Exploring Midcoast Maine | Art, Eats, and Outings with My Family

Join me as I share a week of fun with visiting family — exploring the art scene, coastal gardens, and local food that make Midcoast Maine so special.

Summer in Midcoast Maine, Family Edition

My sisters, dad, and his friend came for their annual visit a couple of weeks ago.

It’s always a joy to gather here in this beautiful place.

I often tell people—if you’re going to move somewhere new after you retire, pick a spot that people want to visit, ha!

Joking aside, I truly love hosting family and friends—spending time together and exploring this wonderful state I now call home.

And explore we did! We visited the Farnsworth Museum and some local galleries, wandered the Maine Coastal Botanical Gardens, and spent a fun foodie day in Belfast. There were a few great meals out too.

But we also soaked up the slower moments—enjoying lupine and rhododendron season here on the peninsula and taking in the ever-changing ocean view. We gathered around the table for home-cooked meals and good conversation.

My sisters and I also did something special to honor our mom, which I’ll share later in this post.

Come along for all the fun!

Art and Inspiration: Museums & Galleries

The Midcoast area is rich in both history and art—and during my family’s visit, we enjoyed a bit of both (but mostly the art, ha!).

The Farnsworth Museum

I’ve written about this gem of a local museum before in my post Exploring Maine’s Art Capital | Rockland’s First Friday and Beyond, but with new exhibits on display, my sisters and I decided to return.

We especially enjoyed the work of nine women artists who lived and worked in Maine between 1870 and 1930, and a different perspective on Andrew Wyeth through his paintings of Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania—his birthplace and home when not here in Maine.

One particularly thought-provoking exhibit encourages visitors to view traditional Maine landscapes through the eyes of Indigenous people, rather than the non-native artists who painted them.

But my favorite was a newly opened exhibition in the Wyeth Center’s historic church building—Finding Maine: The Wyeth Family of Artists. Downstairs features paintings by N.C. Wyeth, and upstairs holds works by Jamie Wyeth and other family members. The bold, bright paintings by N.C. Wyeth beautifully capture familiar local scenes and filled my heart with joy.

You can learn more about current and upcoming exhibitions on the Farnsworth website.

Marshall Point Lighthouse Museum

With the newly repaired walkway completed and the buildings reopened on June 20th (yay!), my sisters and I had to pay a visit to our beloved lighthouse.

In addition to the iconic lighthouse itself, the small but jam-packed museum offers a deep dive into the area’s history—with fascinating artifacts and neatly organized binders of historical documents. The gift shop is charming too—and if you visit on a Saturday, you just might find me behind the counter!

Of course, we didn’t leave empty-handed…

While admission is free, donations are gratefully accepted—especially now, as we work to raise funds for storm repairs through our Capital Campaign. You can learn more or donate via the Marshall Point Lighthouse website.

Other local galleries and shops

No trip into the village is complete without a little gallery hopping!

Red Barn Art Gallery: Located right in the heart of Port Clyde, this artists’ collaborative features local artwork and handmade crafts. After browsing, grab a lobster roll from the food truck across the street or sip a drink from the cozy bar downstairs while enjoying views of the working waterfront.

Mars Hall Gallery: A true hidden gem! This whimsical space overflows with eclectic art, antique furniture, handmade jewelry, and delightfully upcycled creations. I couldn’t resist bringing home a beautiful writing box with a marquetry shell on top—and the inside was just as charming

Hedgerow Market and Gallery: A dreamy stop with veggies grown on-site, baked goods, prepared meals, books, cards, home goods, and more. Don’t miss the gallery tucked behind the store—or the lovely garden stroll. My sisters both picked up gorgeous handwoven table runners.

A Visit to the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

One day the whole gang, including my dad and his friend, made the trip to the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay.

Wild beauty and whimsy

This wasn’t a first-time visit for any of us, but the gardens are constantly evolving—there’s always something new to discover. What I love most about this particular botanical garden, and what sets it apart from so many others, is its natural, sometimes even wild and whimsical design. These aren’t stiffly formal or aspirational gardens—they’re inspiring ones, full of creative ideas you could actually try at home.

Garden highlights

My sister Amy was hoping to catch the rhododendrons in full bloom, but they had just passed their peak. Even so, the wooded hillside walk—with its tranquil waterfall and pond—was still a highlight.

The more cultivated central gardens were as lovely as ever. Some favorites:

• The Arbor Garden – An “informal twist” on the traditional rose garden, with flowering plants climbing over rustic trellises.
• Slater Forest Pond – A peaceful spot with water lilies, shady ferns, and lush shrubbery.
• The Lerner Garden of the Five Senses – A gentle fountain surrounded by winding paths, with plantings chosen to delight sight, sound, scent, touch, and taste.
• The Children’s Garden – Two magical acres inspired by beloved books by Maine authors, complete with a play cottage and treehouse. I can’t wait to bring my grandkids here when they’re a bit older!

