Renys Maine Adventures

MAINE ADVENTURES

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4 Renys: The Ultimate Maine Treasure Hunt

For nearly 75 years, shoppers have flocked to this family-owned department store chain for quality, value, and one-of-a-kind retail adventures.

6 Maine Beaches Adventure

Plan a breezy ocean escape to the southern coast.

9 Portland Adventure

Discover endless ways to play in this city by the sea.

12 Sebago Lakes Adventure

Make a splash in the gateway to Maine’s Lakes & Mountains.

15 Camden Adventure

Explore coastal Maine’s splendor, by land and by sea.

18 Acadia Adventure

Create lasting memories in and around a premier national park.

MAINE ADVENTURES was produced by Yankee Publishing Inc. for Renys: A Maine Adventure. Copyright 2023 by Yankee Publishing Inc.; all rights reserved.

Photo credits: Cover, Visit Maine; p.2, traveler1116/iStock.com; p.5, courtesy of Renys; p.6, Oleg Albinsky/iStock.com; p.7, Adam DeTour; p.8 (top), Sam Chad/iStock.com; p.8 (bottom), Jerry Monkman/EcoPhotography; p.9, Justin Smulski; p.10, Visit Maine; p.11 (top), courtesy of Allagash Brewing Co.; p.11 (bottom), courtesy of Portland Museum of Art; p.12, Raymond Forbes LLC/Stocksy; p.13, Scott Linscott/courtesy of Pineland Farms; p.14 (top), JLC Photo Images/Shutterstock; p.14 (lower left), United Society of Shakers, photo by Jamie Ribisi-Braley; p.14 (lower right), courtesy of Maine Wildlife Park; p.15, Michael Hanson/Cavan Images; p.16, courtesy of Farnsworth Art Museum; p.17 (top), Carl Tremblay; p.17 (bottom), traveler1116/iStock.com; p.18, Visit Maine; p.19, courtesy of Under Canvas Acadia; p.20 (top), courtesy of Karen Francoeur of Castine Kayak Adventures; p.20 (bottom), courtesy of the Abbe Museum

PORTLAND HEAD LIGHT, CAPE ELIZABETH

SELLING POINTS

RENYS: THE ULTIMATE

BY VIRGINIA WRIGHT

Forget the Caribbean. Never mind a cruise. Phil and Dolly Curtis spent their honeymoon engaged in the Maine shopping equivalent of peak bagging: They visited all 17 Renys locations, a 700mile zigzagging jaunt. Dolly, 71, proposed the journey after seeing her 80-year-old fiancé’s disappointment upon learning that their wedding would conflict with Renys’ November Early-Bird Sale, when shoppers flood the stores in the wee hours for rock-bottom deals. “He’s silly enough to say yes,” Dolly told CBS Sunday Morning’s Nancy Giles, who traveled to Maine to interview the Old Orchard Beach couple about their offbeat wedding trip. “So off we went.”

The occasion that prompted the Curtises’ feat was exceptional, but their mission was not. Every year brings a new batch of “Renys baggers,” some of whom tick off each milestone with a dash of hoopla, like the four friends who arrived at the Topsham store wearing bright orange tees reading “Tour de Renys,” and the woman who chronicled her travels on a “Renys Run” Facebook page.

Renys touring is but one way Mainers shower love on their favorite store. In 2003, Newcastle resident Art Mayers penned Renys: The Musical; it’s now a community theater staple. Renys’ marketing team, meanwhile, fields a steady stream of homemade videos featuring people singing the store jingle—“Renys! A Maine adventure!”—for television spots. One family even synchronized their Christmas lights to the tune.

How to explain such enthusiasm for, of all things, a discount department store?

“We’re homegrown,” says Renys president John Reny, who’s been working at the business founded in 1949 by his father, Robert H. Reny, since he was 5. “We live here, and we know what Maine people need.”

He’s talking about things like Carhartt overalls and Pendleton flannel shirts, Keens hiking shoes and Yukon

Charlie trekking poles, and an assortment of Renysbranded goods, like lobster picks, portable lawn chairs, and canvas tote bags embroidered with Renys’ “Maine Adventure” logo, showing a road curving into a spruce forest. He means the largest variety of Bob’s Red Mill grains, flours, and cereals of any store in Maine and—especially coveted by Renys shoppers—Sweetzels Ginger Snaps and Stretch-Tite plastic wrap. Plus, Renys’ shelves brim with Maine-made edibles: Raye’s Mustard from Eastport, WaldoStone Farm Bloody Oyster Cocktail Mix from Bristol, and Maya’s Apiary Blueberry Honey from Sidney, to name a few.

Then there are the prices. “The big stores mark up their merchandise and then take 40 percent off and call it a sale,” Reny says. “Even then, we’re selling it cheaper. When we get a good deal on a product, we pass it on to our customers. People love us because they know we don’t fool around.”

