Maine has over 60 lighthouses, and thankfully many are accessible to visitors by foot others can be enjoyed by boat, as we’ve done aboard the schooner yacht “Heron” out of Rockport Harbor. Being lovers of the outdoors and admirer’s of natural beauty, Maine is the ideal place to explore and being explorer’s ourselves we find lighthouses to be one of many exciting destinations. Just the adventure alone in taking out the map and locating these lighthouses makes for memorable car conversation. Driving down winding roads, wondering if you’ve missed a turn and gone too far combined with the bantering back and forth on who’s fault it is (invariably mine) included with the serendipity of it all is priceless. There have been countless times that we have dicovered a gem due to a wrong turn and always reminisce those times (that’s when the person who’s fault it was just smiles).

Over the years we have been able to visit some of these magnificent lighthouses and I have oodles of negatives to prove it, but because I have always shot with film (and will continue to do so) the thought of culling through thousands of  negatives, processing them and posting them is far too daunting not to mention insane. So with that I have been beaten down and just purchased my first digital camera and will be posting additional images in time of these breath taking locations. We have visited many of the same lighthouses countless times due the draw of the arresting beauty and picturesque bold oceanfront site. Architecture always plays an important roll for us, and makes for interesting dinner conversation but all of the lighthouses that we have visited are unique and special in there own right.   They are rich in history and some of them even incorporate a museum, we love looking at all the old black and white images and try to imagine ourselves in the lightkeeper’s shoes during those times, seems so long ago.

There are several lighthouses only a short distance from our Inn that  if one was so inclined could include into a day of sightseeing along our beautiful Maine coastline. Many of our guests have remarked on how much they have appreciated our experience and guidance to visiting the lighthouses in our area and were grateful  for the assistance, and have commented that they couldn’t imagine missing these incredible sites during there stay in Maine. We look forward to our guests telling us of there own adventures and discoveries as much as they enjoy sharing their experiences with us. With Maine’s vast and diverse countryside and incredible rocky coast providing so much to see and do…….bit by bit we shall chew.

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.

Mountains of Acadia National Park in the background.

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

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

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