The Midcoast of Maine is one of the state’s most beautiful areas. It is known for its quaint harbor villages, light houses, rocky coastline, offshore islands, bald eagles, seals, and lobster boats. If you want to see it all, you need to leave the mainland and venture out into Penobscot Bay which is considered one of the best cruising bays in the world…truly a boater’s dream.
Last summer my husband and I spent a long weekend on the Midcoast of Maine visiting the towns of Rockport and Camden. There was so much to see, do and experience that we knew we would be returning often. While on that trip we got a bird’s eye view of the area in a biplane…a truly memorable experience.
This time, we were invited to the quaint town of Rockport by friends that welcomed us into their beautiful home on the harbor. The first day was spent visiting the Center for Maine Contemporary Arts (CMCA), browsing the shops in Camden and then dinner and conversation. We awoke to the sound of lobster boats in the harbor. When we looked out our window, we saw a lobster boat directly below pulling their traps.
After breakfast, we left our friends’ dock to enjoy a cruise on Penobscot Bay.
Our route took us through well marked passages between the many islands, some of which have small villages that are serviced by ferries, mail boats and air.
The harbors are lined with commercial and pleasure boats of all sizes.
Our destination was the town of Stonington on Deer Island for lunch at a popular waterfront restaurant. The town is everything that you would expect from a small fishing village that is also frequented by tourists. There are a couple of restaurants and clothing stores, and a small art gallery. The local ice cream shop seems to be very popular as well as the old library where you can sit on a bench outside to use their free Wifi.
After leaving Deer Island, I saw something totally unexpected and I’m sure is not seen by most visitors to the area. Look closely at the two peaks in the photo below.
The peak on the left has an American flag mounted on top…nothing unusual about that.
But look closely at the peak on the right. Do you see it…an American Bald Eagle is sitting on the peak and he is facing the American flag.
This was such a delightful trip in so many ways. It was totally different from our visit last summer. We enjoyed the quaint harbor villages with their shops and art galleries, the rocky shoreline and offshore islands, seals sunning on the rocks (too far away to photo and have them still look like seals), and a wonderful lobster dinner shared with friends. As a perfect way to end a day of seeing Maine by water, there was the American Bald Eagle standing proudly on the peak facing the American flag.
Back Road Journal 
This looks so lovely. Makes me want to visit!
Hi Kay, I hope you get a chance to visit Maine someday. It is a beautiful state with lots to see and experience. Thank you for your comment.
Amazing pictures and thanks for sharing beautiful coastal Maine with me. The flag and bald eagle picture was wonderful and I do believe the Bald Eagle was reciting the Pledge of Allegiance
Hi Southern, I’m glad you enjoyed the post and photos. I couldn’t believe I got that photo of the eagle facing the flag. Thank you for your nice compliment.
Beautiful pictures of a beautiful state. We are lucky to live in New England with so many wonderful places to visit.
Thank you Judy, for your nice compliment. I’m glad you enjoyed the photos. As you say, we really are lucky to live in New England. There are so many great places to visit and all so different.
What an incredible shot, Karen. Sounds like you had the perfect ending to the perfect day!
Still available for adoption……and as a bonus, I bake the WORLD’S best dinner rolls. Really . I do!
LOL!
Have a wonderful week—I’ll be finishing cleaning up in the garden and preparing for our final trip out west.
Hi Sue, Thank you for your compliment. I was so lucky to get that incredible shot of such a unique happening. There is an eagle that lives at the lake but I never have my camera when it flies by. I have seen photos of your beautiful dinner rolls. That and your great gardening expertise will always have you as # 1 on the adoption list. LOL. I will be finishing my gardening over the next week or so as we are closing the cottage early. Have a great trip out west…I’ll follow along.
What stunning photos my friend, you make me want to buy a sailor suit 🙂
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Hi Uru, I’m glad you enjoyed the photos. I know you would look cute in a sailor suit. Thank you for your nice compliment.
