The Greatest Cape - Midcoast Maine Vacation Rental

One of the things we love best about the Greatest Cape is its location in the heart of Tenants Harbor. A two minute walk will bring you to the General Store, several local restaurants, the library, a playground, and of course, the harbor itself. A few miles down the road is Port Clyde, at the very tip of the St. George peninsula, where you'll find galleries, a few shops, restaurants, and the best ice cream around! You can venture off the peninsula into nearby Rockland and Camden for more great restaurants, shopping, and sightseeing. This page will help you learn about all that the area has to offer.

Between Tenants Harbor and Port Clyde is a treasure that mainly the locals know about - a gorgeous public beach that spreads wide when the tide is low, and all but disappears when the tide is high. Great for climbing on rocks, taking pictures, bringing a picnic and splashing around for hours, launching a kayak, or building a sandcastle. Small adjacent parking lot, and street parking is fine as well. A tide chart may help you plan your trip.

The lighthouse and surrounding rocky shore are simply beautiful and great for photographs and exploring. Try to go when the small museum and shop are open, but you're welcome to visit at any time of day. You might even recognize it - it's the very lighthouse that Forest Gump jogged to in the movie! It's just down the road from the Drift Inn Beach, a gorgeous walk on a nice day.

If you have the better part of a day free, you must visit Monhegan! You'll take a ferry from Port Clyde, which is either a 50 or 70 minute trip, depending on which boat you choose. Bikes only - there are no cars on the island, except a few owned by one of the 80 or so people who live here year-round. Many who live on the island are artists or fishermen, and those who visit can spend hours hiking through the woods, cliffs, and seaside trails that circle and cross the small island, and also enjoy many small shops and galleries. Well worth the trip - bring a picnic as you may find yourself far from the small town when you feel hungry! Here is a great website to find out more.

A great choice for a rainy day or any day, the museum is about a 15 minute drive from Tenants Harbor, on Route 73.. It's full of vintage cars and planes from all over the world, all of which are maintained for actual use. Check the calendar of events as well; they have wonderful air shows and special exhibits.

With a variety of tours designed for beginners as well as experienced paddlers, join Port Clyde Kayaks for a chance to see the peninsula in a very special way. Their website has full details, as well as a great deal of information about the local area.

Mt. Battie and Mt. Megunticook are part of Camden Hills State Park, just north of Camden on Rt. 1. Mt. Battie is quick to conquer and at the top you'll find stunning views of the local harbors and surrounding islands. There are 30 miles of trails, and you can also drive a car to the top if you wish. Bring a picnic and a camera!

There are lots of little shops and galleries on the peninsula and the main streets of nearby Rockland and Camden are overflowing with offerings. In St. George, don't miss Hedgerow if you are a gardening enthusiast, or even if you just like beautiful things. Their farm market is open now from Wed-Sun, 9-4. Serious shoppers, however, will want to head to...

Just 20 and 30 minutes away, Rockland and Camden both bustle with shops, restaurants, and great sightseeing Camden was recently rated the "prettiest harbor in Maine" by Down East Magazine, and from the town's central pier you can purchase tickets to ride on any number of beautiful schooners. In Rockland, galleries, art museums and speciality shops abound, and any day is a great day to walk the breakwater. We love the Puffin Visitor Center, and another favorite is Fiore's Artisan Olive Oils and Vinegars - you can taste every single variety before you make your choices - then come home and get cooking! Between the two towns you'll find Maine Sport Outfitters, a great place to rent bikes, kayaks, and other equipment, book kayak tours (2 hours in Camden Harbor, $35!), and shop for sporting goods and more.

Also, be sure to visit Owl's Head Lighthouse, only about a 15 minute drive from Tenants Harbor. Enthusiasts will be fascinated at the Maine LIghthouse Museum in Rockland.

Located in downtown Rockland, this impressive museum is newly updated and contains a wide range of exhibits. Always popular is the extensive collection of works by N.C., Jamie, and Andrew Wyeth. Visit the museum website to find out more! We love the museum shop there as well. The adjacent Center for Maine Contemporary Art is wonderful, too. Art enthusiasts will notice that Rockland is chock full of beautiful galleries.

With so many restaurants to choose from, your biggest problem will be finding the time to try everything! Casual dining on the peninsula can be found at the Happy Clam, the Quarry Tavern, and we LOVE Ancho Honey, for casual dine-in or take out (incl order ahead) - their food is spectacular. Find delicious ice cream at the Village Ice Cream Shop in Port Clyde, and grab a homemade blueberry pie for later! Enjoy an elegant dinner at The Craignair Inn in Spruce Head. In Rockland or Camden, we like Rustica and many others, and Primo is highly acclaimed. Best lunch bets are the Home Kitchen Cafe, Atlantic Baking Co., and we adore the crab rolls at the 'Keag Store in South Thomaston. A summertime FAVORITE is McCloon's Lobster Shack, where you dine at picnic tables overlooking Spruce Head harbor (just avoid peak times, it gets SO busy).

We couldn't begin to list all the fairs and festivals that take place throughout the year in Maine, but we do have several local favorites to tell you about. Plan your trip to coincide with one of them, and enjoy the fun.

Blueberry Cove Camp right in Tenants Harbor has great options for day camp, sailing camp, and overnight. We also love the day sailing camp at the Rockland Apprenticeshop, and another great option is the St. George Junior Sailing Foundation. Of course there are TONS of other camp options in Maine to explore.

Kids will be thrilled to play at the Coastal Children's Museum in Rockland. Check their website for open hours and more information. The Jackson Memorial Library in Tenants Harbor has a children's storytime each week, and is a wonderful place for adults and children to spend a few hours. Be sure to check their calendar for special events.

There are several choices for local movie theaters; the Strand Cinema in downtown Rockland has been beautifully restored and has a calendar that includes films as well as live events. Flagship Cinemas in nearby Thomaston is a standard multi-screen cinema.

Everyone knows, the seafood in Maine is second to none. In Tenants Harbor and Port Clyde, you can buy lobsters that were caught just offshore that same day, along with lots of other varieties of fish & shellfish. Port Clyde Fresh Catch is a great local choice, as is Off the Dock Lobsters. There's Jess's Market if you're in Rockland and headed home to cook dinner.

Plan a day trip around a visit to the Botanical Gardens, and you will not be disappointed! At just an hour away, it is truly stunning, and fun for both children and adults. There's so much to see, including a "garden of the five senses," a permanent sculpture garden, a gorgeous coastal walk, a wonderful children's garden, and unrivaled stonework throughout... we can't get enough of this place. The calendar of events on their website could help you decide on a day to visit, but in our opinion - any day is a good day.

A friend of mine has compiled a page similar to this one, all about Tenants Harbor and other towns around. There are many similar suggestions but lots of different ones, too, and great commentary. Be sure to check it out!

We also keep a binder at the house stuffed full of brochures, menus, helpful tips, maps, etc. You will never be short on ideas.