Mid Coast Region

Belfast
Boothbay Harbor
Brunswick
Camden / Rockport
Damariscotta

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Belfast:

The city of Belfast and neighboring Searsport are two of the most beautiful and historically interesting coastal communities in Waldo County. Belfast is about 45 minutes east of Maine’s capital of Augusta, and 50 or so minutes south of Bangor. Settled in the 1700’s, these charming fishing villages have grown into bustling communities that are popular with tourists and families alike.

In the early days, the sea had a profound influence on the development of this region. During the nineteenth century, the combined shipyards of Belfast and Searsport produced 550 sailing vessels! At that time of great prosperity, shipbuilders and merchants built beautiful Greek revival mansions on spectacular lots, often with water views, and decorated them with treasures from the China trade. Many of these homes continue to adorn the community today. The fascinating history of these towns is preserved at the Belfast Museum and the Penobscot Marine Museum, where visitors can enjoy an educational and entertaining, in-depth look at the past.

Today, Belfast enjoys economic prosperity. A new branch of the University of Maine offers day and night classes. Credit card giant MBNA established its corporate headquarters in Belfast in the 1990s, where they now employ 3,000 people. The revival of the visual and performing arts adds additional color and drama to the current landscape.

Belfast has an excellent school system with a brand new central elementary school that opened within the past year. Troy Howard Middle School is where all of the 6th – 8th graders go, and 10-12 grade high school students attend Belfast Area High School.

If you love the outdoors, you will find a nearly endless number of recreational opportunities in Waldo County. On and near the coast you can enjoy a range of freshwater and saltwater activities. Or, travel inland, and try cross-country skiing, biking, camping, or hiking. If you prefer something a little more relaxed, you can pick your own strawberries, raspberries, or apples, and enjoy a picnic in Belfast City Park. Back to Top

Boothbay Harbor:

Boothbay Harbor, Maine, is located on the marvelous coast of Maine. Visitors to this area are captivated by the independent spirit and friendliness of the people, as well as by the area’s many contrasts. There are quaint village streets and shops, band concerts and craft fairs on the Library lawn, and bustling harbors crammed with busy lobster boats, fishing trawlers, windjammers and pleasure craft of all sizes. You can explore quiet coves, rocky shores, meandering roads, lighthouses, islands, and a waterfront park in the shape of a whale, all situated in or near the narrow Boothbay peninsula that seems to intentionally accentuate Maine’s versatile coastline.

Residents and visitors alike can find many unique ways to pass the time in this area. You can watch local lobstermen tend their traps, or you could put out to sea for a close encounter with a barnacle-encrusted whale. Visit the Historical Society in Boothbay Harbor, or the Museum in Southport, to learn about the ice cutting industry or a classic shipbuilding tradition in days gone by. See the handiwork of local boat yards which continue the shipbuilding tradition using state-of-the art materials, turning out a new generation of world-class boat builders and seagoing crafts.

The schools in Boothbay are terrific. Younger students attend the Boothbay Region Elementary School (a public K-8 school with approximately 600 students). For grades 9-12, students attend Boothbay Region High School. If your high-school aged son needs a nontraditional environment, consider the Deck Hand School overlooking the powerful Sheepscot River in Edgecomb, Maine. The Deck House School is a small, college-prep boarding school for boys who have struggled in more traditional settings.

Discover the wealth of sights sounds and scents of Maine’s Midcoast region! Savor a fresh, succulent lobster dinner, or snack on clams or mussels, all available at dockside restaurants – your catch may only be hours old! Listen to the gulls’ distinct cries above the “ding” of buoys in the harbor. Feel the tingle of sun and salt on your skin, or bask in the cool relief of an onshore breeze on a hot day. Such is life in Boothbay!

Moving to the Boothbay Harbor region means making tough decisions! There is a real selection of personal lifestyle and residential options here. Waterfront homes are available, but pricey. Perhaps you would enjoy living in a historic, 19th century home in town? Or, by looking a few minutes inland, you may find the perfect acreage on which to build a classy cape, or even the home of your dreams! You’ll find many family neighborhoods as well. The choice is yours!

Enjoy nature at its best in Midcoast Maine, all year ‘round! Spectacular sunrises herald the new day. Tall evergreens guard the rocky coast. In early summer, lupines and other wildflowers add dazzling color to local fields, marshes and roadsides. Bright, warm and sunny summer days are often tinged with a bit of fog. The fall comes with crisp days and bold colors. When winter arrives, snow, and magical sea smoke add to the magical holiday light displays found at the Boothbay Common, in the Harbor, and Southport village. Spring returns, bringing new life to the land, and renewed activity, too, with the annual Fishermen’s Festival in April, and the excitement of Windjammer Days each June.

