Camden Harbor is quaint and unquestionably picturesque and with the dramatic backdrop of  Mount Battie it is certainly an eye catcher.

Schooners in Camden Harbor

Impeccably restored old schooners fill the harbor and offer day trips or overnight cruises.

Camden, Maine

Mount Battie, Camden Hills

The arrow indicates the turret at the Mount Battie summit (Camden Hills State Park) which can reached by driving the auto road or by hiking the various trails in the park.

Camden Harbor Views From Turret Atop Mount Battie

Overnight Schooner

Beautiful Yachts In The Harbor

Day Sailer

This time of year has been unseasonably warm and we have been thoroughly enjoying our walks to the top of Mount Battie.

Reaching The Top At Sunset

Turret Atop Mount Battie

Viewing the sunset over the western mountains and the moon rising in the eastern sky illuminating Penobscot Bay.

An Easterly View

Camden Harbor, Southerly View

A sign of quieter times where recently filled parking lots are empty and lonely view finders stand.

Watching The Moon Rise

View Finders Will Soon Be Stored Away For Winter

Lighting The Star

Each year we look forward to the lighted star that is mounted on the turret atop Camden Hills State Park. As a tradition it is lit the day after Thanksgiving and remains erected until New Years Day. The star can be seen from miles away, a true sign of the holiday season.

Funny how after years of walking the auto road our timing on this trip coincided with Bob Oxton’s firing up the generator which illuminates the star.

Bob spoke of challenging past winters and his difficulty reaching the top some evenings to light the star and yet he has never missed a night for over 40 years of volunteering. Now that is a commitment!

The Lighted Star

A Beautiful Evening

We grow over 100 dahlia’s and we cherish every one of them, however there are some that perform like work horses and we consider them must haves for our gardens and in floral arrangements. Each of these varieties are prolific with strong and long stems and ideal for cutting. Here are a few of our picks.

Ferncliff Copper

Ferncliff Copper has 5″ blooms and is especially gorgeous arranged in harvest bouquets.

Snoho Betty

Perfect purple Snoho Betty is continually remarked on by our guests.

Kenora Wildfire

This low bush beauty Kenora Wildfire pumps out volumes of huge bright red blooms and requires minimal support.

Scarborough Brilliant

And of course the intense colors of Scarborough Brilliant are stunning.

If you love beautiful flowers as we do and are interested in creating fresh dahlia floral arrangements also look into Bliss and Rosella, they are fantastic as fillers. All of our healthy dahlia tubers were purchased locally from endlesssummerflowerfarm in Camden, Maine.

Another one of the “Jewels” in Midcoast Maine is the picture perfect views atop Beech Hill in Rockport. The setting is special, and after a short and easy walk to the top of this 295-acre preserve you’ll see why. If the pastoral landscape of the beautiful grasslands with the Camden Hills as a backdrop don’t grab you while your walking along, than surely the scenic ocean vistas at the top will. 

After a few paces the trail quickly opens up to views of low bush wild blueberry’s growing in the grassy field.

Starting Out

Protecting The Blueberries

A Colorful Field Of Wild Blueberries

Trail

Looking Back At The Camden Hills

Soon after the half way point views of Chickawaukie Pond then Penobscot Bay appear. 

Chickawaukie Pond

Chickawaukie Pond(Rt) and Penobscot Bay(Lft)

Fall creates it’s own special beauty in Maine and especially so here. The preserve’s field of golden grasslands dappled with the fiery red leaves of wild blueberry shrubs is reminiscent of a painting. At the top of the hill sits a beautifully restored stone house known as “Beech Nut” handsomely adorned with a sod roof.

Beech Nut

An Easterly View

Mountains Of Acadia National Park(Background-Rt)

Beech Nut

Restored Sod Roof

Although the preserve is open year round, Beech Nut’s final open house for this year is October 24 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. For more information on this beautiful preserve you can visit www.coastalmountains.org.

Maine Open Lighthouse Day on Sept. 12, 2009 is the first of it’s kind and offers the public an opportunity to tour numerous participating lighthouses that are rich in history and surrounded by natural beauty.

The Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse is just one of the many lighthouses in the Camden area and nearby Cedarholm Garden Bay Inn that provides additional scenic views of the open ocean, boating, offshore islands and the Camden Hills. The less than 1 mile walk is enjoyable and offers many opportunities for more up close views of working lobster fisherman and marine life at the entrance to Rockland Harbor.

700,000 Tons Of Cut-Granite Make Up The Breakwater

On the day we walked the breakwater we were fortunate to view harbor seals, seabirds, starfish, sea urchins and a prowling small shark called a dogfish. It is like having an aquarium at your feet.

One Of Countless Lobster Bouys Dot The Breakwater

Dogfish (Mini Shark)

Prowling The Breakwater

The Lighthouse is open most weekends in the summer thanks to Friends Of The Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse. It is being lovingly restored and inside you will find a gift shop with friendly and knowledgeable volunteers who are more than happy to answer questions on Rockland’s lighthouse and breakwater history. You may also self guide, reading the posted and pictured history from room to room and then wander your way to the top into the light.

Some Lighthouse And Breakwater History

Looking Out One Of The Numerous Original Windows

 After walking up a short flight of spiral stairs you’re now inside of the light! 

At The Top Looking Down

Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse

Exiting atop the light one has 360 degree views. 

Watching Boaters

Rockland Harbor, Maine

Camden Hills, Maine

Camden Maine’s Harbor And Its

Surroundings

Cedarholm Garden Bay Inn with its private and quite oceanfront accommodations is ideally located for exploring the Maine Coastal Villages of Camden, Rockport and Lincolnville. Being passionate about our Inn that we built from the ground up, naturally we gravitate towards others that share the same commitment and dedication.

Camden Hills Mount Battie And Camden Harbor

Dining Out

The harbors of Camden and Rockport are quaint and unquestionably picturesque. Camden Harbor with its dramatic backdrop of  Mount Battie is certainly an eye catcher and claims a few passionate, talented chef owned restaurants to boot. For years our guests have consistently raved about the food and service at Atlantica Restaurant and Francine Bistro.  And for good reason, each focusing on fresh, local and sustainable practices.

Chef Ken Paquin and wife Del own and operate Atlantica a bustling seafood bistro. Its harbor side deck provides beautiful up close waterfront views and is ideal for dining al fresco. They have a fantastic seafood menu and some of the best-prepared in the area.

Waterside Table At Atlantica

Perfectly Grilled Swordfish

Halibut, Lobster And Chanterelles

A couple of footsteps away, on a backstreet, Francine Bistro remains highly memorable for its steak and garlic herbed frites. Chef Brain Hill creates amazing dishes from mainly organic local sources and has a wonderfully diverse menu. His passion for food is quite obvious and has received media attention.

Rockport Harbor

Just around the corner, less than a five minutes drive, from Camden Harbor is the quiet and charming Rockport Harbor. This is the homeport of the family built, owned and operated Schooner Yacht Heron. Nigel (Twig) and Bonnie offer various sail packages that may include viewing both Rockport Harbor (Indian Island Lighthouse), Camden Harbor (Curtis Island Lighthouse) and beyond.

Beautiful Rockport Harbor

A Spectacular View Of The Mountains Aboard The Heron

Lincolnville Beach

1 mile North of Cedarholm Garden Bay Inn is a small strip of sand beach, the Maine State Ferry terminal to the  Island of Islesboro (20 minutes ride) and a handful of shops and restaurants.  Chez Michel is a favorite dining spot serving up a myriad of well-prepared dishes.

Lincolnville Beach

The Ferry Terminal At Lincolnville Beach