Portland and Acadia get most of the attention, but Maine's Midcoast is having a moment

Maine's idyllic tourism highlight reel is well-established. There's the charming downtown of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park, with its sweeping views of the wild ocean framed by dramatic, pine-studded cliffs. To the south are coastal-gone-posh Portland and Kennebunkport, two of the state's best-known weekend getaways.

And then there's the literal and figurative area in between: Midcoast Maine. Though its exact borders are up for debate, Maine's Midcoast is generally the swath of rocky coastline spanning from Brunswick to Belfast, between Southern and Downeast Maine. Compared to Maine's biggest hotspots, it's generally a low-key area. But this summer, it attracted a smattering of celebs : Lena Dunham recently visited Cushing while Queer Eye's Antoni Porowski sailed aboard a Rockland-based schooner.

Of course, Maine is no stranger to A-listers. Martha Stewart has had her Seal Harbor estate since 1997, and the historic Walker's Point compound in Kennebunkport has been in the Bush family for over a century. But the Midcoast hasn't historically gotten as much attention as its more famous cousins.

The tides, though, are changing. Airbnb recently named Camden as one of its top trending fall weekend-trip destinations. And even though Maine visitation dipped 4.4% last year, 18% of visitors were first-time visitors. More notably, 95% said they would return for another vacation.

Whether you're a first-timer or a veteran Vacationlander, consider this your guide to the Midcoast, including side trips built around the region's biggest draws: food, sightseeing and outdoor adventures.

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Brunswick and Bath

Brunswick is best known for being home to Bowdoin College, but it's much more than that. Neighboring Bath, known as the "City of Ships," is small but mighty, with a history just as rich as its present. The city is built around Bath Iron Works, a shipyard founded in 1884 on the banks of the Kennebec River. It still builds U.S. Navy destroyers today — a striking sight in the middle of a burgeoning waterfront town.

Things to do

Brunswick is a former mill town with that distinct and unmistakable New England edge. Channel it with a walk over the Swinging Bridge, a pedestrian suspension bridge built as a throughway for mill workers commuting from Topsham to Brunswick in 1892. Then head downtown to browse Maine Street's shops and restaurants.

Don't miss the chance to visit the Bowdoin College Museum of Art : It's free, centrally located and open to the public. Locals also know to stop by the farmers market on Tuesdays and Fridays during the summer.

In Bath, the Maine Maritime Museum is a standout. Founded in 1962, it sits on the site of the 19th-century Percy & Small Shipyard. Beyond ships — of which there are plenty — there are exhibits on lobstering, lighthouses and blacksmithing, plus tons of kid-friendly programming. And be sure to pay a visit to the full-size metal outline of the Wyoming , the largest wooden vessel built in the United States. It stands on the shipyard site where the schooner was built and launched in 1909.

From there, head for the coast to explore any number of the craggy peninsulas in the area. Nearby Phippsburg is home to Fort Popham and Popham Beach, one of the Midcoast's most stunning sandy beaches.

Also great: Harpswell, where native Mainer Patrick Dempsey once owned a farm . Hit the Dolphin Marina for its famous chowder, some blueberry muffins and Painkiller. Its sprawling lawn and unmatched views of the islands of Casco Bay draw a well-earned crowd.

Where to eat and stay

Check out The Brunswick Hotel across the street from Bowdoin. It's a boutique property with a brand-new patio, lawn and recently renovated restaurant, Noble Kitchen & Bar. Stop by Dutchman's for breakfast or lunch, or try the same owners' newly opened Italian-American restaurant, Paolo's .

Excellent cafés and bakeries are everywhere around Bath, including Mae's Café , Solo Pane and Winnegance Restaurant & Bakery . For lunch, Sisters Gourmet Deli makes sandwiches and wraps so good you may make a repeat visit en route to the beach.

For dinner, stop by Linden + Front or OystHERS Raw Bar & Bubbly for oysters and a drink by the river. And keep your eyes peeled for Taste of Maine in Woolwich en route north. Dunham posted a photo of its enormous rooftop lobster following her trip. Similarly unmissable is Red's Eats in Wiscasset — the lobster shack's popularity is the stuff of traffic-jam legends.

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Boothbay Harbor

Boothbay Harbor's roots as a fishing and shipbuilding community still shine through, with a highly walkable downtown that overlooks a scenic harbor and one of New England's most impressive botanical gardens right on the river's edge. It's great for families, with plenty of hotel options, but it is among the more touristy areas in the region. Still, it's got that old-school Maine getaway feeling and small-town charm that keeps folks coming back decade after decade.

Things to do

Restaurants and shops wind easily around the picturesque harbor peppered with lobster boats and schooners, and there's a free, easily accessible footbridge that grants you a great view of the harbor from the water without setting foot on a boat.

The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens , New England's largest, are a must-see. There are two tours a day that come free with admission: a one-hour highlight reel of the central gardens in the 320-acre property, and a trek along the garden's wooded trails (kids will love the five enormous recycled-wood trolls hidden within).

If you have time, take the car to Pemaquid Point at the end of Boothbay's neighboring peninsula. Its lighthouse and dramatic rocky shoreline are worth the drive, and sandy Pemaquid Beach is a short detour nearby. On your way, make a pit stop in Damariscotta, the oyster capital of Maine. Glidden Point Oyster Farm has tours, shuck-your-own oysters, a farm store and, in the off-season, a sauna and river cold plunge via an oyster cage. Doesn't get more local than that.

Where to eat and stay

Because it's one of the more popular stops in the Midcoast, there are plenty of places to stay. Some favorites include Topside Inn , centrally located in Boothbay Harbor but perched on the town's highest hill, offering peace and quiet along with beautiful views.

