Our Camden bed and breakfast is located in the center of Camden, Maine village. It is just a short drive away from many central Maine activities and within walking distance of Camden’s featured attractions. The harbor is a "stone’s throw" away, with its fleet of windjammers and bustle of activity. Early risers won’t want to miss the sun rising over Camden Harbor!

Use this vacation activity list as your starting point to plan your Camden getaway. The links below will help you chart your exploration of central Maine’s many wonders.

Recommended Activities

Biking | Day Trips | Fishing | Golf | Hiking | Kayaking | Lighthouses | Museums | Rock Climbing | Sailing | Skiing

Biking

Scenic bicycling routes abound in and around Camden. We have mapped out various trips ranging from a 3-mile local Camden trip to 15-, 20-, 30- and 40-mile trips and more in the region. Maps include specific directions of where to turn, mileage along the way, landmarks and areas of special interest. Maps are available at the Inn. Bicycle Rental is available from Maine Sport Outfitters (207-236-7120), located a few miles south of the Inn on Route 1.

Guided Bicycle Tours - If you are looking for a more organized bicycling tour in the area, we highly recommend Norman Patry and Summer Feet Maine Coast Cycling Adventures. (207-591-5014).

Day Trips

The innkeepers have put together numerous area driving tours and day trips to wonderful destinations like Acadia National Park. A pleasant two-hour drive north, the park contains over 120 miles of hiking trails, pristine lakes, picnic areas, campgrounds, breathtaking sea vistas, coastal shores and pebbled beaches. Other day trip attractions include Port Clyde, Blue Hill, Pemaquid Point, Damariscotta and Belfast.

Fall Foliage Tour
We have mapped out some of our favorite driving and hiking tours that take advantage of the fall foliage. We are often asked when the peak foliage occurs and, of course, it varies from year to year. Below is a chart of historical peak foliage dates and click here for a link to the Maine Department of Conservation which has a page dedicated to the current state of Maine foliage.

Historical Peak Foliage Dates - Midcoast Maine

2000 10/14	2001 10/15	2002 10/19	2003 10/22	2004 10/20	2005 10/19	2006 10/21	2007 10/22	2008 10/18	2009 10/21

 

Fishing

Lake Megunticook, located five minutes from the Inn, offers great freshwater fishing. Local guides will provide all of the necessary equipment and licensing. Ask the innkeepers for information.

Golf

Goose River Golf Course (207-236-8488) is located on Simonton Road on the Camden/Rockport line. Tee off for a leisurely 9-hole game and then kick back in the cozy clubhouse for a "pick-me-up" from the snack bar.

Hiking (at Camden Hills State Park)

Camden Hills State Park is less than 2 miles north of the Inn and has an extensive trail system. Hiking maps are available at the Inn with descriptions of the various trails (distances and time estimates). The Camden Hills State Park and the George’s Highland Path provide some of the most spectacular coastal mountain hiking in New England. Sweeping ocean vistas, rugged coastlines and breathtaking seascapes await and surprise the hiker at every bend. The trails are well marked and maintained, there are plenty of access points and public parking is available at the trailheads.

Kayaking

Kayak rentals, instruction and guided tours are all available in the Camden area. Few moments are as breathtaking as the rising sun over Camden Harbor. An early morning paddle, dodging the moored sailboats and windjammers, is the perfect way to take it all in. Whether you're looking for a sea kayak tour up Maine's scenic coast or a family tour of beautiful Lake Megunticook, the perfect tour is out there waiting for you.

Lighthouses

With its rocky shores and jagged coastline, it’s not surprising that Maine has more lighthouses and beacons than any other state its size. A scenic drive through Mid-Coast Maine from the Hartstone Inn in Camden, down the coast to Damariscotta offers spectacular views of six unique lighthouses. Click here for our Printable Lighthouse Guide.

Museums

Farnsworth Art Museum and the Wyeth Center (207-596-6457). This wonderful museum features works by some of the great names in 18th- and 19th-century art history like Gilbert Stuart, Thomas Sully, Thomas Eakins, Eastman Johnson and Fitz Hugh Lane. The Wyeth Center showcases three generations of this first family of American art with a comprehensive collection of Maine-related artwork by N.C. Wyeth, his son Andrew Wyeth and Andrew's son, James Wyeth. The Farnsworth is located 10 minutes from the Hartstone Inn, in downtown Rockland.

Penobscot Marine Museum (207-548-2529). The museum complex is comprised of many buildings belonging to the original "townscape," including a former sea captain’s home, regional watercraft collections, art exhibits, films and much more. The museum is located in Searsport, about 40 minutes north of Camden.

Owls Head Transportation Museum (207-594-4418). The museum is known internationally for its collection of pioneer aircraft, historic automobiles, bicycles, motorcycles, carriages and engines. It is located 15 minutes south of Camden in Owls Head.

Merryspring Horticultural Nature Park (207-236-4885). This 66-acre park, located 5 minutes from the Inn, features cultivated gardens and preserves of Maine's native flowers, shrubs and trees. The park’s varied landscapes, fields, gardens and arboretum are all connected by a network of trails.

Rock Climbing

Enjoy an afternoon climbing outdoors in Camden Hills State Park with Acadia Mountain Guides. Climb the famous Barret's Cove cliff across from Lake Megunticook. Gear will be supplied.
Email: climb@acadiamountainguides.com Phone: 888-232-9559 or 207-288-8186

Sailing

Schooner Sail
A trip to Camden just isn’t complete without a day sail on one of the many windjammers in the Camden Harbor. We highly recommend the schooner "Surprise" for a 2-hour day trip out into Penobscot Bay. Captain Jack and Barbara offer wonderful hospitality on their 57-foot schooner. With a maximum of 18 passengers (children over 12 years old only), the "Surprise" experience is very intimate allowing passengers to hoist sails and listen to some of Jack and Barbara's sailing adventures. They have some stories to tell! The "Surprise" sails from May to October and snacks are offered during the sail. Visit their website: http://www.camdenmainesailing.com/

Sailboat Charter
Interested in chartering a 1939 Classic 46-foot sailing yacht for the day? Daily and weekly sailing adventures are available aboard the s/v "Viva". Click here for more information.

Skiing

Downhill
Camden Snow Bowl (207-236-3438) offers 10 trails from beginner to expert. It also has the only toboggan chute in the state of Maine, which hosts the U.S. National Toboggan Championships. Night skiing, a tubing hill, group/private lessons, ski rentals, toboggan/tube rentals and snowboard rentals are also available.

Cross Country
There are numerous ideal areas for crosscountry skiing and snowshoeing in the local area. Camden Hills State Park has crosscountry ski trails that extend for miles, winding through forests and up mountainsides. Tanglewood Camp is a short drive from the Inn and offers numerous groomed trails.

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