Perfect timing! Heading to Rockport next week! Can’t wait. You’ve whet my appetite even more.
Hi Rosemary, It sounds like my timing was good. Enjoy your stay in Rockport…I know you will have a good time. There are so many good restaurants in the area. Click on the link in the post to read about the ones that my husband and I enjoyed last year.
What a beautiful part of the world. I love the house in the first image. Maine looks like a fabulous place to visit in the summer. The landscape, scenery and architecture is just gorgeous xx
Hi Charlie, Maine is a beautiful place to visit in the summer. The first photo is of the Indian Island light house at the entrance to Rockport Harbor. It was built in the mid 1800’s and is now privately owned.
This looks like a beautiful place and your photos are gorgeous! The bald eagle photo is amazing.
Hi Tammi, Thank you for stopping by for a visit and your nice compliment. I’m glad you enjoyed the photos…I was lucky to get the shot of the eagle.
What a great trip . It looks so sunny and bright and beautiful. That Eagle looks like its straight from the pages of a book
Hi Tania, It was a lovely trip with perfect weather. The eagle was amazing…it was so big. Thank you for your comment.
That was an incredible shot of the bald eagle! How lovely to get that one. It looks like a fun and relaxing trip to Main!
Hi Kelli, Wasn’t that an incredible shot of the eagle…total luck! I truly was a relaxing trip. Thank you for your nice compliment.
Wonderful post, Karen. Your photos are gorgeous. I visited Maine years ago and was so impressed by the beauty of the coastline. I hope to return one day for another heavenly lobster dinner and a look at the ocean.
Thank you Cathy, for your nice compliment. I’m glad that you enjoyed the post and photos. I do hope that you visit the east coast again. We both live near wonderful coastlines and they are both so different. We do have lobster on our coast that tempt a lot of visitors and well as residents. I’ll be tempting you with some lobster recipes in future posts.
What a beautiful part of the country to visit, Karen! As I’ve mentioned in the past, I really enjoy it when you take us along with you on these “little” excursions and today’s is no exception. It is easy to see why you would return to this gem of a coastline.
Hi John, It always makes me happy to hear that you enjoy my trips. Our country has so many great places to visit and I love sharing my experiences with you. Thank you for your comment as always.
Such stunning photos. Spent a week near Camden a few years ago. A week is just too short, would love to return and spend more time, the coast line of Maine is really so gorgeous.
Hi Norma, I’m glad that you enjoyed the photos. The area around Camden and Rockport are great. It is only two hours away from our cottage so it is nice to visit for a few days. I’ll be taking everyone a couple of hours north to see more of the coast of Maine soon. Thank you for your compliment.
What a lovely post–and the eagle!!!! Wow! I grew up on an island with boats all around me from a young age. Makes me nostalgic. And you make us all want to visit Maine!
Hi Victoria, I’m glad you enjoyed the post. I know that you must have wonderful memories of living in Florida. I think that Maine, New Hampshire and the rest of New England is a special place to visit.
Yes! We’ve had the chance to visit friends in Friendship and on Friendship Island a number of times over the years, and there is no place on earth like those Maine villages! Lovely.
Hi Kathy, I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Knowing your love of boating, I’m sure you had a wonderful time in Maine. The small villages are very special. Thank you for your nice comment.
What a beautiful area to explore by boat. Camden Harbour and the fishing villages are certainly very inviting. I can just imagine you all sitting back and enjoying lunch with a view…I wouldn’t want to leave!
Hi Jenny, Camden Harbor is special because of the wonderful schooners that anchor there. There are thousands of miles of coastline in Maine with picture book villages. It is wonderful to visit the area by boat as you get such a different perspective than when visiting by car. My husband and I have been lucky to have seen it by car, air and now by boat…beautiful no matter how you see it.
I can see why you enjoyed your trip so much Karen, so much to see and do and yet all at a relaxed pace. The Eagle looks stunning !!
