Breakwater and Marie Reed Park was the absolute perfect place to spend an end of summer Saturday…read moremorning. Just want to say from my experience I highly recommend grabbing some donuts from local Ruckus Donuts and a coffee from a local cafe and enjoying those down here at Marie Reed Park. After that enjoy the sights and make the trek to Breakwater! Parking is simple enough but due to how busy it may get do arrive earlier rather than later. It's a longer trip out to this lighthouse than most you'll come across but that trip is so worth it. Some advice would be to wear appropriate shoes and just be mindful of your steps to avoid cracks and/or tripping. During our walk out and back we spent a good amount of time taking in the views as well as watching for wildlife. Got to watch plenty of seagulls as well as cormorants which the first cormorant we spotted dove down and came back to surface with a fish. It's a little bit of a journey but well worth the effort if you love beautiful views and being by the ocean!

I'm so glad we did this, but it was challenging with our two-year old…read more There are signs warning you that this is not suitable for those with disabilities and that there are uneven rocks and large gaps while walking so you need to be careful. My toddler had a good time playing and exploring but, we ended up carrying her for most of it and it gets pretty windy which she didn't like. It's a unique walk/trail to the light at the end of the breakwater and walking about .7 miles or so on those large slabs of uneven granite was a very cool experience with the water lapping at each side and occasionally splashing. I'm glad we did it - but, be prepared for a bit of a workout.

This was the first of three lighthouse we visited while staying in Camden and this one is probably…read moremy favorite of the three. It's unique in layout and they had a really cute gift shop off to the side. I love the short walk from the parking lot, location, and stairs. It's in the charming Owl's Head town and the drive in was beautiful. Definitely a place to visit if you are nearby and love lighthouses. Worth the effort and you can explore some of the small local towns and have lunch.

I did not see any owls at this state park, and I would think that the windy bluffs are not the spot…read morewhere you'd find one as they seem to prefer quiet areas. However, the views are majestic and entrance is free. There are ways to walk down to the beach, which is rocky as is typical in the region. The lighthouse itself is not regularly open for visitation, but there is a visitor center below it. The amount of trails and things to do is not enormous, but it is a great place to have open to the public to take as a sightseeing endeavor.

You can find the Beechnut Hut at 316 Beech Hill Rd, Rockport, ME 04856, basically at the summit of…read morethe Beech Hill Preserve, a local park at the same address. The Beechnut Hut can be found via a short hike to the top of the bald. There's parking at the entrances (there are at least two) with the shorter next to a small building that's used to process blueberries that grow profusely near the top (I believe the entrance is off of Beech Hill Rd). The star of the Beech Hill Preserve is the Beechnut Hut - this is a stacked-stone building that apparently was used as a Tea Hut (for hunters?) back in the day when it was constructed. It's a beautiful rather Craftsman structure with extended porches, a living roof and stone used for all exterior walls. There are arches, columns, you name it. It's open for specific occasions (there's a schedule during the season posted at the trailheads). On the first day we hiked the fairly easy trail, the building was closed and rather fogged in so we returned via the second entrance a few days later for a clear view - spectacular. This is a wonderful destination for a small picnic (even though there aren't any real tables setup outside of the property) as it's very scenic and the grounds surrounding the Hut are relatively flat - just make sure you carry out anything you carry in (there are no bathrooms that I saw).

This memorial is both aesthetically pleasing, offers a great view of the harbor(s), and has an…read moreinteresting story behind it. The overall site is fairly accessible (other than the tower, which is a staircase only). The price to get up the mountain via vehicle is a little expensive per person (it would make more sense to pay per vehicle). It left me a little bit wanting from the experience. I imagine coming by hiking trail is more satisfying.

