Many Americans will be turning to road trips this summer as they begin to venture outside their hometowns for the first time since February or March. Luckily, in New England, there are many worthy destinations within driving distance of metros like Boston, Hartford, and Portland. For New Englanders looking for a chic, relaxing “first trip” idea, consider visiting Camden, Maine.
Camden, Maine - View from the top of Mt. Battie
Perched on the Atlantic, Camden is sandwiched in between the towering Camden Hills and a scenic harbor. About 3.5 hours from Boston, 4.5 hours from Hartford and only 1.5 hours from Portland, Camden, is well-suited for a long weekend getaway.
Where to Stay
Camden, Maine has managed to retain its historic ambiance by limiting development, especially on the waterfront—you won’t find any mega-resorts here. Instead you will likely be booking a room at one of the charming boutique hotels or bed-and-breakfasts in town. However, this doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice luxury, there is in fact a Relais & Châteaux property located in the center of it all, the Camden Harbour Inn.
Camden, Maine - Breakfast at the Camden Harbour Inn
The Camden Harbour Inn has been in operation since the late 1800s and offers 20 uniquely appointed guests rooms and suites. Each is decorated with modern furnishings and many even offer balconies with water or mountain views. The rainfall showers and Molton Brown bath products are sure to please even picky travelers. However, the most opulent amenity has to be the complimentary a-la-carte breakfast each morning. Offered either in their lobby-level restaurant or in-room, this gourmet breakfast features menu items such as: Lobster Eggs Benedict, farm-fresh vegetable omelets and house made breads and pastries. Waking up to a complimentary, made-to-order, Relais & Châteaux quality breakfast, while overlooking the Camden Harbor, is sure to refresh all after months stuck at home!
Things to do in Camden, Maine
Camden cannot offer the same buzzing social scene that Nantucket or the Hamptons do, but that’s by design. Camden is for the traveler who is looking to escape, rather than be seen. So, the must-do activities include things like hiking, sailing or strolling through Downtown.
Camden, Maine - View from a sail on Schooner Surprise
- Hiking: Mt. Battie is the tallest peak in the area and can be accessed either by hiking or via a toll road, where you can drive up to enjoy the view.
- Sailing: The historic Camden Harbor is full of fishing boats, sailing yachts and 100-year-old schooners, like Schooner Surprise. Schooner Surprise is available for public day and sunset sails, as well as private charters. Tickets for their 2-hour sails, which are open to the public, start at $47 per adult and are BYOB so bring a cooler of snacks and goodies.
- Strolling: And the Downtown streets are a wonderful place to while away an afternoon. Their boutiques, cafes and coffee shops have all reopened and are taking the appropriate health and safety precautions to keep everyone safe.
Dining in Camden, Maine
For dinner, be sure to make a reservation at Natalie’s at the Camden Harbour Inn whether you are staying at the Inn or not. Their farm and ocean to table menu flows with the seasons and their “Lobster Tasting Menu” is a culinary highlight of the region.
Camden, Maine - The lobster steamed bun at Natalie's at the Camden Harbour Inn
The five-course tasting menu interprets the classic New England ingredient in new ways. Currently the menu includes dishes like: Lobster steamed buns and Grilled lobster with corn risotto. The team has implemented many new safety precautions as well, including a system of white glove and black glove servers, where one set solely touches items coming from the kitchen and the other solely touches items handled by guests. This creates not only a seamless guest experience, but also enhances the real-time sanitary conditions for everyone.
Maine Travel Restrictions
Maine has recently implemented new travel restrictions as the number of new COVID-19 cases has increased in many parts of the United States. Their new “Keep Maine Healthy” plan has instituted either the need to provide proof of a negative test result or mandatory 14-day quarantine for residents of certain states. For a full breakdown of their travel policies, visit Maine.Gov. While at first their policies may appear daunting, the simplest way to comply is to achieve a negative test result within 72-hours of your visit and bring proof of that with you on your trip. And it is of course important to refer to current CDC guidelines before any and all travel.