That’s the philosophy established 74 years ago when a young Robert Reny quit his job as store clerk for a Damariscotta department store because his boss, who also happened to be his landlord, granted him a raise—then jacked up his rent by the same amount. R.H., as everyone knew him, opened a dry-goods store in the vacant A&P across the street and committed to treating his customers, employees, and vendors fairly. That first year, his store enjoyed a robust fall trade. When sales flagged after Christmas, R.H. loaded merchandise into his Hudson motorcar and drove down the Bristol peninsula, calling on fishing families rendered homebound by snow-rutted roads. When spring arrived, those families returned their amiable and gregarious visitor’s favor by shopping at his store.

R.H.’s tireless search for good deals extended to real estate as he grew a chain of stores. He never built new, but instead favored vacant buildings—a practice that breathed life into faded downtowns and deserted strip

For nearly 75 years, shoppers have flocked to this family-owned department store chain for quality, value, and one-of-a-kind retail adventures.

“We’re homegrown,” says Renys president John Reny.

“We live here, and we know what Maine people need.”

MAINE TREASURE HUNT

malls and endeared Renys to revitalization organizations like the Maine Development Foundation, which awarded the business its Main Street Hero award in 2009. By then, R.H. had opened 14 stores, and he was well known and beloved statewide. When he died that year at age 83, the Maine Merchants Association eulogized him as “the heart and soul” of Maine retailing.

Ranging from 2,000 square feet in Pittsfield (though that store will soon move to bigger digs) to 35,000 square feet in Bridgton, each Renys location is unique. Madison’s Renys was built as an opera house, Bath’s was a hotel, Bridgton’s was a post office. Gardiner’s Renys occupies three late-19th-century Romanesque Revival storefronts, one of which has an intact Rebekah Lodge on its third floor. The Farmington Renys’ stage and balcony recall its past as a silentmovie theater. And Damariscotta has two Renys: the original and, across the street, Renys Underground, a former bowling alley (it even has a soda fountain!).

John Reny, who took the helm in 2007, and his younger brother, Bob, now retired, have followed R.H’s example, adroitly negotiating off-price deals without scorching relationships with their vendors. They’ve further distinguished Renys among discount department stores by upgrading its clothing mix with brands such as Carhartt, Columbia, Smartwool, and Timberland. They’ve also stepped up the pursuit of closeouts and overruns, which account for the ever-changing, one-time-only offerings that delight Renys shoppers (recent examples include Martha Stewart mango-wood charcuterie boards and cartons of borlotti beans from Italy).

Meanwhile, they’ve mentored the next generation to manage the family enterprise. John’s daughter, Faustine, and Bob’s son, Adam, are part of an executive team overseeing a Maine institution with 500-plus employees. “We’re not just a retail store,” Adam remarked on Renys’ 70th anniversary in 2019. “As my grandfather said, we’re a customer-service company that happens to sell great stuff. We continue to practice the values that he had on day one.”

In Renys: The Musical, a character modeled after R.H. is lionized for his perseverance in the era of generic big-box stores. After he’s mobbed by adoring shoppers, the entire cast assembles for the first big number. “There are vitamins and cookies and cans of lobster stew, telephones and toasters and pillow cases too!” they sing. “You can get a chair there, try a dress there, see a friend there—all at

Renys!”

top: Renys founder Robert H. Reny, who grew a single department store in Damariscotta into a chain of 17 locations that span from Wells to Dexter.

middle: A view of the Damariscotta store in its opening year, 1949. bottom: From left, Renys president John Reny with thirdgeneration company leaders Adam Reny and Faustine Reny.

MAINE BEACHES ADVENTURE

Plan a breezy ocean escape to the southern coast.

aine has about 3,500 miles of coastline—the longest of any state on the East Coast—and while its dramatic craggy rockbound shores are rightfully famous, in the southern part of the state it’s all about the beaches. Sitting in the middle of a string of coastal communities that boast some of the loveliest beaches in New England, the town of Wells is a great jumping-off point for exploring this region of sun, sand, and surf. Yet frolicking by the ocean is just one of the endless ways to fill a day in this part of Maine, making it a place where fun-seekers of all kinds will want to dive right in.

PLAN YOUR TRIP Cape Neddick Light, York

When the Voyager spacecraft blasted off in 1977 for Jupiter and beyond, it carried images (for the benefit of curious aliens) showing Earth’s wonders: the Great Wall and the Grand Canyon, yes, but also this lighthouse, one of the most-photographed in the world. Nicknamed Nubble Light after the tiny isle on which it stands, the cast-iron tower has shone its red beacon to mariners since 1879. nubblelight.org

Coastal Maine Kayak and Bike, Kennebunk

If you’ve got the urge to explore, they’ve got the gear. Landlubbers can rent bikes, e-bikes, and scooters, while kayaks and paddleboards are offered for half-day, full-day, and multi-day rentals. You can even hit the water with a local guide on a kayak tour of the Kennebunk River or to the islands and lighthouse of beautiful Cape Porpoise Harbor. coastalmainekayak.com

First Chance Whale Watch, Kennebunk

Catching a glimpse of some of the world’s largest and most majestic animals is a dream that First Chance can make a reality, thanks to its 4½hour narrated cruises to the summer feeding grounds of humpbacks,

MEET THE RENYS TEAM: WELLS

Name: Joanne Karnila

Title: Assistant manager

Store location: Wells

Employed at Renys since: 2020

What’s your favorite part about working in Wells? “There’s just so much to see and do in this area: the ocean, browsing for something interesting in antiques stores on Route 1, taking in a play at the Ogunquit Playhouse.... I love meeting people and finding out what they are up to while visiting Maine. It’s also a great way for me to find out what is new and exciting in our area.”