You can find the Mount Battier WW1 Memorial Tower at 280 Belfast Rd, Camden, ME 04843 right off of…read moreUS1 (It's called Belfast Rd in this stretch between Camden and Belfast). If you ride up to the summit there's parking near the top to access the Tower. In a recent visit we hiked Camden Hills State Park - the Tower is the prize when you you hike from the trailhead to the summit. The path of least resistance is to drive up and walk up to the summit. On the day we hiked the views were obscured by fog but we came back several days later and drove up for really spectacular views of the coast. The air here is very clean and the surrounding hillside primal - combined with the stone, arched tower it gives you a sense of what it feels like atop similar Medieval edifaces that have survived in Europe. Stairs get you from the arched double-entry to the top - it's a great vantage point to view the surrounding areas. As implied the tower is a historic marker devoted to those who fought or were involved during World War 1, especially local residents. There's more information on various signage and plaques - excellent learning opportunity enhanced by the very solid structure.

The Knox Museum is a true historical gem, not only for the small town of Thomaston, but for the…read moreentire state of Maine. The museum does an OUTSTANDING job of preserving the memory and legacy of founding father Henry Knox whom - to be frank - I was not familiar with at all (other than the one name drop he receives in the Hamilton musical). General Knox was born in 1750. In 1775, General George Washington chose Knox as his Chief of Artillery. He spent most of the Revolutionary War by Washington's side and following the war, he was chosen to be the first Secretary of War. Knox's Revolutionary War accomplishments include leading the expedition to transfer sixty tons of captured British cannon from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston, directing Washington's famous Delaware River crossing, and taking charge of the placement of the artillery at Yorktown. In 1795, Knox retired to a large tract of land, located in what is now Thomaston, Maine which his wife had inherited from her mother. On this land, they built an elaborate nineteen-room mansion and named it "Montpelier". The original Montpelier was torn down in 1871, but an exact replica was pain-stakenly built in its place in 1929 by the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). The Montpelier Museum now houses many of the objects Knox kept in the original mansion that was donated by his descendants (including Marie Antoinnete's book case which is a whole wild story I'd never heard of before but is worth googling). A really interesting find and amazing legacy that Genera Knox has left behind in coastal Maine. If y'all ever find yourself up there I recommend making a visit! The museum and tour were a highlight of our most recent Maine trip.

It is so delightful to talk to volunteers who are so dedicated to their work. The Knox Museum is a…read morebeautiful building that was lovingly reconstructed and refurnished through tireless work by the volunteers, trustees and donations. We attended the annual Christmas Gala to see the decorations, which were beautiful, but the real fun was learning the stories of the building and its occupants from such enthusiastic volunteers. It was a lovely evening and we will certainly return again.

Due to lack of time this review is solely for the gift shop portion. My wife and I did not have…read moreenough time to fully view the museum but did have time to quickly browse the shop. Considering it's a museum gift shop (I feel like typically they can be a huge miss) this one was pretty solid. They have postcards of artworks on display, puzzles, lots of things for kids, and more. Definitely worth a browse speaking as someone who did not visit the museum itself, although I would return to check out the actual museum again. Staff of the gift shop were friendly!

I assumed this museum was going to be pretty limited, but I was impressed with the variety of…read moreartworks on display. It's more than just the Wyeths; they have classic European artists and early American art. I loved getting to learn more about the local indigenous tribes and see the work of local artists whom I wouldn't otherwise get to see. Some of the art was even a bit risque, which was great to see at a small art museum. Highly recommend taking an hour or so to get lost in the Farnsworth.

We went to the museum today at the request of my son (5y/old) and had a hideous experience…read more The person manning the museum who I conclude is the "Captain" others reference was exceptionally rude to our party (4 adults 1 child). At one point, trembling with rage after chasing my family in his mobility device, he advised my husband, small child, and myself that the $10/pp "suggested donation" was mandatory and due before leaving the vestibule. This was the 4th time he approached me about paying his "suggested donation." I had every plan to pay before leaving but didn't know whether my husband or friends had already paid something and wanted to catch up with them. He followed me and my son around the building to confront me repeatedly. He further accused my family of exploiting his hospitality and screamed at us for failing to pay (we had both assured him we would pay the suggested donation before leaving). The guy is a nut with an anger problem and I can't recommend taking a child. Avoid.

Super cool museum with a great collection of all things related to steam and sail ships. The owner…read moreis a super nice, knowledgeable guy who was welcoming and easy to talk to. Definitely a go to spot if you're spending any time in Rockland or the surrounding areas. A+