You are right Claire, the trip was very relaxing even though we did a lot. Some of our favorite trips are just a few days long. The eagle really was special. Thank you for your comment.
My hubby would be in heaven!
Fabulous shots Karen.
🙂 Mandy
Hi Mandy, I think most husbands would be. Actually, a sunny day out on the water IS heaven for most of us. We had a great time. Thank you for you comment.
Karen, the photos are spectacular, and what a treat to see the bald eagle!!! So fabulous!
Thank you Dana, for your lovely compliment. It really was wonderful to see the eagle. Total luck to be able to capture it with my camera. I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
That is so cool that the eagle is facing the flag!! How awesome! I love the water … it can be so relaxing and calming!
Hi Jane, I couldn’t believe it when I saw the eagle on one peak and that it was facing the flag on the other peak. It was an incredible moment that I am so happy that I captured. A day on the water is totally relaxing. Thank you for your nice comment.
What fantastic views!
Hi Chunklet, The views of the coastline of Maine from the water really are great. I’m glad you enjoyed the post…thank you.
Wow Karen!
What a wonderful trip 🙂 Great shots and the place is beautiful 🙂
Thank you Giovanna, for your nice compliment. I’m glad you enjoyed the photos. The Midcoast of Maine really is beautiful, both by land and water.
Amazing and great pictures 😉
Hi Mad Dog, I’m glad that you enjoyed the photos…thank you for your very nice compliment.
Some beautiful photographs Karen of a place I’ve never been but would dearly love to see – & breathe! I almost could with your help here.
Thank you Spree, for your lovely compliment. I’m glad that you enjoyed the photos. Maine is a wonderful place to visit, relax and just breathe.
Fabulous trip! What a great time you had and I love the pictures…especially the first one but not so much the second one (I suffered minor heart palpitations that left me a little breathless and questioning if I could finish reading your post).
Hi Heather, I really had a wonderful time on this trip. I like the photo of Indian Island Light as well. I think it shows what most people think of when you talk about the coastline of Maine. The second photo of our biplane ride was one of the most exciting things I have done.
Stunning photos as always – it’s a bit like mum’s town .. fishing and tourist. Very pretty. Do you know that the American Bald Eagle is a Canadian bird ??? At least what I been told. Pity that you couldn’t get a better close up. Very rare to catch an eagle on the ground. That bird view … I had never manage … so scare of heights when I can see the ground. *smile – a wonderful post again and it was a pleasure to come along.
Thank you Viveka, for your nice compliment. I’m sure that there are lots of little villages in your lovely country that resemble the fishing villages in Maine. The American Bald Eagle is unique to North America. It can be found from Canada and Alaska all the way to the northern portion of Mexico. They are most numerous in Alaska. There is one that lives somewhere on our lake…it flies over occasionally but I never have my camera. I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
Such beautiful country you live in Karen. So fun to see a different perspective.
I have to agree with you Bonnie, New England is just beautiful. It was fun to see the Maine coast from the water…very different than from the land. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Thank you for your comment.
Great shots. Postcard perfect in fact. 🙂
Hi Boleyn, I’m glad that you enjoyed the photos…they do look like a postcard now that you mention it. Thank you for your nice compliment.
What a fabulous trip! I love the quaintness of those villages and lovely buildings. The sighting of the eagle must have been a special moment.
Hi Suzanne, It was a lovely trip. I think what makes New England special are the quaint villages from a simpler time where things really haven’t changed that much. The sighting of the eagle was special…especially that it was perched on a peak opposite the American flag and looking in that direction.
Sometimes I just want to pack it all in and live in our Maine cottage! It’s just so beautiful! Your photos are magnificent, especially the flag/eagle photo! What a shot!!! You should enter it in a contest!
Hi Mary, I know what you mean…I love our simple cottage in Maine. We could never live there full time as it is not insulted and our road down to the lake is too steep to get up when there is snow on the ground. But the time spent in Maine is wonderful. Thank you for your nice compliment about the eagle photo.