What is one thing that you’d recommend to someone visiting Wells for the first time?

“Go to Mike’s Clam Shack in the summer and sit outside under the tent. The waitstaff are always attentive and friendly, and the food is phenomenal. My personal favorite is to order a dozen (or two) steamers—with extra butter, of course.”

What products at your store go great with Maine adventures? “My personal adventure takes place outside, in my yard. I enjoy gardening, planting flowers, growing tomatoes, and trying to find the perfect garden gnome. Renys has all the supplies I need to satisfy my green thumb and make my garden beautiful.”

Where else do you like to go for a Maine adventure? “My fiancé, who also works for Renys, and I enjoy hiking in Aroostook State Park and Presque Isle.... We also enjoy staying home and cooking steaks on our firepit with friends and family. I love the simple things life has to offer in Maine.”

Renys, 107 Wells Plaza, Wells; 207-646-1566. Visit renys.com for summer store hours.

Wide and smooth, Ogunquit Beach calls to ocean lovers on a summer day.

right: Old-fashioned saltwater taffy from The Goldenrod, a York Beach landmark.

The Goldenrod, York Beach

Walking or driving around York Beach, you’re sure to spot The Goldenrod. Just look for the kids mesmerized on the sidewalk, staring through windows at the way the taffy machines twist and pull and slice and wrap millions of pieces of saltwater taffy. More than 50 tons of saltwater taffy are produced annually in the front room of this strikingly oldfashioned restaurant, which has roots back to 1896. thegoldenrod.com

The Maine Diner, Wells

More than six million customers have enjoyed the fine cooking at this famous southern Maine eatery since it first opened its doors in the early 1980s. Myles’s Seafood Chowder is nationally renowned, and the fried clams, cod cakes, and baked stuffed haddock further elevate the diner’s reputation for great fresh seafood. mainediner.com

Marginal Way, Ogunquit

More than two dozen memorial benches along the way make it easy to rest and enjoy the stunning ocean views on this 1¼-mile-long paved footpath that leads from Ogunquit’s main beach up the rugged cliffs to the shops and seafood restaurants in Perkins Cove. marginalwayfund.org

Mount Agamenticus, South Berwick

Most visitors to the southern coast head straight for the beaches, and rightly so. But a detour to Mount Agamenticus, just a stone’s throw from Ogunquit and Wells, will reward you with one of the best “bang for your buck” hikes in the Pine Tree State. It’s ideal for families, offering a wide path and benches to rest, and there’s a nature center at the top. agamenticus.org

Ogunquit

Beach,

Ogunquit

Dubbed “The Beach That Has It

All” by Yankee magazine, Ogunquit Beach has more than three miles of gleaming white sand, ensuring plenty of room for visitors to spread out. Popular with sunbathers, surfers, and kite flyers, Ogunquit Beach is also terrific for families: Just steps away from the main beach there’s a slender, sheltered beach on a tidal river where the water is calm and the sand is dotted with little pools— perfect for sand-castle builders. ogunquit.org/our-beaches

Ogunquit Museum of American Art, Ogunquit

Outside, landscaped grounds accented with sculptures and gardens surround the cliff-

hugging museum. Inside, exhibits in five galleries are drawn from a permanent 3,000-piece collection that includes works by Marsden Hartley, Rockwell Kent, and Thomas Hart Benton, among others. ogunquitmuseum.org

Rachel Carson National

Wildlife Refuge, Wells

Stretching along 50 miles of the southern Maine coast, the refuge is filled with flora and fauna unique to this seaside habitat and lures kayakers, hikers, and other lovers of the outdoors. The mile-long universal-access Carson Trail loops through the property, passing tidal creeks and salt marshes, and providing excellent vistas for bird-watching. fws.gov/northeast/ rachelcarson

Seashore Trolley Museum, Kennebunkport

Considered the world’s premier electric railway museum, this c. 1939 landmark boasts a collection of 250-plus transit vehicles, most of them trolleys, from across the U.S. and beyond. You can even hop aboard a 1900s trolley for a ride on the museum’s heritage railroad. trolleymuseum.org

Whale-watching is just one of the many lures of a getaway to Maine’s southern coast.

For a break from the beach scene, bring your hiking boots for a trip up Mount Agamenticus.

