M I D C OAS T / BELFAST & BE YOND
The East Penobscot Bay Region reaches from Belfast in the west to Ellsworth in the east, with hundreds of peninsulas and islands. BELFAST Belfast offers an unmatched view of the open sea. This stunning seascape along with the remarkable collection of Federal, Victorian, Greek revival and Italian style homes built by sea merchants has lured artists, writers and crafts people to live in the area. Boasting a quaint downtown with shop-lined streets, Belfast is an ideal place to find antiques, souvenirs, collectibles, Maine-made crafts and much more. Take a stroll along the Belfast Harborwalk and admire splendid scenary, boats, rocks, ocean, beaches and, if desired, end up in the downtown for a little shopping or a great meal. SEARSPORT Searsport got its name from David Sears who made a fortune in the sea business and the China trade. You can see many of the artifacts brought back from these travels in the Penobscot Marine Museum. If you like antiques and flea markets you’ll be in heaven walking the brick sidewalks in the historic downtown. STONINGTON & STOCKTON SPRINGS Stonington, at the southernmost tip of Deer Isle, remains an active harbor town that draws visitors for touring. West of Belfast and Searsport you’ll find Stockton Springs, home to Fort Point State Park and Fort Point Light. 76
PENOBSCOT NARROWS BRIDGE Traveling up Rt. 1 toward Bucksport prepare yourself for a spectacular scenic view thanks to the new Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory. Spanning the Penobscot River, this engineering marvel has a 42-story tower as one of its support structures making it America’s only observatory bridge. Looking out from the observation tower you have a breath-taking 360-degree panoramic view that stretches to the Camden Hills to the south, Mount Desert Island to the east and Mount Katahdin to the northwest. BUCKSPORT BAY AREA There is a great deal to enjoy in the Bucksport Bay area. There is a special entrepreneurial spirit here. That spirit creates a huge variety of shops and services that are owned and operated by men and women that live here. Bucksport’s central location, set between Belfast, Bangor and Ellsworth, makes it an ideal location to visit. Within 25 miles, in any direction, you can swim in a lake splash in salt water, ski or hike a mountain, visit a fair eat at acclaimed restaurants, fly out of an international airport, take in a live performance, shop at a farmers’ market, look out from a lighthouse, and walk in a 1800’s fort. The Bucksport Bay area includes a dozen towns with boat launches, a winery and breweries, swimming areas, fun festivals, museums, culture, the highest bridge observatory in the world and more.