A favorite setting for visitors and longtime Mainers, Boothbay Harbor will capture your heart and refresh your soul. The idea of living and working here, to enjoy it on a fulltime basis, may prove unreal for some. But, if you’re ready to fulfill the dream of many, this could be just the right opportunity for you! Back to Top

Brunswick:

The Brunswick area is home to two hospitals, Mid Coast Hospital and Parkview Adventist Medical Center. Mid Coast Hospital built in 2001 is the newest full-service, stand-alone community hospital in New England! Located on 150 acres of beautifully wooded land in Brunswick, Maine, Mid Coast Hospital matches the newest medical technology and skilled medical professionals with Maine’s natural beauty to meet the psychological as well as physiological healing needs of their patients.

 This 74-bed hospital has an active medical staff of more than 125 physicians serving a population of 90,000 area residents. Mid Coast Hospital offers inpatient services such as a 24-hour Emergency Department, ICU, Medical/Surgical/Pediatrics, Behavioral Health unit, and a separate Woman’s Health unit concentrating on childbirth at its Baby Place and Gynecological Services center. Outpatient services include Day Surgery, Laboratory, Diagnostic Imaging (including the most advanced CT, PET scans and MRI), Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy, and a Hearing Center. This rapidly expanding community hospital is adding another 18 med/surg beds and two more operating rooms within the next two years.

Parkview Adventist Medical Center is a 55-bed acute care hospital located in the magnificent coastal town of Brunswick, Maine. This hospital serves more than 45,000 area residents. In addition to its caring, faith-based approach to health, Parkview is known for its state-of-the-art technology, including advanced diagnostic services: digital 3-D ultrasound, PACS archiving system, and a 16-slice CT scanner.

Brunswick is a fantastic coastal community that is best known for Bowdoin College, one of the premier liberal arts schools in the country, with a beautiful sprawling campus. Brunswick is just minutes down the coast from the city of Bath, home of the world famous Bath Iron Works, the respected shipbuilding enterprise that is one of the largest employers in Maine. Brunswick offers a full range of shopping and dining, a major cinema complex and more, while Bath is somewhat quieter historic town, awash with genuine New England charm. Nearby Freeport is a destination city for shoppers, with the flagship L.L. Bean Store that never closes, plus over a hundred name-brand outlet stores.

The recreational opportunities around Brunswick are unparalleled. You can go sailing, motor boating, or kayaking around Bailey Island, Harpswell, Five Islands or Cundy’s Harbor. If you prefer staying on shore, you can still enjoy the ocean at the gorgeous sandy beaches of Popham Beach and Reid State Park. You can enjoy Maine’s sunny summer days while playing a round of golf at Bath Country Club or Brunswick Golf Club. For 47 years the Maine State Music Theater has been presenting Broadway musicals during the summer. Whether you go infrequently or purchase a season pass, you will be impressed by the well crafted productions performed there.

During the winter months you can stay active outdoors by skiing at Sunday River in Bethel (just two hours from Brunswick) where they have 131 trails, 18 lifts, and 8 interconnected mountains. If you’re just learning to ski and want to stay a little closer to home, check out Lost Valley in Auburn (just 40 minutes from Brunswick) where they have 2 lifts and 18 trails. Here they offer training programs and have a new snowboard terrain park.  

Brunswick has many education options. You can decide between four elementary schools, which will be followed by junior high school, and then one of the newest high schools in Maine, Brunswick High School. Families interested in enrolling their children in a Catholic school will want to explore Saint John’s, a private school with 225 students in grades K – 8.

If you decide to live in Bath you will have numerous education options as well. The city of Bath boasts three elementary schools, plus a middle school and a high school. If you’re making plans for a college bound student, you may want to consider enrolling your child in the private Hyde School. The Hyde School’s character-based curriculum has emphasized attitude over aptitude, effort over ability, and character over talent. Hyde is nationally recognized and provides a quality college preparatory curriculum for grades 9-12.

The Bath-Brunswick area is emerging as the second largest regional population/employment center in the State of Maine. The economy here is strong and growing more robust. The region has a healthy, diversified manufacturing base, from traditional industries to innovative, technology-driven industries involved in extensive international exporting. The health care industry is getting bigger, Bowdoin College is growing and increasing its student body and the region has a lively retail district as well as shopping centers. The region’s work force includes a high percentage of engineers and professionals as well as skilled production workers.

This areas rich historic culture, combined with decades of diverse economic growth, has produced a wonderful variety of residential housing. You can enjoy living in one of several communities’ just minutes from your office, all with very good schools, and still enjoy easy access to the services and amenities of Portland. From sprawling period homes and dramatic waterfront residences to cozy New England Cape Cods and classic rural homesteads, the Bath-Brunswick Region offers opportunity for all lifestyles and price ranges.

Average selling price of a single family home in the Bath-Brunswick Region varies dramatically. Condominiums start at $80,000 and up. Planned unit developments range from $120,000 to $250,000. Older houses begin at $95,000 entry range up to $225,000. Expect to spend $250,000 to $400,000 and up on prime new, custom construction. Modular housing starts at $130,000 to $175,000 for entry level new construction. Be prepared to spend $350,000 to $750,000 for a waterfront location. Back to Top

Camden / Rockport:

Maine’s Mid Coast region is dotted with working fishing villages, family neighborhoods, resort communities, and retirement areas. These picturesque towns offer wonderful schools and a plethora of community facilities for you and your family to enjoy. What’s more, many cultural events are all found locally, such as plays and pop concerts at the Camden Opera House and classical music offerings presented by the Bay Chamber Concerts. People from all over flock to the area for the annual Lobster Festival and Maine Blues Festival held during the summer.