PORTLAND ADVENTURE

Discover endless ways to play in this city by the sea.

here may not be a city in New England that merges the old with the new better than Portland does. Sophisticated and walkable, this coastal community hasn’t forgotten its roots: Its waterfront is still a working one. But its five-block Old Port district has been creatively reimagined as a tourist hot spot, with a wide selection of galleries, shops, cafés, and restaurants (including a number with national acclaim). Elsewhere, there are parks and museums to discover, lighthouses to photograph, local beers to sample, and an entire gorgeous Casco Bay to paddle. Whatever strikes your fancy, Maine’s biggest city has you covered—and then some.

Filled with shops and restaurants, the historic Old Port district is a great place to begin exploring Portland.

MEET THE RENYS TEAM: PORTLAND

Name: Scott Witt

Title: Store manager

Store location: Portland

Employed at Renys since: 2011

What’s your favorite part about working in Portland? “I enjoy the multitude of restaurants that we have near our store, as there’s a large variety of cuisines to choose from within walking distance.”

What is one thing you’d recommend to someone visiting Portland for the first time? “With Portland being a very art-centric town, I’d recommend checking out some of our art galleries—such as SPACE, which has constantly revolving exhibits and is a musical venue, too.”

What products at your store go great with Maine adventures?

“Intex rafts and floats make for a great adventure with our local rivers that bring a nice mixture of excitement and relaxation. Don’t forget to stay hydrated during your venture downstream with our selection of water bottles or Polar seltzers.”

Where do you personally like to go for a Maine adventure? “Spring and fall in my opinion are the best times to go hiking, as the weather isn’t too hot. I enjoy the trails at Camden Hills State Park, which range from light walking trails to climbing Mount Battie.”

Renys, 540 Congress St., Portland; 207-553-9061. Visit renys.com for summer store hours.

PLAN YOUR TRIP

Allagash Brewing Company

Belgian-inspired beers are on the menu at Allagash, launched in 1995 by owner Rob Tod using juryrigged dairy equipment inherited from Vermont ice cream legends Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield. Allagash helped pave the way for Maine’s now-thriving craft beer scene, and it still offers some of the state’s finest pours and tours, seven days a week. allagash.com

Casco Bay Mailboat Run

Pack lobster rolls, whoopie pies, and Maine-brewed beers in a cooler, and park your worries on land. For the next three hours you can be a carefree “stowaway” on one of Casco Bay Lines’ daily, year-round voyages to deliver mail, freight, and residents to five major islands. In the summer (or any time there’s an ample crowd aboard), you’ll get a narrated tour as you pass lighthouses, watch lobstermen haul traps, and edge up to islands where communities seem from another century. cascobaylines.com

Eastern Prom Food Trucks

Sunday brunch or any sunny

summer day, for that matter, brings out the crowds for some of the city’s best food trucks, including Falafel Mafia, Mr. Tuna, and the melt-inyour-mouth mini doughnuts of the Eighty 8 Donut Café. The setting is also something you’ll eat up: Picnic on the sprawling lawn, chase the kiddos around the playground, or gaze at the harbor and Fort Gorges. easternpromenade.org

Eventide

This restaurant’s intelligent, imaginative, and tasty interpretations of classic New England seafood have earned it a national reputation. The showstopper is the oldfashioned raw bar, packed with pristine oysters on the half shell (many pulled from Maine waters) and presented on a massive slab of Maine granite; however, be sure to leave room for Eventide’s famous brown butter lobster roll, served on a house-made steamed bun. eventideoysterco.com

Lucky Catch Cruises

Experience what it’s like to be a Maine fisherman aboard one of the Lucky Catch tours in Casco Bay. Don a rubber apron and gloves, bait and haul traps, and learn how to tell

Get up close and personal with real lobsters on a Lucky Catch Cruises tour.

males from females and keepers from throwbacks. Purchase “bugs” off the boat, and Portland Lobster Company will steam them when you return to the pier. luckycatch.com

Maine Island Kayak Tours

If you’d love to get out in a true sea kayak in gentle surf and find soft landing spots on rocky shores, these half- and full-day tours should be right up your alley. Athletic beginners are also welcome to join the explorations of the Casco Bay archipelago, which begin at Kayak Beach next to the island ferry dock. Two-hour sunset tours reveal a glowing city skyline that’s

hard to see from any other vantage. maineislandkayak.com

Portland Head Light

Just four miles from downtown Portland, Maine’s oldest lighthouse (it was commissioned by George Washington!) still guards the harbor. At Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth, you can visit the museum in the former keeper’s residence and stroll around or enjoy a picnic in the park. portlandheadlight.com

Portland Museum of Art

The largest and oldest public art institution in Maine, the Portland Museum of Art offers highlights

from three centuries of art in its trio of downtown buildings. There’s a top-flight collection of paintings by American realist and impressionist masters (Winslow Homer and John Singer Sargent, to name two); a treasure trove of fine and decorative arts; and the largest holding of European art north of Boston. portlandmuseum.org

