The Amiable Traveler - Guide to a Getaway in Boothbay Harbor, Maine
The Amiable Traveler Guides - Follow along with the Amiable Traveler Guides, if you, like me, enjoy pleasant travel with companionable people, the comfort of distinctive lodgings with thoughtful touches, seek out good baked goods and restaurants with quiet views, enjoy spending the day in nature but want a good meal and a comfortable bed at the end of it, like carefully curated shops run by cheerful shopkeepers, and like knowing the inside tips before you travel. Based in New England. Explore my day trip and getaway guides to the New England states. Exploring farther whenever possible!
Midcoast Maine has become one of our family’s favorite summer vacation spots, since moving to New England fourteen years ago. Roughly described, this would be the stretch of Maine coastland between the towns of Brunswick (on the south end) and Camden (on the north). And Boothbay Harbor has been our specific destination on several occasions. We are drawn to its gently bustling harbor full of small craft, its quiet walks down roads graced with shingled and clapboard homes, the views of the blue water at every turn, and a good variety of dining options at the end of the day.
Here is the broad picture of this trip:
Location: Boothbay Harbor, Maine
Traveling By: car
Lodging: The Sparrow’s Nest rental
Season: late spring; June 1-3
Duration: three days; two nights
Plans: utter relaxation
Fun Stops Along the Way - One of the advantages of traveling by car is the ability to stop on a whim, or to research in advance all the unique places to stop along your route and then make that happen. I enjoy both! On the drive up the coast of Maine, we stopped twice, in Portland and in Wiscasset.
In Portland, Maine, our destination was the dazzlingly curated home store, Blanche + Mimi. It holds an artful mix of new and antique pieces. I like the feel of this store…all the natural textures, the patina, the smoothness of sparkling glassware, the heft of quality. I came away with two lovely, linen towels and an appetizer spoon made from horn.
And then we had hoped to have lunch at Duckfat, which is a must-eat destination whenever we are in Portland, but it was closed mid-week at the time of year we were there. It left us pining for it’s savory sandwiches and crispy French fries (fried in duck fat). Highly recommend!
In Wiscasset, Maine, we always, always stop at Treats, the local bakery. We studied the tempting baked goods and discussed what we wanted to take with us to our rental…finally deciding on two hunks of Chocolate Cinnamon Coffee Cake. It was so good that we returned the next day for more, only to find that it was now Chocolate Cinnamon Coffee Cake with Coconut and Rum-Soaked Cherries (be still my heart!). And we also bought two brownies, because the brownies at Treats are the best we’ve had anywhere…ever! If you have a favorite at Treats and want to be assured it’s not sold out, you can call ahead and order. Most handy.
Just a few doors down from Treats is a jewel of a stationery shop called: Rock, Paper, Scissors. As all the best shops, it has a shop dog…Lucy, a Great Pyrenees. It’s an excellent place to stock up on unique cards, journals, pens, and more. I added to my collection of wrapping paper.
Wiscasset, named the Prettiest Village in Maine, is a great place to explore. The town is dotted with charming antique shops. And probably the town’s biggest attraction is Red’s, where the line for lobster rolls stretches down the block.
Lodging: Twice now, we have stayed at the Sparrow’s Nest AirBnB in Boothbay Harbor. The incentive for this trip was to return there, because we know it to be utterly relaxing and the most charming and well-appointed vacation rental we’ve experienced in the U.S. This is not a sponsored post. I just believe in rewarding and promoting excellence when I experience it, and it really doesn’t get better than this! Would you like a tour?
Truly, the kitchen is the heartbeat of this little cottage nested next to its owner’s property. It’s light and airy, just as you want in a summer beach house. I love the whoosh of the breeze through the sliding glass door at one end and past me to the window looking out on green foliage. From the retro-refrigerator to the new, Italian range (what a thrill to try that out!) to the farmhouse sink, it just lacks for nothing.
Details are everything to me, because I think when you get the details right, the big picture falls into place. And this vacation rental gets all the details perfect! I love opening the kitchen cupboards and drawers to find everything I could possibly need…corkscrews, appetizer knives, a bowl small enough for a few olives, good balsamic vinegar, an omelette pan, and so much more.
It sleeps three people, two downstairs in the queen bed and one upstairs in a double bed. Also upstairs is a charming sitting area, where we snuggled up on the daybed at night and watched movies.
What to Do - Our desire for this trip was to just relax. We enjoyed our time at The Sparrow’s Nest…reading, watching movies, sleeping late, cooking and enjoying good food, sitting by the Solo fire pit in the evening and watching the sunset. (I should also mention that it has an indoor and an outdoor shower…bliss!) We would’ve been happy to spend our entire time just relaxing here.
I highly recommend taking long walks along the road. There are views of well-maintained homes and of the water beyond…boats bobbing at anchor. In early-June, the lupines were in bloom everywhere.
For the second summer in a row, we have been foiled in our attempts to go for a sail by inclement weather. We appreciate the people at Schooner East Wind out of Boothbay Harbor for their willingness to work with us, even if the weather is not cooperating. Some day!
I spent an hour or more happily searching out all the nooks and crannies of the Wiscasset Antiques Mall. It is one of my favorite places to antique in Maine. Two floors and a basement are packed with treasures from seashells to ironstone. A “don’t miss” for antique lovers.
If, like us, you find yourself caught in rainy day, Sherman’s Maine Coast Book Shop is a great place to pass the time while waiting for the storm to past. It has a great section of books of local interest.
One morning, we stumbled upon the Boothbay Harbor Farmer’s Market. We strolled around the grassy green, meandering from vendor to vendor. It happens Thursday mornings from May until end of harvest.
Where to Eat - Boothbay Harbor has many fine restaurants and smaller establishments. We mostly cooked for ourselves, but we did enjoy an extremely fine meal at The Thistle Inn. I have heard that it closed business shortly after we were there, but watch to see if it reopens. Truly exceptional food served in the New England ambience of a rustic, historic barn.
From a previous trip, we can highly recommend Ports of Italy in Boothbay Harbor. We thought the wood-fired pizza was excellent. But we mostly recall the exceptional service and being made to feel truly welcome, which I think is an excellent memory to have of a restaurant.
For good coffee, hot chocolate, and pastries, we recommend Red Cup Coffeehouse. Always good. Always great service.
What to Pack - Casual clothes for layering, plus something nice for dinner. The weather can be chilly in early-June (overnight temps in the 40’s when we were there). I recommend: lightweight sweaters, t-shirts, jeans, maybe a pair of shorts, definitely a lightweight raincoat and/or windbreaker jacket, sneakers, sandals, hat, sunglasses.
Favorite Memories from this Trip
cooking on the Italian stove at The Sparrow’s Nest
slow mornings over tea and coffee cake
walks along the shore
the glorious sunset as we sat by the fire pit (also saw a bunny hopping about)
the luxury of not rushing
The image below is handy for your Pinterest travel boards, so you can reference it for your own trip to midcoast Maine. Happy travels!