Beautiful pictures, how charming!
Thank you Laura, for your nice compliment. There are so many charming little villages in Maine to discover and experience.
This post is exactly what I would expect to see in Maine, it’s simply gorgeous, Karen. Thanks so much for sharing it with us. What an incredible sighting, the Bald Eagle sitting so proudly on the second peak, and appropriately facing the American Flag.
I bet the view from above in the by plane was incredible, I used to love going up in my FILs plane at the cottage, seeing the gorgeously coloured lakes.
Having fresh lobsters would be the ultimate experience in Maine.
Hi Eva, I truly think that this post does reflect what everyone thinks Maine is like. I never get tired of visiting all the small towns and yes…eating lobster. Seeing the area in the biplane was a great adventure. Just as memorable was spotting the eagle facing the American flag. I’m glad that you enjoyed the post. Thank you for your nice comment.
I enjoyed learning more about Stonington — it looks like a charming spot with lovely shops and restaurants. There is so much to explore it Maine!
Hi Barb, I’m glad that you enjoyed the post. Stonington was a lovely little village and the ride through the bay getting there was terrific. Thank you for your comment.
looks like the perfect place to go and relax and have some summer fun! I grew up on the water- we lived on the lake- and all i ever did was ride boats and jetskis,etc. This looks right up my alley! i am loving- it- thanks for sharing the pics
Hi Jessica, If you are a water person, Maine is the perfect place to visit in the summer. I’m glad that you enjoyed the photos. Thank you for your comment.
I just love all of your photos. We vacationed a couple of years ago in Maine and I fell in love with the state. I was fortunate to have spent 3 weeks there, but seeing you photos makes me miss all that Maine has to offer.
Hi Teri, I’m glad that you enjoyed the photos. I’m sure you had a great time on your trip to Maine. Having three weeks must have given you opportunity to see and do a lot. Thank you for your nice comment.
Just a few days ago one of my fave Oz food bloggers asked us for the five places around the world on our bucket lists: the last one of mine was New England during your Fall! Somehow forever a NY gal on our visits from Oz, I have been only as far as Hyde Park etc out of NY, and that in the beautiful autumn months. Your photos are rescrollable for a long time; thanks 🙂 !
Hi Eha, I do hope that you get to visit New England in the fall sometime. Most years the colors of the leaves are spectacular and the weather is wonderful. Cool crisp days when a sweater is appropriate while picking apples is the way I think of it. I’m so happy that you enjoyed my photos. Thank you for your nice comment.
Breathtaking photography! I just love everything about this terrific post, I enjoyed looking at each and every picture! Thanks for posting it!
Thank you Andrea, for your lovely compliment. I’m so happy that you enjoyed the post and photos.
A bird’s eye view of the area in a biplane?? You are really cool Karen, and the area looks fantastic, I love the USA. So many different landscapes! RITA aka RITACOOKSITALIAN
Hi Rita, Glad to know that you think I’m cool. You should have seen me in my leather snoopy helmet…it was a wonderful adventure. Absolutely breathtaking sites from the air. I’m happy that you enjoyed the post and photos.
everything looks outstanding and all the pictures are truly gorgeous ^^
Thank you Trang, for your lovely compliment. I’m glad that you enjoyed seeing the Midcoast of Maine.
These are truly lovely pictures Karen and the places are really very picturesque! I can see why you had such a wonderful time!
Hi Katerina, I’m happy to hear that you enjoyed the photos. Maine is very picturesque, especially along the coast with so many quaint villages. Thank you for your lovely compliment.
So so beautiful! I want to visit it one day!
Hi Angie, I do hope that you get the chance to visit Maine one day. I know you would have a wonderful time. Thank you for your compliment.