Two Fat Cats Bakery

The iconic pies of the Pine Tree State— blueberry and whoopie—couldn’t be more different. Maine blueberry pie celebrates the tart juiciness of wild blueberries as it bubbles through the slits of a flaky crust. At the other end of the wholesomeness spectrum, the whoopie pie is made of two rounded cocoa sponges separated by a sugary “creme” that soothes your inner child by satisfying even the most extreme sweet tooth. Two Fat Cats does them both to perfection. twofatcatsbakery.com

Victoria Mansion

Considered the most magnificently ornamented dwelling of its period remaining in the country, the mid19th-century Victoria Mansion retains about 90 percent of designer Gustave Herter’s original furnishings. Jaw-droppers include a 6-by-25foot stained-glass ceiling window, mind-boggling trompe l’oeil wall and ceiling flourishes, and the dizzying colors and patterns of the Turkish Smoking Room. victoriamansion.org

Culture fans can spend happy hours browsing the thousands of works on display at the Portland Museum of Art.

Get a taste for Maine beer at Allagash Brewing Company.

SEBAGO LAKES ADVENTURE

Make a splash in the gateway to Maine’s Lakes & Mountains.

hough the town of Windham is located a mere half hour from the coast and Maine’s biggest city, most visitors to this historic burg have their eyes set on a treasure farther inland: namely, the Sebago Lakes region, crowned by Maine’s second-largest lake. With its deep and sparklingclear waters, surrounded by tranquil forests and inviting small towns, Sebago Lake has drawn generations of vacationers to stay at its rustic resorts, summer cottages, and children’s camps. Day-trippers, meanwhile, will find a wealth of things to see and do in this picturesque place, which offers a first step into Maine’s famed Lakes & Mountains region—and the promise of lifelong memories.

RENYS’

Covering almost 50 square miles, Sebago Lake offers endless possibilities for paddling, swimming, fishing, and more.

PLAN YOUR TRIP

Babb’s Bridge, Windham

An irresistible photo op for visitors, this handsome covered bridge running 79 feet over the Presumpscot River is a testament to local spirit. After the original 1843 structure was decimated by arson in 1973, the community petitioned to have an exact replica built rather than have their timeless wooden icon replaced by a new steel bridge. windhamhistorical.org/ babbs-bridge

Bresca & the Honey Bee, New Gloucester

At this winner of an ice cream stand on the shores of Sabbathday Lake, owner and acclaimed chef Krista Kern Desjarlais is committed to using milk and cream from nearby dairy farms—a dedication that pays off in the finest, freshest ice cream possible. While grabbing a cone, visitors can also opt to use the boating, tubing, or picnicking facilities at nearby Outlet Beach. brescaandthehoneybee.com

Maine Wildlife Park, Gray

It’s hard to know whether to look first at the majestic moose browsing on alders or the playful black bears splashing around their water feature. At this Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife sanctuary for animals unable to live in the wild, you might spy as many as 30 species, most native to the Maine woods, in an afternoon. Pack a lunch to enjoy at a picnic table on the spacious grounds. maine.gov/ifw/wildlife-park

Migis Lodge, South Casco

For those looking to stay in the Sebago Lakes region, this 107-yearold family resort is like stepping into an L.L. Bean catalog. The main lodge and cabins are scattered under pines edging Sebago Lake’s shore. Then there are the beaches and boats, cookouts and cocktails, and special kids’ programs. migis.com

Naples Seaplane Adventures, Naples

Get a bird’s-eye view of sparkling waters and rolling mountains on a seaplane ride, a tourist tradition

MEET THE RENYS TEAM: WINDHAM

Name: B.J. Bayley

Title: Assistant manager

Store location: Windham

Employed at Renys since: 2008

What’s your favorite part about working in Windham?

“Windham is a very busy town with lots of shopping and dining. Almost everything you need can be found here.”

What is one thing that you’d recommend to someone visiting Windham for the first time? “Of course, you must come visit Renys, but I also recommend having some pizza at Portland Pie Company.”

What products at your store go great with Maine adventures? “Renys always has a great selection of seasonal merchandise. Everything you need for a beach day, or a barbecue! Also, there are lots of Maine souvenirs and Maine-made products.”

Where do you personally like to go for a Maine adventure?

“I really enjoy having breakfast at The Top of the Hill Grille in Casco, Maine, and I enjoy using the indoor range at Windham Weaponry.”

Renys, 795 Roosevelt Trail, Windham; 207-572-4514. Visit renys.com for summertime store hours.