The giant trolls

One of the big draws in recent years has been the Guardians of the Seeds—five enormous wooden trolls hidden throughout the gardens. These sculptures, created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo from reclaimed wood, celebrate sustainability and stewardship of the natural world. My sisters and I spotted four of the five!

Practical tips

We took advantage of the complimentary wheelchairs for my dad and his friend, enjoyed a lovely lunch at the café, and—of course—made a stop at the gift shop, filled with garden-inspired treasures.

The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens are just over an hour’s drive from both Portland and my village, making them an easy and memorable day trip.

Check out their website here to plan your own visit!

A Foodie’s Dream Day in Belfast

My sisters and I spent a wonderful day in Belfast—a favorite Midcoast town I’ve visited many times. I shared one of those visits earlier this year in Belfast ME, Spring Wardrobe Ideas, Superhero Muffins, and More!. This time, though, our focus was food. And wow — did it ever deliver!

The farmers market

The main reason for our trip was the outdoor farmers market. We ran into major road construction on the way (take note if you’re headed up Route 1!), so arrived later than planned. The pickings were a bit slim by then, but we still found some amazing treats.

My sisters, like me, enjoy planning meals based on whatever is fresh and in season locally. We started with gorgeous wild mushrooms and some kale, thinking they’d be perfect over polenta. But then we spotted a vendor selling handmade ravioli—fiddlehead, mushroom, and plain cheese. Yes, please! A smoked chicken made its way into our basket too—for the meat-eaters.

Strolling Main Street

After the market, we headed downtown to wander Main Street. First stop: Carousel Wine & Cheese, a new discovery for me. We walked out with a homemade blueberry pie, local seeded crackers, and a soft, washed-rind French sheep’s milk cheese. Irresistible.

Then it was off to Chase’s Daily, a beloved vegetarian bistro and longtime favorite of mine. We picked up sandwiches and ate them by the waterfront. Their produce section in the back is not to be missed—we added the prettiest mixed greens to our haul.

A lucky detour

Trying to avoid the Route 1 construction, I took the back roads home—and I’m so glad I did. We passed right by Ararat Farms’ farm stand in Lincolnville, a spot I knew from the indoor Belfast market but had never visited in person. A quick (slightly crazy) U-turn later, and we were inside. What a place! Small but packed with gourmet goodies—cheeses, crackers, breads, drinks, and even the same ravioli we’d found earlier. We grabbed some focaccia and another local cheese before heading home.

A meal to remember

And what did we make with all that bounty?

A perfect summer meal: happy hour with the two cheeses, crackers, and focaccia; ravioli with kale pesto and sautéed wild mushrooms; a simple salad of those stunning mixed greens—and blueberry pie for dessert, of course.

A foodie’s dream day, indeed!

Good Eats, From Lobster Rolls to Tacos

We enjoyed plenty of delicious meals throughout the week—both at home and out and about.

Lobster rolls with that iconic harbor view at McLoon’s are a must. We also enjoyed Mexican at Wiley’s in Rockland and celebrated Father’s Day with a special dinner at The Causeway Restaurant at the Craignair Inn.

Sandwiches from Wild Oats Bakery in Brunswick made the perfect quick lunch on the drive to the airport. And I finally introduced everyone to my son’s favorite burger joint, The Zack Shack—always a hit!

This Week Into Next

Well, I survived my first day volunteering in the lighthouse gift shop last Saturday! I got more familiar with the cash register and had the pleasure of chatting with some wonderful visitors to our beautiful state.

The beginning of this week has been all about prepping this blog post and getting the house ready for friends arriving on Wednesday. It will be a relaxed visit with lots of catching up—and maybe fireworks over the harbor on Friday night.

Before I go, I want to share something very special my sisters and I did while they were here. This week marked six years since our mom passed away. I still miss her every single day.

I feel so fortunate to be surrounded by many of the antique treasures she lovingly collected—especially her spectacular blue and white transferware dishes. It means the world to me that so many of you appreciate and enjoy them too.

And now, I have a new place to sit with her. We spread her ashes up in the field behind the house, where there’s a mowed path through the tall grass and wildflowers that leads to a little seating area. I can now sit there and feel her all around me. It is such a comfort to have her with me here.

If you’d like to learn more about my mom, her collections, and her legacy, you can read a blog post I wrote a few years ago: I Am My Mother’s Daughter.

Take care and be well, friends!