Wonderful photos, Karen. I wish I could visit Maine one day…
Thank you Sissi, for your nice compliment. I hope that one day you have the opportunity to visit New England. The area is beautiful..Maine in the summer, New Hampshire in the fall or Vermont and New Hampshire in the winter. You would love it although I can say the same thing about Switzerland.
How picture perfect!!!! That is one wonderful trip. As always you know I enjoy your tours of Maine. It just lives in my heart. 🙂
Hi Kristy, I do know how much you love Maine and it always makes me feel good that you enjoy the tours I take everyone on. Thank you for your nice comment.
I too love this area and small town feeling. What a lovely trip, beautiful photos of your views. That eagle was a great shot!!
Thank you Linda, I’m glad that you enjoyed the photos. It is nice when you can go a couple hours away from where you live and have such a nice and different experience. Thank you for your nice compliment.
What gorgeous views! I could get used to waking up to those views every day!
Hi Ducky, I agree with you about the wonderful views. Maine’s coastline really is outstanding. Thank you for your nice comment.
So pretty. I’d love to see Penobscot Bay – I’ve heard so much about it. I’ve been to Maine but for less then a day – it was a day trip from Boston to go to LL Bean! So I haven’t really seen Maine at all. Someday!
Hi John, I do hope you get a chance to return to Maine…especially since you only made it to L.L.Bean. Even Freeport has so much to offer, other than the outlets. I did a post about it earlier this summer. Thank you for your nice comment.
Wow that just sounds like such a wonderful trip. I’m a little jealous…in a good way of course. 🙂
Hi France, I know what you mean about being jealous in a good way. I follow travel blogs that make me feel the same way. Thank you for your nice comment.
I just love these photos. And I can totally imagine what I would eat on each and every one of those boats lol. I so would love to go on a boat before summer leaves
Thank you Kay, for your nice compliment. I do hope that you get a chance to take the boat trip that you are dreaming about.
So nice Karen…love the pictures, it was like a little virtual vacation…thank you!
Have a wonderful week my dear 🙂
Thank you Juliana, for your lovely compliment. I’m so happy that you enjoyed the photos and that it felt like a vacation. I hope you have a wonderful week as well.
Looks like an awesome way to spend some time. You are definitely living the good life.
Hi Larry, We did have a great time in a beautiful location. I do think we are living the good life and I am so grateful. I think we enjoy life a lot like you do in your little bit of paradise. We are all very lucky!
What beautiful shots! It must have been amazing to see the coast from the air.
Thank you Ladyfi, for your nice comment. It was a wonderful experience to see the coast from a biplane…just beautiful.
You certainly made the most of our little adventure! You did it justice with your camera.
Hi Lulu, It was an absolutely wonderful little adventure. I’m glad that you liked the photos. Thank you very much.
How fantastic! What beautiful pictures of such a beautiful place in this world. Truly spectacular. The bi-plane flight must have been an absolute blast!
Hi Karista, The biplane flight over the harbors of Maine is an adventure that I will never forget. I’m glad that you enjoyed the photos…it really is a beautiful part of the country. Thank you for your nice compliment.
Just coming back from Maine, I concur. It is one beautiful vacation spot. Your images are beautiful of the area you visited. You got great shots off the boat too. I could not master that type of photograph in my short stay. The boat moved way too much and I do not have sea legs! I have a post coming up where I made a book of my Maine photos. You should do that as well.
Hi Donna, Maine really is a wonderful place to spend a summer vacation. There was a lot of motion on the boat but I tried to brace myself and camera as best I could. I do think the photos turned out well considering the movement. My daughter has requested a book of my recipes…maybe I should do one of the photos of Maine as well. Thank you for your nice comment.
Do a book with Maine recipes too. I was actually going to do that in my book, but published it anyway. I can always edit it to include the food too. It just means a lot of cooking of New England dishes for accompanying images. I have the book on my sidebar if you want to get a jump on making yours. It takes you to Blurb and there is a link to click to set up an account to make your own. Easy too with their templates, even though I made mine in Lightroom. I plan to do one totally from scratch in InDesign of the Falls.