Pineland Farms in New Gloucester is a popular option for families seeking fresh-air fun.

here for nearly a century. Founded in 2014, Naples Seaplane Adventures will take you on an aerial tour that can range from a quick trip over Naples and Long Lake to a longer jaunt to the foothills of the White Mountains. naplesseaplaneadventures.com

Pineland Farms, New Gloucester Outdoor recreation meets farm

fun at Pineland, whose 5,000 acres encompass everything from trails for hiking and biking to candlepin bowling, disc golf, and bocce. Buy a pass to tour the Family Farmyard and working dairy farm, meeting friendly cows and goats along the way, and stop in at the market to pick up fresh produce or a bite to eat. pinelandfarms.org

Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, New Gloucester

Few places embody the term “living history” as beautifully as the world’s last remaining active Shaker community. Two members of the Shaker sect still dwell in this c. 1783 village, which maintains 18 original structures and holds the largest existing repository of Maine Shaker culture. A “friends” group helps out with farm chores; gives tours that provide a poignant and palpable feeling for Shaker life; and runs the store that sells Shaker seeds, wool, handmade soap and candles, and more. maineshakers.com

Sebago Lake State Park, Casco

It’s surprising that with a depth of 316 feet and a surface area of more than 45 square miles, Sebago Lake doesn’t have its own mythical sea monster. What it does have, though, are resident populations of landlocked salmon and lake trout, more than 100 miles of shoreline, and a 1,400-acre campground featuring 250 wooded sites set back from the water. maine.gov/ sebagolake

Sebago Trails Paddling Company, Raymond

Begin your on-the-water adventures at Sebago Trails, which rents kayaks, paddleboards, and canoes. It also offers a variety of tours on and around Sebago Lake, ranging from sunset and moonlight outings to beginner journeys on paddleboards. sebagotrails.com

Songo River Queen II, Naples

Cruise beautiful Long Lake on a replica of a Mississippi River stern paddlewheeler with two spacious decks, a food court, and a cocktail bar. Highlights of the narrated tour include the former homes of author Stephen King and Governor Kenneth Curtis. No need to reserve ahead, as the mighty Queen can hold up to 350 passengers (plus, it’s wheelchair accessible). songoriverqueen2.com

from left: Handmade baskets on display at Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, a historic gem in New Gloucester; one of the resident critters at the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray.

Soak up the lovely scenery of Long Lake aboard the Songo River Queen II.

CAMDEN ADVENTURE

Explore coastal Maine’s splendor, by land and sea.

he action in the Midcoast town of Camden revolves around a dreamy harbor, where pleasure boats and landmark tall ships tuck in for the night. On land, there are “should dos”: You can collect practically every experience that lures vacationers to Maine’s coast without venturing farther than neighboring Rockport and Rockland. See lighthouses, gather seashells, dine waterside, admire art, and drive or climb up Mount Battie for sweeping scenes of island-sprinkled Penobscot Bay. But simply taking it easy can be equally blissful, and you’ll feel the restorative powers of relaxation when you set out on the water, whether for a day sail or a multi-night voyage.

MEET THE RENYS TEAM: CAMDEN

Name: Sabrina Ivory

Title: Regional supervisor

Store location: Camden

Employed at Renys since: 2002

What’s your favorite part about working in Camden? “I love the community. There are so many great people that live and work in this area. It is great to be able to interact with them when they come into our Camden location.”

What’s one thing that you’d recommend to someone visiting Camden for the first time? “Going downtown and eating at Marriner’s Restaurant, and then strolling around taking in the sights and sounds of the area.”

What products at your store go great with Maine adventures?

“We offer so many products that can be useful for any Maine adventure. ... If you choose to go to the beach, we have everything you could possibly need: beach toys, sandals, bathing suits, beach towel, sunblock, life vests, lots of water toys, coolers, and food. However, if hiking is more your thing, we have a great selection of hiking boots, clothes to get you through the elements, backpacks, and outdoor gear—and plenty of water bottles and snacks.”

Where do you personally like to go for a Maine adventure?

“I enjoy exploring the many trails that Camden Hills State Park has to offer. I am partial to hiking up Mount Battie via the Carriage Road Trail as well as the Scenic Trail Cut-off and the Maiden Cliff Trail. The views are spectacular and refreshing ... and being out in nature helps reset me.”

Renys, 83 Elm St., Camden; 207-236-9005. Visit renys.com for summer store hours.

PLAN YOUR TRIP

Camden Hills State Park, Camden

Think of this 5,710-acre preserve as a “baby Acadia,” with fewer crowds than the national park but the same mountain-meets-the-sea allure. A driving road makes the summit of Mount Battie accessible to those who don’t care to hike. You’ll find the words of one of Maine’s most famous poets there, and admire the same scene Edna St. Vincent Millay described so memorably in her poem ”Renascence.” maine.gov/ camdenhills

Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Rockland

With roots that extend back to 1952, Maine’s boldest art museum makes the most of its Toshiko Mori–designed home, completed in 2016. Inside vast exhibition spaces, you’ll see temporary exhibitions of works by leading living artists: the kinds of imaginative pieces that encourage deep examination and spark conversations. cmcanow.org

