.mainecelticcelebration.com
• Third weekend in July - North Atlantic Blues Festival in Rockland is one of the more prestigious festivals on the East Coast featuring many popular blues performers.
• First weekend in August - Maine Antiques Festival, Union Fairgrounds, Union. Maine's largest show with hundreds of dealers features a wide assortment of antiques and collectibles.
• Third Saturday in August - Lobster Boat Races, Searsport, the last leg of the race which takes place up and down the coast through the summer. Feast on local seafood specialties, delicious barbecue, home-made pies and other goodies.
• Last week in August - National Folk Festival in Bangor. Celebrate the richness and variety of American culture through music, dance, traditional crafts, storytelling and regional foods. Enjoy blue grass harmonies, blues guitar, Cajun, Zydeco, Celtic fiddling and much more.
• Last week in August - The Union Fair and Maine Wild Blueberry Festival in Union are among the oldest and most popular of the state's agriculture fairs. The Wild Blueberry Festival has been featured on the Food Television Network.
• Second weekend of September - Fiber College on Penobscot Bay. Casual outdoor learning and pleasure for fiber enthusiasts of all levels. 40 classes in spinning, weaving, knitting, beading, needle arts, quilting and more. Free demonstrations, evening events, and artist in residence.
• Third weekend in September (Friday, Saturday and Sunday)
• The Common Ground Fair in Unity offers something for everyone in a traditionally festive atmosphere. Fairgoers can visit farmers and their livestock, eat delicious Maine-grown organic foods, enjoy music and entertainment, and discover a wide variety of wares from vendors of Maine-made crafts. www.mofga.org
• Weekend after Columbus Day in October - Fling into Fall in Searsport. Starting with a costume parade and bonfire, this two day event includes hay rides, church suppers, scarecrow festival, window and sidewalk art, food and craft fairs and lots of music.