Spectacular view of Penobscot Bay, the surrounding islands, and the Town of Camden. Well…read moremaintained and clean park, we walked a few of the trails on our visit today. $6 per person for non residents of Maine. That pretty much says it all, a short review, but this is a "must visit" if you are in the area.

I always try to visit a park when I'm traveling. Camden Hills State Park is a must see while…read morevisiting Maine. There is a small $6 fee for entry. You can camp, walk, bike or drive the park. The park guides are very helpful. We went straight to Mt Battie Rd for a beautiful scenic view of Camden Harbor. Penobscot Bay and Megunticook Lake. The views are out of the world! We spent 2 days going in and out of the park to see daytime versus sunset across the bay. We actually had a small picnic while visiting. This was a very calm relaxing experience. I highly recommend especially if you like wandering and hiking in parks. There is two sides to park, so dont forget to drive across the street.

Picture this: you're strolling along a pebbly beach tucked away along the most quintessential Maine…read morerocky coast scene in the world during almost-dusk without a care in the world. It's like something out of Downeast Magazine, but really it's the vibe at Birch Point State Park during the off-season (which is open all year round, and as a Mainer you should really, really check out... I mean, is there anything quite as romantic as the ocean during winter?). I came in autumn and parked along the street outside of the entrance, walked the half mile down the access road, and was greeted by a crescent shaped beach bookended by giant rocks/ledges and small green spaces with picnic tables. I know there's a fee during the height of the season, but there's something really special about being able to enjoy this kind of unadulterated nature sans people in the chilly weather - so bring a sweater, a flask, a book... I'm confused though - there was a handwritten note defacing a park sign at the entrance that said, "Screw you State of Maine for closing this park." I don't know what's going on with that, but I hope it's not the truth because this is gem of spot. It seemed closed only for the season when I came, though that didn't stop locals from walking their dogs here.

Such a relaxing place that you don't even read your book much- just watch the water…read more A Sunday in mid-July was not crowded when we arrived at 1030 but by the time we left at 1, parking was rare and most people were parked on the long gravel drive into the park. The beach is a typical Maine one with dark, packed Sand and lots of seaweed. There's a lot of bugs in the seaweed that will go everywhere if you try to move it. Rocks are on either side of the beach and can make a less comfortable but quieter site. I was disappointed to see a giant pile of poo when we walked in. I think it was from a dog. Please, please clean up after your dog or leave them at home. This is a state park for all of us to enjoy. The water is frigid cold but we saw quite a few swimmers today. There are some grill to the left as you walk in that are shaded. Dogs must be on a leash.

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.

Owls Well That Ends Well…read more State Park that includes a lighthouse, visitor center, and several beaches along the Penobscot Bay. The Good: *Free to visit *The Owls Head Lighthouse is the main draw here and for good reason as it's been in operation since 1825 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. *Gift shop *Picnic tables *Two beaches that are evidently swimmable *Large dirt lot that don't seem too busy *Easy drive over from nearby touristy Rockland The Meh: *If you're not a fan of stairs, then this lighthouse won't be your jam. The Ugly: *If you visit on a foggy day there won't be much of a view. =/ Conclusion: Superb lighthouse at my favorite price.

The Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse is located in the park and to get there, you have to walk about…read morea mile or more on the uneven granite slabs. There's some parts that have gaps, so you have to pay attention. But over all it was an easy walk to the light house. The walk itself was quite relaxing and beautiful. On each side of the pathway, the water on each side are quite different, which makes it beautiful. Once you reach the end, you'll find a lighthouse at the end. You can walk up the stairs of the lighthouse to get a better view. Overall, I really enjoyed this lighthouse and would come back.

The Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse is located in this park. There was ample parking . The…read morelighthouse is located almost one mile our and the walk to get there is not horrible, but you do have to pay attention. You walk along large stones/bolders with gaps in between. However, the views are spectacular. Definitely worth the walk for to experience the views.

This was a backup hike when we realized Camden Hills State Park didn't open until 9am and I wanted…read moreto get an early start. I was in no way disappointed with the hike I got. Bonus, no day use fee here. There is a decent size parking lot and a (mostly) well marked trail. We lost the trail at a couple points - I think mostly due to the amount of leaves and pine needles covering the trail, but we were able to pick it back up eventually. Most of the trail is marked with blue paint on the trees. Well shaded for most of the trail with gorgeous views. Make sure you have footwear with decent grip. Everything was pretty dry even after two days of rain before. It's a quick out and back with a decent elevation gain. On a Tuesday am we saw about 4 other groups on the trail - most with dogs. I am going to assume it might get busy on a weekend but it was a lovely peaceful sunny morning.