Farnsworth Art Museum, Rockland

Maine has an outsize place in American art history thanks to the skilled hands and eyes of luminaries like N.C., Andrew, and Jamie Wyeth; Winslow Homer;

and Louise Nevelson. Their works are well represented in the permanent collection at the Farnsworth, which is marking its 75th anniversary by spotlighting new acquisitions that underscore Maine’s reputation as a place of inspiration. farnsworthmuseum.org

Laite Memorial Beach Park, Camden

Camden’s harborside beach may be just a wee stretch of sand, but access is free, and the view of Penobscot Bay and Mount Battie from here is exquisite. Bring a picnic; wade in when the water’s warm; and hunt for pretty shells, even when the weather turns brisk. camdenparksandrec.com/beaches

Project Puffin Visitor Center, Rockland

Kids love crawling inside a replica puffin burrow and spying on these comical birds via live cameras trained on their nesting islands. Audubon runs this center to communicate a serious message, though: Puffins and other threatened seabirds need us to rethink our habits and support conservation. projectpuffin.audubon.org

River Ducks Ice Cream, Camden When you see window shoppers in downtown Camden carrying

N.C. Wyeth and other acclaimed Maine artists take center stage at Rockland’s Farnsworth Art Museum.

luscious-looking ice cream cones, you’ll want one, too. Head uphill from the waterfront to this adorable stand, painted bright pink and green, and choose from flavors with local appeal like Moose Tracks, Black Bear, and Flyfishing Fudge. Facebook and Instagram

Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse, Rockland

Just under a mile long and built with nearly 700,000 tons of roughcut granite, the Rockland breakwater not only protects the city’s harbor but also provides walking access for people (and dogs) who want to view the lighthouse that stands guard at its very end. The 1902 brick beacon, now automated, remains an active aid to navigation. rocklandharborlights.org/ directions

Sail, Power, and Steam Museum, Rockland

Captain Jim Sharp’s passion project is more than a place to take a deep dive into Maine’s maritime history. The Midcoast Sailing Center, based at the museum, will get you out on the water for a day sail or even a lesson, whether you’re a novice or just need a refresher. sailpowersteammuseum.org

Schooner Appledore, Camden

Don’t miss a golden opportunity to experience sunset on the water. Two-hour evening outings aboard the Maine-built Appledore II are timed for the best photo ops, and while you can help hoist sails and take a turn at the wheel, you can also upgrade to the unlimited full bar option and just chillax. Day sails are a terrific option, too. appledore2.com

The View Rooftop Bar at 16 Bay View, Camden

This boutique hotel’s rooftop bar is a perfect perch from which to observe boats in the harbor, with a signature cocktail or mocktail in hand. The menu of small plates, like nachos

heaped with smoked short rib, is just enough to tide you over until dinner. 16bayview.com/the-view

Windjammers, Camden and Rockland

The magic of spending a few days on an authentic Maine windjammer is that you see the coast everyone hopes to see but few actually do. These independently owned and operated boats come in all shapes and sizes—from a 1922 racing yacht to a 1950s ship built especially for windjamming cruises—but all offer an unforgettable maritime adventure. sailmainecoast.com; mainewindjammercruises.com

Experience the exhilarating power of the Age of Sail on a vintage sailing vessel like the c. 1871 Lewis R. French, America’s oldest windjammer.

The vista from atop Mount Battie in Camden Hills State Park.

ACADIA ADVENTURE

Create lasting memories in and around a premier national park.

From its rocky shores to the heights of Cadillac Mountain, Acadia National Park serves up scene after scene of almost unimaginable beauty. There’s no doubt that New England’s first national park is the star attraction on this part of the Maine coast, the beginning of the wild and scenic Down East & Acadia region. Yet outside the park’s 48,000-plus acres, there are many other discoveries to be made, too. Start in Ellsworth—aka the Gateway to Acadia—which has a lovely Art Deco theater, a pretty harbor park, and the biggest shopping district in the county. From there, you can ramble around the charming Blue Hill Peninsula, or head right to Mount Desert Island, where the resort town of Bar Harbor awaits—and beyond that, the grandeur of Acadia itself.

The distinctive profile of “The Bubbles” rises above the waters of Jordan Pond in Acadia National Park.

PLAN YOUR TRIP

Abbe Museum, Bar Harbor

The history and culture of Maine’s Wabanaki tribe, the People of the First Light, are the focus of the Smithsonian-affiliated Abbe Museum, whose location in downtown Bar Harbor is complemented by a second, smaller outpost within Acadia National Park. The museum’s collection of works by Wabanaki basket makers is particularly strong, and you can purchase finely woven baskets by some of today’s leading artisans in the gift shop. abbemuseum.org

Acadia National Park

Even though Acadia, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2016, is one of America’s most popular national parks, you’ll still find an overarching sense of serene, unspoiled wilderness here. Walk, bicycle, or take a horse-drawn carriage ride on the park’s 57-mile carriage-trail system; grab a photo of the postcard-perfect c. 1858 Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse; and drink in the view from atop Cadillac Mountain. nps.gov/acad

