The jagged edge of America’s northernmost state on the Eastern Seaboard is a fascinating place to observe both the harshness and the beauty of nature in any season. Rough and sparse, smooth and craggy, nooked and crannied with coves and hidey holes, peninsulas and literally thousands of islands, the pristine beauty here is at times serenely breathtaking, at others, brutally jaw dropping.

The scenery of Maine’s mid coast has inspired many an artist to interpret what they see with brushes and splashes of paint, graphite and charcoal, pen and ink, camera and engraving. With such stunning views, it’s no wonder that Andrew Wyeth was inspired.

Weather and Seasons Change Swiftly.
Locals have a healthy respect for the voracity of Mother Nature and know well how to roll with the changes during her occasionally violent mood swings.

Seasons transition with in time with the calendar. Winter’s white cloak of snow rests upon the frozen landscape from November thru May. Mainers are most efficient with snow, but even they grow tired of shoveling it by March and April. By the time spring blossoms emerge, you can almost hear a collective sigh of relief from locals, as it signals the beginning of warmer weather, and with it, the tourist seasons.

Summer’s warmth is just enough of a taste to make gardens burst with blooms and vegetables during July and August. Crisp greens, locally grown organic fruits and vegetables are a specialty here. The short summer season brings a profuse riot of colors in the garden. Blueberry fields dot the landscape with their tiny blueblack treasures. Short shrubs grow green and dense in the fields within a short drive from town. While green and ripe in the summer, they turn to shades of crimson in Autumn, adding crisp color to the rocky landscape long after the berries are gone. It’s chilly here in the Fall, but worth the effort to bundle up and walk out doors to lay eyes on the abundant beauty.

Autumn breezes blow through in September and October, with daytime highs in the 50-65 range and nightime lows dipping between 35-40 degrees, it’s perfect weather to bring out the colors on Birch, Maples and hardwoods. At night, Scorpio, Orion and the Brothers Dipper seem to recede into a milky brilliance of thick clotted stars in an Elvis velvet sky.

Nature’s Colorbox Resides Here.
The deep woods here are pungent, earthy and real, filling the nostrils with scents so clean and crisp. This is how fresh air is meant to be.

Thick firs, conifers and hardwoods reach out to touch a pale turquoise sky. The heady scent of conifers, firs, juniper and sweet grass supercedes anything one could find in an air freshener. Ferns reach their feathery fronds upward to dance in the dappled light of the trees.



Prussian blue waters dance along shorelines scattered with blue and white mussels and shards of sea glass. Tidal pools, freshwater lakes, and brackish bogs dot the landscape with unparalleled beauty and breathtaking vistas around every bend. Spray salt zephyrs coax nature’s crayons to loosen all bonds and fly, each a tiny magic carpet riding on the cool breath of Autumn. Bring an extra pair of eyes to take in the scenic views that abound at every turn. Bring a back up camera battery because it is likely the first one will tire quickly.

Lobstah, Lobstah, Lobstah!!
O count the myriad of ways to consume it! Whether rolled into a bun, chopped into a nest of greens, tossed into pasta, stirred into a chowdah or boiled and staring up red and whole on the plate, lobsters were once so thick along the beaches it was a staple on prison menus until jailbirds complained about it and industry caught on.

While not found crawling along rocky shores any longer, lobster is still abundant and inexpensive if you know where to look.



Catch the right fisherman on a good day and pay as little as $5-8 apiece for Maine’s most prevalent crustacean. Ambiance is also a crucial factor here. Nothing beats perching on a pink granite boulder, overlooking a confetti sea of floats along the waters of Penobscot Bay. Sans bib, that is. It’s not as tasty if you don’t end up wearing some of it.

Hospitality is the name of the game here.


The mid coast tourist season thrives, even in a tight economy. There are as many options of places to stay as there are things to see and do while one is here. When visiting Maine, B & B’s by far are the preferred way to stay, each offering a myriad of choices in uniqueness, accommodations and price. Each one is different, with owners who’ve come to choose their lifestyle in one way or another. Most chose Maine as an escape, vacationing here, then gradually making the decision to exit the rat race. Some have uprooted from the big cities of New York, Boston and other New England locales, and one from as far away as Scotland.

Four historic inns grace Rockland’s crown. Backed with a strong association, high standards and cooperative competitiveness, these four inns are ready to and willing to accommodate parties large and small. They work together, collaborating to host weary travelers and wedding parties, high teas and seasonal celebrations. The Inns offer combination packages to fit every budget and preference, from Pies on Parade to Schooner packages throughout the season.

So there is much to love about Maine's middle coast. It's a place of stark and stunning beauty of nature and wonderful hospitality. Make plans to visit soon.