Camden, Maine is one of those postcard worthy New England towns. Just a few hours north of Boston it is the perfect place for a quick weekend getaway. We recently took our first post-quarantine road trip up North to the Camden Harbor Inn and it was the best way to reset after months at home. Here are five reasons why you should visit Camden, Maine this summer!
#1 The Camden Maine Scenery
Camden, Maine has to be one of the most photogenic places in all of New England. The quaint harbor, the charming village and the towering hills of Mt. Battie make for a beautiful scene. Camden, Maine has so many delightful hotels to choose from and we chose the Camden Harbour Inn, and our room had an extraordinary balcony that gave us views of all these things, so in the evenings we treated ourselves to a glass of prosecco while we took in the sunset.
#2 Mt. Battie
Mt. Battie is a sight to be seen from below, but wait until you drive or hike up the mountain itself. You access Mt. Battie can via a toll road just minutes from downtown. For $6/out of state adult you get full access to the toll road, the mountain and all its hiking trails. We decided to drive up the toll road so we could easily enjoy the views. The views from the top of Mt. Battie are just breathtaking. You can see Camden harbor, the town and the surrounding wilderness with ease.
And I am so glad we brought our Wicked Dog Apparel! This Boston brand has some really cool t-shirts, sweatshirts and face masks that are exactly what you’ll want to wear all summer long on your adventures around town or by the water! And their new 4th of July t-shirts were just the thing for a day of checking out the views from Mt. Battie!
#3 Natalie’s at Camden Harbour Inn
Natalie’s is the fine dining restaurant at the Camden Harbour Inn and it is reason enough to make the drive up to Camden, Maine all on its own. Starting with the breakfast service, each inn guest is treated to a complimentary gourmet a-la-carte meal. There are things like lobster Benedicts and goat cheese omelets on the menu, so you really can’t go wrong!
And then in the evenings, the experience is taken to a whole new level with their signature lobster tasting menu. Summer in New England requires lobster and Natalie’s honors this versatile ingredient by creating some of the most innovative and tasty dishes we have ever had.
Lobster steamed bun Lobster bisque Grilled lobster & corn risotto Grilled peach dessert
Their current menu starts with a lobster salad, then moves onto some amazing lobster steamed buns, then a classic lobster bisque, and for a main they are doing a grilled lobster with a corn risotto and for dessert I went with their grilled peach dish. The relaxed but chic ambiance, impeccable service, and perfectly executed food makes for an amazing experience. And when all that is combined with the 180-degree view of the harbor and the mountains, what more could you ask for?
#4 Schooner Surprise in the Camden, ME Harbor
You can’t come to Camden, Maine and not get out on the water. Our favorite way to do that is by taking a cruise with Schooner Surprise! We liked it so much when we sailed with them in 2018 that we knew we just had to do it again this time. They offer day sails, sunset sails and private charters.
The sails are two hours long and you can bring food and drinks with you for a little picnic on the water. The historic schooner is immaculately cared for and the crew are so knowledgeable about the area and love to tell you all about Camden, Maine. An afternoon on the water is the perfect activity before dinner. We rode on their 4pm sail and it was such a blast, we’re already thinking about when we can make it up to Camden, ME again!
#5 Camden’s Fresh Air
There is something about an ocean breeze that cures all. After being stuck in Boston for so long during the quarantine, we knew we wanted to drive up to Camden, ME for our first trip when it was all over. The beautiful scenery, wonderful atmosphere and the constant light ocean breeze reset and refreshed us. Since our visit, Maine has implemented some new travel restrictions and guidelines and we will be putting together a whole blog post on what those are and how you can still responsibly travel to the state so stay tuned!
For more ideas on summer trips to Maine, be sure to read all about our trips to Portland and Tops’l Farm!