I feel the need to preface all of my nature reviews with this: being 90% forested and having around…read more3,500 miles of coastline, Maine has a tremendous amount of spaces, walkways, paths, and trails of all kinds and of all levels. There's something for everyone. What I'm reviewing is how a spot compares to similar outdoor spots in my personal opinion. Being in nature - and remembering to carry in, carry out - is always five stars! :) Parking? Yes. Loop trail? No. Well marked signs? No. Element of surprise? Yes. What an unexpected gem this was! From the placard at the top of the mountain: "at 1,280 feet, Bald Mountain is the fifth highest peak on the eastern seaboard of the U.S. Given the number of its unusual ecological features, Bald Mountain has been designated as a focus area of statewide significance by the Maine Natural Areas Program... the mountain is home to a variety of threatened subalpine plan and lichen species uniquely adapted to extremes of temperature, wind, and precipitation that define these exposed mountain ledges. Given the exposure, shallow soils, and challenge of growing in bedrock cracks, the summits plants are also very sensitive to food traffic. We hope that you will help us care fo the mountain and it's wildlife." Stewardship of Bald Mountain includes: 1. Walk on the established managed trail. 2. Stay on bedrock to avoid vegetation. 3. Do not create or add to cairns (gathering stones on the summit disturbs shallow soil and plants to live around them). The exposed granite ledges are much wider and spacious than I thought they'd be - there's really so much to explore (respectfully) here! Come on a sunny, wind-free day and it's a warm, lovely place to sit and have a picnic. From the top you can see directly across to Little Ragged Mountain and Penobscot Bay, and Camden. It's a quick uphill at 1.2ish miles and there's a few sections with rock scrambles, and due to the thick forest the blazes and trail seem sporadic at times. I met a couple from Vermont at the top and we all agreed it was a little confusing at times (we couldn't entirely figure out where the blue blazes stopped/started at the top for example) - as were the multiple false summits, but honestly that's a positive here, because every time you think "well the view can't get better than this" you hike a bit more - and it does! Absolutely will come back again (especially in the summer when the blueberries are ripe)!

Once again our vacation travels included a visit to this beautifully situated park. Once again we…read morevisited with Andre, the puffins, the kilns and the working harbor. We will be back of this you can be assured.

You can find the Rockport Marine Park in Rockport, ME 04856 - this is the local harbor that…read moreRockport is named after, I believe. There's parking at the park itself of you can park along many of the streets and walk down to the park. We had a short visit to the park to check things out - it's interesting as there are limesone furnaces made of stack granite that still exist behind the park. Seems in the past raw limestone was delivered to the furnaces to "cook" so it would break down into lime (which has various uses, especially for the creation of powdered concrete). The park is fairly small but has some nice views if you're into the water and nautical vessels. There's also a carving of "Andre the Seal" for those interested - supposed to be a children's book but I'm not familiar with it. Not much hiking to be done in the park itself but a nice, fairly quiet place to stop and perhaps eat a bagged lunch.

I feel the need to preface all of my nature reviews with this: being 90% forested and having around…read more3,500 miles of coastline, Maine has a tremendous amount of spaces, walkways, paths, and trails of all kinds and of all levels. There's something for everyone. What I'm reviewing is how a spot compares to similar outdoor spots in my personal opinion. Being in nature - and remembering to carry in, carry out - is always five stars! :) Parking? Yes. Loop trail? Yes. Well marked signs? Yes. Element of surprise? Yes. I think if you lived in this area, you might come here for a nice walk - it offers a network of 4-ish miles of mostly easy trails (blue trail is 1.8 miles, white blaze is 0.4 miles, orange trail is 1.75 miles - I did blue to orange back to blue which allowed me to hike essentially the entire perimeter of the peninsula)! You can also come swimming here; take either the white or orange trails for shoreline access to Megunticook Lake. Balance Rock is one of the highlights of this preserve, it's a gigantic precariously-balanced glacial erratic. Don't worry, you can't miss it. A) There's loads of signs pointing in its direction, B) it really is an enormous boulder just standing erect, C) Lots of people visit here just to come see this, then turn around again (I didn't see another person on the entire trail beyond this). Beyond the swimming and Balance Rock what you'll find here is a long, winding walk through thick Maine forest (mostly pine and hemlock). It's really well marked, and could be great for families and birdwatching. Please note the gates close daily at 7:30pm, there's no dogs, no hunting, no camping, and no bicycles!

If you're in Midcoast Maine in late January/early February, the annual Toboggan Championships in…read moreCamden are a must-do. So fun to watch the competitors, walk out on the ice, check out the vendors and the food trucks, and just bask in one of the pleasures of wintertime in Maine. Dress warmly and have FUN!

Outdoor concert venue during the summer among other things. We went for the free concert put on by…read morethe Camden Opera House. Camden Opera House presents free concerts at the Camden Snow Bowl, 20 Barnestown Road, Sundays in August. Each week features a different genre. BYO picnics and lawn seating. We were there to hear The Gawler Family Band. A local band that plays folk music with a variety of instruments and sing. We enjoyed it but the slope we walked up to sit on had a few very muddy areas so be mindful.

Everything we expected and more! Making reservations was…read moreeasy. Cordial reception. Capt. Taylor was the best made us feel like family. The sail smooth going and sunset sensational. Thanks Capt. Taylor for adding off our Bucket List. .

We had a fantastic time on the Anjacaa! It was a great 2 hour journey. Our captain and first mate…read morewere so friendly and knowledgeable. It was so cool watching them hoist the sails! It was a beautiful time on the water on the 6 passenger boat. I would highly recommend this for a more intimate cruise. They even gave the opportunity to take the wheel and try our hand at captaining the boat. We will be back and looking forward to our next sail!