Big Chicken Barn, Ellsworth

In this nearly 22,000-square-foot

converted barn, about half of the retail space is devoted to varied antiques, and the treasures are plentiful. But what really sets this place apart is its other half, where the focus is squarely on books and paper collectibles. The selection of vintage magazines is a wonderland. bigchickenbarn.com

Castine Kayak Adventures, Castine

Since 1997, this outfitter on the Blue Hill Peninsula has been conducting award-winning day- and nighttime tours of some of the most beautiful waterways in all of Maine. Trips are led by certified Maine Guides, with offerings tailored to different interests and skill levels. Check out the after-dark bioluminescent stargazing cruise. castinekayak.com

Downeast Scenic Railroad, Ellsworth

Get a whole new window onto the Maine landscape as you roll past marshes, woods, rivers, and quiet communities during a nearly two-hour train ride. Painstakingly restored passenger cars lend a back-in-time feel to the journey, which also affords excellent wildlife-spotting opportunities. downeastscenicrail.org

MEET THE RENYS TEAM: ELLSWORTH

Name: Josh Bickford

Title: Store manager

Store location: Ellsworth

Employed at Renys since: 2010

What’s your favorite part about working in Ellsworth? “I like the challenge of trying to fit ‘too much’ stuff into too little space. Even though we just expanded the store, somehow we seem to have filled it just fine. I also like how busy this store gets. We have customers from all over eastern Maine and Down East, in addition to the Acadia National Park traffic. Highly challenging, but I like it.”

What’s one thing that you’d recommend to someone visiting Ellsworth for the first time?

“In downtown Ellsworth, ‘86 This!’ has been my favorite place to eat for 13 years running. I also love the city forest trails in various spots around the outskirts of Ellsworth. Jordan Homestead

Trail is my new favorite riverside trail to hit during lunch. It’s only a mile from the store.”

What products at your store go great with Maine adventures?

“I always keep my eye out for new hiking and camping gear and clothing. Same thing in our food department: There’s always something new to try. It’s always fun to see what comes in our freight delivery each day.”

Where do you personally like to go for a Maine adventure?

“I’m conveniently located between Baxter State Park with Mount Katahdin, and Acadia National Park. I try to get to both magical places at least a few times each year.”

Renys, Ellsworth Shopping Center, 175 High Street, Ellsworth; 207667-5166. Visit renys.com for summer store hours.

Not a fan of roughing it? Give “glamping” a go at Under Canvas in Surry.

Downeast Windjammer Cruise Lines, Bar Harbor

See Acadia’s fabled coastline from the water on a morning, afternoon, or sunset sail from Bar Harbor aboard a historic schooner. downeastwindjammer.com

George B. Dorr Museum of Natural History, Bar Harbor

Housed in the original headquarters for Acadia National Park, this little museum run by the College of the Atlantic is packed with familyfriendly diversions, including a tidepool tank and dioramas showing taxidermized wildlife in their natural habitats. Admission is free (donations appreciated). coa.edu/ dorr-museum

The Grand, Ellsworth

An Art Deco theater built in 1938 on Main Street, just a few short years after a fire leveled much of downtown Ellsworth, The Grand is a prime purveyor of movies, live music, and theater shows. grandonline.org

Indian Point-Blagden Preserve, Bar Harbor

A less-crowded alternative to Acadia National Park, this 110-acre Nature Conservancy property offers plenty of hiking trails as well as gorgeous views of Frenchman Bay. You’ll discover great bird-watching opportunities here, and seals can often be seen basking on the ledges offshore. nature.org

Under Canvas, Surry

Located less than 10 minutes south of Ellsworth, this “glamping“ destination opened in 2021 on property with 1,200-plus feet of Patten Bay coastline. Each of the 63 safari-style tents boasts chic furniture, a wood-burning stove, and organic toiletries—plus daily housekeeping. Book one of the “Stargazer” tents and catch the twinkling display via viewing windows above your king-size bed. undercanvas.com

Woodlawn, Ellsworth

The Black House, a beautifully preserved 1827 mansion situated on 180 acres, offers a glimpse into Ellsworth history: Decked out with furniture, art and décor from the family and the region, the house looks much the same as it might have while three generations of the Black family lived here. The property’s trails are open from dawn to dusk daily. Time your visit right, and you may even get to play croquet on the lawn. woodlawnellsworth.org

Get a new perspective on the Maine coast with Castine Kayak Adventures.

The Abbe Museum showcases both historic and modern indigenous artistry, such as Ceremony of the Singing Stars, 2017, by Geo Soctomah Neptune, Passamaquoddy Nation.

Best Bargain Store

Best Bargain Store

11 Years Running!

11 Years Running!

A Maine Family Business

A Maine Family Business

Since 1949

Since 1949

“We live here and we know what you need!”

“We live here and we know what you need!”

“We live here and we know what you need!”

—John Reny

–John Reny

–John Reny