I will definitely do that…thanks for all the information. When I was with our friends in Rockport, I saw the books that they had put together. It is a wonderful idea.
What amazing photos…makes me want to visit! I love the photo from the biplane….that had to be a blast! 🙂
Thank you Christina, for your nice compliment. I’m glad that you enjoyed the photos. Flying in a biplane was terrific and the views were incredible.
the bald eagle must have been an amazing sight! Did you hear that Richard Bach was in a flying accident? I always think of him when I read the word biplane 🙂
Hi Tandy, Thank you for your comment. I was thrilled to see the bald eagle…they are such majestic birds. I read that Bach was in an accident but is improving.
Gorgeous. What a stunning place. Stunning shots! And that bird’s eye view, WOW! 🙂
Thank you Carol, for your lovely compliment. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Yes, the bird’s eye view from the biplane was memorable.
Thank you for this laid back trip! I enjoyed it very much & loved the scenery & beautiful houses, boats, etc! 🙂 A lovely post it is!
Hi Sophie, I’m glad that you enjoyed the post and photos. Thank you for your nice compliment.
so beautiful! and such happy pictures! make me want to go there… here is fall and getting cold… have a nice week-end!
Hi Barbara, I’m so happy that you enjoyed the blog. Our weather is turning from summer to fall here as well. The leaves are beginning to change colors and the temperatures are much cooler. Thank you for your nice comment.
Karen, just such gorgeous images. Thanks so much for taking us with you. It really is one of the most beautiful places on earth…
Thank you Celia, for your nice compliment. I’m glad that you enjoyed the photos. Maine is such a lovely place to visit and even more beautiful when you can see it by water.
Wow! Picture-perfect, all around. I’ve always wanted to try a biplane adventure, but I am a little afraid of heights. What was your experience?
Thank you Tatar, for your very nice compliment. I have to tell you that I’m afraid of heights as well. The experience was absolutely fantastic…I had no fear at all because the views and experience was incredible. I would say that if you ever get a chance to fly in a biplane, by all means DO IT!
Thank you! I will definitely try.
Please do…I think it will be a moment in your life that you will long remember. I look forward to your return visits.
When I started reading this post I wondered if you had made it to the other side of the bay . . . then I got to the Stonington part. We rented a cottage outside of Stonington twice. It was such a lovely spot. There is lots of great hiking and art on Deer Island. We went kayaking in the harbour and our guide took us past islands wher the eagles had built their nests – it was so cool to see them!
Hi Jerry, It seems that we like to visit the same places. Seeing the Midcoast of Maine from the water is wonderful. The boat ride to Stonington was terrific and seeing the eagle was the “icing on the cake”. The area is a wonderful place to visit as there is so much to do and appreciate.
Ahhh. We passed through Rockport and did go out on a schooner in Camden. Such beautiful scenery. What a lovely trip!
And seeing the eagle was pretty special…with the flag…a sign?
Seeing the eagle was so special, Besty. If it was a sign…it surely was a patriotic sign.
Hi Besty, I’m glad that you got to go out on a schooner while in Camden. It really is great to see the out islands and the coast from the water.
ahhhh – Maine – “The way life should be!”
FANTASTIC luck seeing the bald Eagle and getting such a cool shot! Wow.
If you haven’t had a chance get up to Camden in the winter – it is very different vibe. I once went down the long rickety toboggan run at the Camden Snow Bowl event!”
Hi Carol, I was lucky indeed to get the shot of the eagle. No I haven’t gone to Camden in the winter. Thank you for your comment.
So now I get it – you are the blogger who visited Lulu Musings!!! Me too!!! We all seem to have a lot in common! Your photos are fabulous! and I am truly enjoying your blog! Happy to have discovered you!!
Thank you Marcia, for your nice compliment. I’m glad that you enjoy my blog. We do have a lot in common…hope to have you visit again.