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Restaurants
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Lobster rolls
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Shopping
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Lighthouses
Trailheads
Activities
Worth the drive
From Lauren —
A mix of our personal favorites and places our guests have loved. Sorted closest to the inn first. Tap a category to filter, or hit “Open map” above to see everything on a map.
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Fresh & Co
We’ve been — the crab bisque is outstanding, mains were delicious, and the cheesecake dessert was to die for. Tucked right next to the harbor with great ambiance. Dinner only Tue–Sat.
☕
Zoot Coffee
Our go-to coffee spot — super cute, good seating, great espresso drinks, and snacks. Perfect for a slow morning or a working session. Open 7 days.
📚
Owl & Turtle Bookshop Café
Beloved Camden institution — excellent coffee, cozy café, and a wonderful independent bookshop all in one. Two floors of books including a charming children’s section upstairs. Closed Mon & Sun.
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Vintage Room
Rooftop bar at 16 Bay View with stunning harbor views. Known for happy hour 5–7pm and craft cocktails. One of the best spots in Camden for an evening drink — go for sunset.
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Sea Bags
Bags and accessories handmade from recycled sailboat sails — literally a way to bring the harbor home with you. Right on Main St, beautiful nautical designs, every piece is one of a kind.
🥐
French & Brawn
A Camden institution — fresh pastries, giant cookies, outstanding deli sandwiches, and quality groceries. Right downtown, open early. Our guests stop here constantly.
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Mosaic
One of the closest restaurants to us and we eat here often — dine in or takeout. Mexican-inspired with tacos, paella, street corn, churros, and a great spicy margarita. When the baja fish tacos are a special, get them.
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Long Grain
We eat here as often as we can. James Beard Award–winning chef — the best Thai food we’ve ever had. Call ahead for reservations. Closed Mon & Sun.
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Cafe Louis / Costa Media
Costa Rican-inspired small plates and nightly specials — practically across the street. Cozy, intimate, consistently good. Closed Wed & Thu.
🥗
Mixed Greens
We’ve been — perfect for when you want a great salad (not a boring one). Fresh, creative, great value. Lunch only, year-round.
🌿
Winona’s
A 20-seat gem — every dish extraordinary, every detail intentional. Reserve well ahead. One of the best meals you’ll have anywhere in New England. Chef Devin cooks right in the dining room.
🥪
Camden Deli
A personal favorite — great lobster rolls, outstanding sandwiches, baked goods, and harbor views from the upstairs windows. One of the most reliable spots in town. Open daily year-round.
🥤
The Smoothie Shack
We’ve been — delicious smoothies and fresh salads from a walk-up window. Light, easy, and really good. Open May through summer. Pickup only.
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Paper Plane
Tiny craft cocktail bar right on the harbor — one of the best in Maine. Guests almost never find this on their own. Go early, it fills up. The owner is serious about high-quality cocktails.
🍻
Lucky Betty’s
A funky neighborhood bar — candlelight, good music, genuinely local crowd. Garage doors open to the patio in summer. Sun–Wed only (closed Thu–Sat).
🍦
River Ducks Ice Cream
We just had this and it’s amazing. Outdoor ice cream stand right by the river with a lit bridge and waterside seating. Guests walk here after dinner all summer. Cash only. Generous portions.
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The Smiling Cow
A Camden flagship — family-run since 1940, right on Main St. Maine-made gifts, homemade fudge, apparel, and local goods. Guests love the harbor view from the back porch. A classic.
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Once a Tree
I’ve been — beautifully made gifts and home goods by local and Maine artisans. Over 300 makers represented. Woodworking, pottery, jewelry, kitchenware. High quality, genuinely unique. Been here 36 years.
🎁
Motifs
A wonderful boutique on the pier at Lyman Morse — clothing, housewares, jewelry, and gifts. Paula, the owner, is a gem and a wealth of knowledge about Camden.
💧
Megunticook Falls
A waterfall that flows right into the harbor — free, beautiful, two minutes from the inn. Easy to miss if you don’t know it’s there.
🦞
Camden Harbor Cruises
Lobstering and lighthouse tour — guests haul traps, learn the history, spot seals. Known as a fantastic experience for families and first-timers alike.
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Schooner Lazy Jack
Captain Gus runs one of the best sails in Camden harbor — knowledgeable, funny, and genuinely wonderful. The sunset cruise is magic. Book ahead in peak season.
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Schooner Surprise
Intimate 6-passenger sail — guests even get to take the wheel. Perfect for a more personal experience on the water.
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Schooner Olad
A beautiful old boat with a wonderful crew. Great for spotting wildlife — porpoises, sea birds, seals. Guests consistently love this one.