Schools in and around Camden/Rockport are outstanding, which produced 6 National Merit Scholarship finalists this year. With a choice of 5 different elementary schools, a middle school and a high school, you’ll be sure your child gets the education that is right for them. If you want your children to go an “Alternative School,” you will want to enroll them at Community School. This school is part of the association, National Coalition of Alternative Community Schools and can accommodate students in grades K-12. Rockport College: “A Conservatory for Photography, Filmmaking, Video and New Media” attracts talented artists from all over the US and abroad for its highly regarded instructors and innovative curriculum.

Some of the Pine Tree State’s most beautiful coastline is located in Maine’s Mid Coast region, where you will enjoy a selection of personal lifestyle and residential options. You might enjoy living in a historic 19th century home in town, or possibly select a site with some acreage a few minutes inland, where you can enjoy privacy, or build the home of your dreams! You’ll find many family neighborhoods as well. The choice is yours!

There are dozens of other stores and boutiques, art galleries and antique and flea market type shops all along Route 1. Camden/Rockport is right in the middle of route 1, so you’ll find that no matter which way you turn, you can find amazing restaurants, quaint New England shops, and Farnsworth Museum with changing art exhibits including permanent collection of Wyeth paintings.

Maine is a nature lover’s paradise, offering a full range of all-season distractions. There is some of the best sailing in the northeast, kayaking, enjoy the beautiful coastline or swim and boat in the numerous nearby lakes. In winter there is alpine and Nordic skiing and the legendary toboggan race down Mt. Battie which draws participants from all over the country. You’ll find many fun-filled ways to spend your free time all year round. Back to Top

Damariscotta:

Damariscotta, Maine is a working fishing village located in Lincoln County that is recognized as both a tourist destination, and as a retirement community. This picturesque town is a wonderful place to live all year round, with friendly neighborhoods, great schools, and community facilities that include a YMCA, and more! Shopping, dining, and cultural events are all found locally, with many more located just an hour away in Portland.

Maine’s Mid Coast region boasts some of the Pine Tree State’s most beautiful coastline, where you will enjoy a selection of personal lifestyle and residential options. Waterfront homes are available, but pricey. You might enjoy living in a historic, 19th century home in town, or possibly select a site with some acreage a few minutes inland, where you can enjoy privacy, or build the home of your dreams! You’ll find many family neighborhoods as well. The choice is yours!

Damariscotta schools are top-notch. For children attending school below 8th grade, there are multiple choices of quality schools in the immediate and surrounding school districts. For high school age students, there is one area high school, Lincoln Academy, an independent secondary school chartered in 1801. Lincoln Academy is the fourth oldest secondary school in Maine that is still in existence today.

Maine is a nature lover’s paradise, offering a full range of all-season distractions. From white-water rafting, camping, fishing and hunting, to hiking and biking and cross country skiing, plus downhill skiing and snowmobiling, and all kinds of boating (canoeing, kayaking, sailing, etc.); you’ll find many fun-filled ways to spend your free time all year round.

Damariscotta is located on coastal route 1, half way between Camden and Brunswick, you’ll find that no matter which way you turn you can find amazing restaurants, quaint New England shops, and breathtaking scenery.

If you like hiking you want to make sure and take a trek down The Heritage Trail. The Heritage Trail is a three-mile long footpath traversing both Damariscotta River Association’s Salt Bay Preserve and Private land in Newcastle. Hikers pass under Route 1 and can detour to visit the famous “Glidden Midden’s”, ancient Indian shell heaps on the bank of the Damariscotta River; these record Indian gatherings through untold centuries.

For the history buff of the family, make sure to plan a trip to visit Fort Edgecomb located on the southern tip of Davis Island. This fort was built in 1809 as orders from Henry Dearborn, Secretary of War at the time. The fort was used as protection during the war in 1814-1815 and finally let its guard down on February 14, 1815 because the threat was over. Fort Edgecomb was put on alert again in 1864 during the Civil war but saw no action that time around. Today the fort is used only as a historic site that may be explored by those who visit.

 Local conservation sites provide opportunities for peaceful unhurried walks. Boat cruises operate tours all summer of New Harbor, for bird and whale watching, viewing the lighthouse from the ocean, or a day trip out to Monhegan Island and its famed artists’ colony. Pemaquid Beach with its white sand is an enjoyable place to sunbathe and swim in the ocean. Freshwater recreation is available too, at Damariscotta Lake, Biscay Lake, Lake Pemaquid and other smaller ponds. The State of Maine has a slogan that says “Maine — the way life should be.” Nowhere in the State is this more applicable than in Lincoln County. Back to Top

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