Midcoast - Maine Real Estate | Jennifer LeBow, Realtor

MidCoast features some of the most iconic areas of Maine. When you picture beautiful little (working) harbors full of lobster boats, pleasure boats and sailboats surrounded by quaint villages, you are thinking of MidCoast Maine. Lots of restaurants, including several vying for the title of best lobster roll, are located in towns like Damariscotta, Camden, Wiscasset (where the line of people will identify the location of Red’s Eats), Boothbay, Rockland and Belfast. There is much more than lobster rolls, though! The focus on food that began in Portland has definitely spread north and you’ll have some wonderful choices for meals. Farmers’ markets abound here, as well. Route 1 connects many of these coastal towns, so the eastern section of this region does not feel as remote or unpopulated as many others in Maine.

MidCoast villages offer incredibly scenic streets perfect for strolling and window shopping. You will find an emphasis on locally made pottery as well. If you are looking for activities on the water, consider going on a whale-watching excursion or a windjammer cruise. This region is the center of the original Maine art scene. There are museums (and some lovely old theaters as well), but one of the unique places here is Monhegan Island. It became an artist’s colony right around the turn of the century and well-known residents include Hopper and Wyeth among many others. It makes for a great day trip, and the 2 mile trip from shore is a terrific activity in itself.

Popham Beach is a popular destination for people who want to spend a day playing on the beach. The more inland towns, like Lincoln, Washington and Brooks have more of a rural feel and definitely fewer tourists! Kayaking, cross-country skiing and hiking are popular here. Reid State Park is a great place to enjoy the scenery with lots of different trails to choose from. There are also smaller state parks sprinkled around Midcoast even along the waterfront towns. If you’re looking for something different, try a tour of Bath Iron Works, in Bath, where the largest military ships were (and still are) manufactured. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the fabulous Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay. This garden is truly spectacular and not like others you may have visited.
The very southern portion of MidCoast includes Brunswick and the Harpswell islands. Please scroll down for a more in-depth description of this area.

For more information, visit:
https://visitmaine.com/places-to-go/midcoast
https://www.liveandworkinmaine.com/maines-regions/midcoast/
https://travelmidcoast.com/

Places to go, things to do:
Maine Maple Sunday
Great Schooner Race
North Atlantic Blues Festival
Maine Lobster Festival
Damariscotta Pumpkinfest and Regatta
All Roads Music Festival
Union Fair and Antique Show
Brunswick Guild Crafts Show
Music on the Mall
Camden Windjammer Festival

Largest towns and cities:
Bath/Phippsburg Belfast
Boothbay/Boothbay Harbor/Southport
Brunswick/Topsham
Camden/Rockport/Lincolnville
Damariscotta Region
Harpswell and the Islands
Georgetown/Arrowsic
Rockland/Thomaston/St. George Peninsula
Searsport
Wiscasset

For more information, visit:
https://www.midcoastmaine.com/explore-the-region
https://www.liveandworkinmaine.com/maines-regions/midcoast/
https://visitmaine.com/places-to-go/midcoast/
https://visitmaine.com/places-to-go/midcoast
https://travelmidcoast.com/

Brunswick & Harpswell (including Great, Orrs and Bailey Islands)

Brunswick, the college town immediately to the north of Harpswell, is a “big” small town. Geographically, it does not cover all that much land, but, due to the college and the (now repurposed) Naval Station, the services, restaurants, shopping, culture and community-sponsored events and activities make it seem like a larger town. The population tends to be a little more sophisticated than in more rural areas, but still very down-to-earth and practical. Speaking of practical, Brunswick is accessible by train directly from Portland, which makes it very accessible.

Annual events like the Bowdoin International Music Festival, the Brunswick Art Festival and the Thomas Point Bluegrass Festival are well-attended every year. If history is your thing, Civil War hero Joshua Chamberlain’s statue is prominently displayed in town and there is a museum honoring him as well. The home where Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin is on the National Register of Historic Homes and is just around the corner.

Brunswick is home to two summer farmer’s markets; the larger Saturday Market at Crystal Spring Farm and the smaller but very convenient Tuesday and Friday market on the town green. Local foods can also be found at Morning Glory Health Food Store on Maine St. as well as at Wild Oats, which specializes in high quality prepared foods (including soups and frozen as well as fresh items).

Harpswell is located in Casco Bay in the Gulf of Maine. It is made up of Harpswell Neck, Sebascodegan (Great), Orr’s and Bailey Islands. These three large islands are connected to the mainland and each other by bridges. There are also about 200 small islands that are only accessible by boat. There are a few major roads and most of the homes are located off driveways (some longer than others) off of those roads. There are also, especially on Harpswell Neck, some roads that take you to what might be loosely described as neighborhoods. Almost all the properties have a view of water. Boasting 216 miles of coastline gorgeous scenery, a tremendous amount of protected open space and working harbors create the quintessential coastal Maine experience. Harpswell real estate is in high demand by people seeking this sort of lifestyle and who want to live on the water, but do not want to feel too remote.

Heading south from Brunswick on Route 123, you will discover Harpswell Neck. This narrow spit of land offers ocean frontage on both sides and lovely views. Landmarks include the historic Kellogg Church, Patty’s Ice Cream Stand (well worth the visit) and, at the end of a point, The Dolphin. The Dolphin is a much-loved restaurant which even sports a helicopter landing pad. There is also a marina there where many patrons park their boats. Alternatively, you can also head south on Route 24, which will leads to Great Island. You will pass Thomas Point Beach, then Gurnet’s (a great place to pick up freshly caught lobsters and other shellfish) and drive by tidal marshes. Off to the left is the road to Cundy’s Harbor and the tight knit community that precedes it. You’ll also pass the island school before getting to Gun Point Cove, which is incredibly picturesque and eventually crossing onto Orr’s Island.

One highlight of Orr’s is Devil’s Back Trail is a great way to get the lay of the land, with plenty of glimpses of the ocean, as well as forested sections. A community favorite is the Orr’s Island Library which sponsors a huge book fair in the summer that features not only tons of books (including tons of donations) but also includes baked goods and puzzles, games and other items. The Orr’s & Bailey Islands Fire House has also historically held a similar kind of “jumble” sale each summer but with lots of great housewares. Be sure to stop in at Island Candy Company for an ice cream cone or homemade candy. (You’ll notice links to several ice cream places below; nothing beats ice cream in the summer in Maine!) Just before you leave Orr’s to cross over to Bailey, you’ll see H20 outfitters, which rents kayaks and provides water tours of the area. The Saltwater Cafe is also located here.

One unique landmark of the region is the cribstone bridge connecting Orr’s Island to Bailey Island. It is a mortarless bridge made of granite cribstones, stacked to allow the tide to move freely through them. It is believed to be the only bridge of its kind in the world. Once you’ve crossed the bridge, you’ll see Cook’s Lobster House, an icon here for many years. If the weather allows, eating your lobster on the deck lets you enjoy an incredible view of the cribstone bridge and all of the boats moored there. It’s a terrific sunset-viewing spot as well. Continue on the road until it ends, and you will pass the working harbor of Mackerel Cove and then find yourself on a tiny beach with a superb view of the lighthouse and some of the close-by islands. Tidal pools are abundant on the rocky ledges and the waves crash into the shore with plenty of drama. Another great spot to explore ledges and tidal pools is known to locals as the Giant’s Stairs (the rocks are fairly easy to use as steps to navigate down to the water’s edge from the cliff top).