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

Our Inn is overflowing with vases and Mason jars of these georgeous blooms and we continually create colorful bouquets in all of our accommodations as an additional amenity for our guests.

Our Dahlia Patch

Our dahlia garden is filled with vivid colors and bountiful blooms from these show-stopping non-stop performers. We grow over 1oo plants and hope to expand our collection for the 2010 season.

We begin potting our tubers in early April and come July, they have loads of buds and promise.

Healthy Buds

Buds Soon Transform Into Blossoms

As the season progresses the blossoms create a sea of color which is particularly striking on a foggy morning.

Beautiful Colors

We cut flowers daily to keep the plants fresh looking and continually update our vases of floral arrangements. These incredible plants continue to bloom until the first frost.

Sorting For Arrangements

Our serious interest for dahlia’s started 4 years ago after visiting Phil and Karen Clark who own and operate Endless Summer Flower Farm in Camden, Maine.  From there a kinship ensued each swapping stories on plant performances.

Posted are images of some 2009 season favorites.

Mingus Tracy Lynn

Tartan

Karma-Sangria

Show And Tell

Pop Talk

Bald Rock Mountain has an elevation of 1200 ft and is visible from our oceanfront Inn. With less than a 10 minute drive from here this mountain offers incredible views of the island studded coast of Maine and is just a small part of the Camden Hills State Park system. The hike to the summit is easy yet invigorating.

Entrance Sign

Gravel Road

After  walking a gravel road for 1.25 miles you reach the trail head that leads through the woodlands.

Bald Rock Trail Head

We walk through the peaceful woods and observe the nature that surrounds us. Lush greenery such as ferns and mosses abound, the scent of pine wafts through the air and the songs of melodious birds are the predominant sounds. The trail has a convenient set of granite steps and many tree root systems that wind there way along the path.

Granite Steps

Interesting Tree Roots

We reach the summit and take in the scenery.

Background-Mt. Desert Island, Acadia National Park

A Southeasterly View From The Summit

A Southerly View, Camden Harbor First Harbor In Sight

We maintained a semi-brisk pace along the trail and complete the round trip journey in approx. 1hr. 45min. The views are breathtaking and especially extraordinary during the fall with all the magnificent colors in place.

Maiden Cliff’s Scenic View

Maine has so much natural beauty to offer especially in our immediate area. Hiking Maiden Cliff is just another one on our list of perennial favorites like Mt Battie. Both destinations are just a small portion of the incredible trail system within the Camden Hills State Park.

Just a five minute drive from our Inn this short hike up a gravel path, through the woods, pass a massive boulder, over a bridge, up through some more woodlands and over some mild rockery to the summit (we’ve consistently timed the hike at 30 min.) offers breathtaking views of pristine Lake Megunticook, the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding unspoiled country side from an 800′ sheer cliff. Impressive to say the least.

Many years ago we witnessed a real hair raiser, someone was actually trying to shimmy his way up the cross. No doubt on a dare from his friends. To date I’m glad to say we’ve never seen someone attempt that again and on most occasions we have the site to ourselves. For those interested in the brief history on why the cross was erected you may click here.

Viewing kayakers on Megunticook Lake atop Maiden Cliff

Admirer's enjoying the view atop Maiden Cliff, Camden Me

Reaching Mount Battie's summit

Mount Battie’s Turret-Coastal Scenery Views of Camden Maine’s Harbor And Surrounding Mountains.

Hiking remains a favorite activity for us and due of the nature of our business time can allow for us off season to take advantage of the abundance of natural beauty in Maine. However, it just so happens that  just 1 minute south of Cedarholm Garden Bay Inn is the Mid-Coast jewel  Camden Hills State Park.  If we can get away for 1 hour in season this is one of the places we go. Route 1 divides the park, there is the ocean side that provides some easy tree lined walking paths with limited access to the rocky shore and then there is the summit on the opposite side (our choice). You may drive or do what we do and walk to the top via the auto road (1.5 mi). There are 19 trails to hike in this incredibly beautiful park, a topic worthy devoting time to at a later date. The summit at Mount Battie offers 360 views of the mountains, islands and rocky coastline. Some of the sites, just to name a few, are Blue Hill, Isle Au Haut, the mountains of Acadia National Park and Monhegan Island. You can easily spend the day investigating all the rock formations, flora, birding, hiking and of course gazing at the gorgeous scenery. Speaking of which once you reach the summit one could never tire of the view, sunrises and sunsets are a must see, and for some the latter made even sweeter with wine and cheese.

A southerly view from one of many overlooks

Maps Identify The Islands In View

Auto Road At Summit

Mountains of Acadia National Park in the background.

Stairs To The Top

Breathtaking Views

Looking out from Mount Battie’s Turret at Camden Harbor and islands.

Mt. Megunticook

There are also 360 degree views of numerous surrounding mountains such as Mt. Megunticook and Ragged Mountain.

Turret on Mount Battie

A view of Camden Harbor from the top of the turret on Mount Battie.