A few weeks ago I spent some time communing with nature on the coast of Maine. It’s easy to see why this is such a popular summer destination. With miles of pristine coastline, endless scenic photo ops, and lobster at every turn, it definitely checked all my boxes for a perfect vacation!
Where to Stay
We went off-the-grid for some phone free relaxation glamping at Tops’l Farm. Read my full review of the experience here. As a NH girl, it always feels good to reconnect with nature. What I loved most about our Tops’l experience was that my friend and I were able to talk and bond without our phones getting in the way. You don’t realize how much technology changes our interpersonal interactions until it’s gone.
If you want to go hard with the unplugging experience there’s lots to do on the farm like archery, foraging, and hiking. And boating and swimming are available a short drive away. We went off campus to explore the surrounding area.
What to Do
For a scenic spot we hit the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse Park, a historic lighthouse compound. You may remember it from my 25th birthday post. There’s a $3 admission fee per person but it’s absolutely worth the cost. The landscape itself is beautiful with a large outcropping of rocks you can walk out on into the ocean. If you’re looking for a classic “I’m in Maine” Instagram, this is where you’ll find it.
You can also tour the lighthouse, visit the park’s art gallery, and eat at one of several seaside restaurants while you’re there. You can actually rent the fisherman’s apartment on the second floor of the lighthouse building. I think that would be an amazing spot for a winter writer or artist’s retreat.
Not too far from the lighthouse you’ll find Glidden Point Oyster Farm. The Glidden team offers tours of the property with tons of cool information about the process. I had no idea that they planted oysters like seeds and then harvested them. When weather allows you can even go out on a boat and pull some out of the water for yourself.
It’s a small, wonderful crew of people that keeps Glidden running. We immediately felt like family. After the tour you get to sample a few of the oyster, literally straight from the water. It’s a one-of-a-kind seafood experience.
To continue what had turned into a gastro-tour, we went to Bixby and Co. in Rockland. They’re the only bean-to-bar chocolate factory in the state, and even better, it’s a female owned company. I love seeing boss ladies live their career dreams! Kate the owner sat down with us to talk about their process. Bean-to-bar means they’re involved in the creation from the harvesting of the cocoa bean straight to the packaged, ready-to-buy chocolate.
You can stop by the factory to see how the chocolate is made and to sample some. They also offer drinking chocolate in a cute cafe area overlooking the water. Don’t be fooled by the industrial setting, Bixby and Co. is a sweet, sweet experience!
For some non-food related fun I recommend vintage shopping in Camden. As evidenced by this super flattering photo of me in a Russian military coat, you can find some really interesting things! We also spotted a to-die-for Dior turban for only $60 and a cool collection of working vintage cameras.
Where to Eat
For the nights when you don’t feel like campfire cooking, restaurant options abound in Coastal Maine. For inclusive eats I can’t recommend Taste of Maine enough. My friend Rebecca is vegan and I was nervous about finding a spot in such a rural area where she’d be able to order anything besides french fries. Get this, Taste of Maine has an entire vegan menu. And it gets better: it’s DELICIOUS. This is coming from a hardcore carnivore, the vegan dishes we had were unreal.
This is a vegan stroganoff that changed my whole view of vegan eating. Somehow without any cream or cheese Taste of Maine made an incredibly creamy, comforting, and savory dish. God’s honest truth, I would go back just to eat the vegan options. BUT, they’re also known for their lobster, including a mammoth 2 foot lobster roll. It’s a great place to please people of all diets. Other notables: it’s a family owned business and the owner, Candy, was a delight to chat with, a wonderful, welcoming hostess. The restaurant is also located on a scenic cove with a great outdoor seating option.
For an urban gastro experience head to Van Lloyd’s Bistro in Damariscotta, about 15 minutes from Tops’l. I was blown away by the quality and innovation of this restaurant. It could’ve been plucked right out of Boston’s downtown. We kicked things off with delicious craft cocktails, I had the Cat’s Pajamas with gin, cucumber, fennel, honey syrup, lemon. And get this, the cocktails are $9 apiece. You can’t get a sip of wine for that in the city!
They catered to Rebecca’s vegan diet beautifully with a gorgeous gazpacho (pictured above) and a plate of greens that I even I was tempted by (pictured below). I had a local cheese plate with some really interesting and tasty flavors, including pickled eggplant. For the main course I had the incredibly fresh scallops, served with spaghetti squash and a lemon-thyme butter sauce that I’m still dreaming about.
On top of the spectacular food, the vibe at Van Lloyd’s is awesome. The owner Meredith was gracious and lovely, and actually spent a good part of the night cooking (the sign of a true restaurateur!) Whether you come for a full dinner or just for cocktails and appetizers, it’s absolutely worth a trip. Van Lloyd’s is a refreshing slice of urban gastronomy with the cozy, friendliness of rural Maine.
Good for a day, a weekend, or a month, Coastal Maine has food, entertainment, and lodging for every taste. There’s so much to see and do you could fill up your itinerary completely, or you can relax by the water and unplug from reality. Either way, you’ll never be hungry!
Please note: I was provided with complimentary goods and/or services by the above businesses. That said, all views expressed are my honest opinion.
Omg that gazpacho is soooo pretty!