🥃
Barren’s Distillery + Restaurant
Known for the best harbor view in Camden. Blue Barren gin is made on-site. Great for cocktails and apps at sunset — the nachos and waterfront patio are guest favorites.
🍕
Cuzzy’s
A Camden institution that’s been here forever. Brick-oven pizza, fresh Maine seafood, great burgers, and daily happy hour 3–6pm. Our guests love it. Upstairs bar has pool, darts, live music, and karaoke on weekends.
🎲
The Munching Meeple
We love this place — spent hours here on a rainy day playing games. Hundreds of board games, long tables, bocce ball, and genuinely great food. Perfect for a slow afternoon or long evening in.
🍺
8 Bells Pub
A proper Irish pub with real soul — whiskeys, hand pies, sausage rolls, and frequent live music. Feels exactly like a village local. Open 7 days. One of our personal favorites.
♟️
Camden Public Library
One of the most beautiful public libraries in the country — great resources, a kids’ play area, and a stunning outdoor amphitheater with harbor views. The giant chess board on the grounds is a guest favorite. Free and open to all.
🏮
Curtis Island Lighthouse
The postcard view of Camden. Short walk from the road to the overlook — a stunning perspective over the harbor and bay. Free and easy, and absolutely worth it.
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Scott’s Place
A little shack in a parking lot that’s been here 50+ years — honest, affordable lobster rolls with no fuss. Our guests love it. Cash only. Closed Sun.
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Graffam Brothers Seafood
Just over a mile — walkable along one of the prettiest stretches of road between Camden and Rockport. Our guests say the lobster roll is all lobster. Outstanding. Year-round.
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Indian Island Lighthouse
Best seen by kayak from Rockport Harbor — a beautiful paddle along the coast. Private island, water access only.
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Freya’s
Rockport village — gluten-free crepes, gelato, and harbor views from the deck. Our guests say the salmon crepe is extraordinary and the pineapple lemon verbena gelato is unlike anything else.
🥾
Camden Hills State Park
Mount Battie trail starts here — the views from the top are unforgettable. Drive up or hike up, both are great. $6 entry. Trail maps available in our lounge.
🍕
American Flatbread
A personal favorite — wood-fired flatbread pizzas with organic local ingredients and creative, unexpected topping combinations. The crust alone is worth it. Quick drive to Rockport.
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The Red Barn Marketplace
A super cute antique marketplace in Lincolnville with two floors of classy finds and real bargains — ceramics, candles, vintage goods, and house-made baked goods. Fri–Sun only.
🎳
Oakland Park Bowling Lanes
A genuine time capsule — candlepin bowling, manual scoring, a jukebox, and an arcade. Doesn’t look like much from outside but it’s charming and a blast. Great rainy day activity.
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Cellardoor Winery
A scenic 10-minute drive to Lincolnville — beautiful vineyard, welcoming tasting room, and grounds worth wandering. Our guests love it as an afternoon excursion. Open year-round.
🍫
Bixby Chocolate
A woman-owned, organic, sustainable chocolate maker in Rockland — Maine-themed flavors, beautiful bonbons, fudge, and a café. Known for the Maine sea salt caramels.
🌲
The Pour Farm
A craft brewery in the woods by a creek — one of the coolest brewery settings our guests have been to. Outdoor fire pits, a deck over the water, really good beer. Fridays only.
🍽️
In Good Company
30 years in Rockland and still one of the most beloved restaurants on the coast. Chef Melody sources everything locally and seasonally. Get the Sweet and Spicy Pepperdews with Goat Cheese off the nibbles menu. Reservations encouraged.
🦞
McLoons Lobster Shack
One of the best lobster shacks in Maine — right on the water in a working lobster village. Our guests say the drive is half the fun. Closes mid-October.
🌱
Primo Restaurant
James Beard Award–winning chef Melissa Kelly runs the ultimate farm-to-table experience — the farm is right on site. Visit the pigs, see the gardens, then sit down to one of the best meals in Maine. Make reservations well ahead. Open May–January.
🌊
The Causeway at Craignair Inn
Fantastic waterfront dining on the St. George peninsula — a natural stop if you’re heading to Marshall Point Lighthouse or hiking the area. Highly rated, great views, great food. Reservations online.
🏕️
The Lost Kitchen
James Beard Award–winning chef Erin French. The only way to get reservations is to mail a postcard in April and hope they draw your card. About 45 minutes away in Freedom, ME. If you can get in, you’ll talk about it for years.
No picks in this category yet — check back soon or ask Lauren and Greg.