The Harborage Inn on the Oceanfront is the town's longest continuously operated B&B and is perfect if you prefer to be on the water's edge, while Spruce Point Inn Resort & Spa is the pick for a proper luxury resort experience. Also wonderful: Shore Hills Campground , with wooded and waterfront sites just three miles from town.

The Thistle Inn is an institution. Built in 1861 as a sea captain's home, the landmark building's restaurant is as cozy and coastal as you'd imagine. Otherwise, hit Dunton's Doghouse for grab-and-go casual grub or Boothbay Lobster Wharf, a working wharf with harbor views and seafood.

Your best bet, though, is Cabbage Island Clambakes , a four-hour experience that's well worth the time commitment. Part adventure, part meal, it includes a scenic, narrated cruise to the island where you'll feast on a traditional Maine clambake, complete with fish chowder, two lobsters, clams, corn and potatoes.

If you do head to Damariscotta, stop by Shuck Station Raw Bar or The Lobster Haul for casual, fresh seafood. Other top picks include Damariscotta River Grill, and if you're an always-room-for-dessert type, check out Old Time Donuts or Round Top Ice Cream for hand-churned, old-fashioned ice cream.

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Rockland and Rockport

These neighboring (and often confused) towns are both known for their artsy scenes and beautiful harbor views, but are otherwise quite different. Rockland is larger, with multiple museums, restaurants and lodging options, plus its scenic breakwater lighthouse. Rockport, on the other hand, is a much smaller village, best known for its harbor and uncharacteristically grand resort . In both towns, you'll find antique shops, art galleries, vintage clothing, local pottery and handmade gifts.

Things to do

In Rockland, walk the nearly mile-long Breakwater to the iconic lighthouse and watch the windjammers sail by — or, book your own sailing excursion like Porowski, who gushed over his time on the schooner Ladona . Rockland's harbor is a real working waterfront with island-bound transportation connecting the mainland to Midcoast islands, including Vinalhaven, North Haven and Matinicus.

In Rockport, kids love the Andre the Seal statue and nearby Beech Hill Preserve , an easy 1.2-mile round-trip hike through organic blueberry barrens to a summit with views of Penobscot Bay and a stone hut built in 1914.

Rockland's museums include the Center for Maine Contemporary Art and the Farnsworth Art Museum , whose campus includes the Wyeth Center , a must-visit for American art enthusiasts. Many of Andrew Wyeth's Maine works were inspired by this area, including Christina's World . In nearby Cushing, visitors can walk through Olson Field and visit the cemetery where Wyeth is buried, although the historic Olson House remains closed for preservation work.

Where to eat and stay

Take your pick of hotels in this region: There are tons, from familiar chains like Hampton Inn to quaint stays. Local favorites include The 250 Main Hotel , a boutique inn overlooking Rockland Harbor, and the upscale and well-known Samoset Resort , a sprawling oceanfront property overlooking Penobscot Bay with a gorgeous golf course and easy access to the Rockland Breakwater.

Rockland's Primo Restaurant is arguably the best restaurant in the area. For more casual digs, Claws has creative twists on local favorites, like Maine rock crab rangoon dip, lobster poutine and blueberry cornbread. Stop by Newty's Ice Cream for a cone, as Porowski did.

Other nearby notables include McLoons Lobster Shack , known for its lobster rolls, and, farther inland, The Lost Kitchen , famous for its postcard reservation lottery.

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Camden and Lincolnville

If there were a crown jewel of the Midcoast, Camden might be it. For a quintessential Maine vacation, Camden has it all: a gorgeous waterfront, plenty of places to eat and stay and mountain trails that feel far removed from the bustling downtown. Nearby Lincolnville is just 10 minutes up the road, and the wooded drive past Camden Hills State Park sets the scene. The busyness falls away to a quieter, campier, more chill getaway than that of its southern neighbors.

Things to do

Mosey through Camden Harbor. Wander around Main Street and the neighboring roads that weave around the Megunticook River, which runs through the town. Then, stop at the shore to take in Megunticook Falls before checking out the Camden Amphitheatre and Harbor Park , a beautiful riverside spot where you can slow down.

Just before sunset, head to Camden Hills State Park for panoramic views from Mount Battie. A steep half-mile trail climbs to the 780-foot summit (or you can skip it and take the seasonal auto road). Elsewhere in the park, roughly 30 miles of trails lead through the Camden Hills, including routes around 1,385-foot Mount Megunticook.

Venture a few minutes up the road and you'll hit Lincolnville, a quieter, campier and more laid-back getaway than its southern neighbors. There's not much of a downtown, but it's worth a visit for Cellardoor Winery , a 5.5-acre vineyard beneath the Camden Hills with a beautiful tasting room overlooking the historic farm. From Lincolnville, you can also pick up a ferry to Islesboro, where John Travolta and Kelly Preston owned a 48-acre oceanfront estate for about three decades.

Where to eat and stay

Camden's "castle by the sea," The Norumbega Inn , is a memorable splurge. Completed in 1887 and extensively renovated by its current owners, the 11-room inn features a wraparound porch overlooking Penobscot Bay, plus a seasonal restaurant and bar that are open to the public.

The Grand Harbor Inn is a boutique hotel situated smack in the heart of downtown Camden, directly on the water. Just down the road, Camden Harbour Inn is a quiet, 20-room hilltop boutique inn. Whether or not you stay, it's worth visiting its on-site restaurant, Natalie's . You can also check out Long Grain , a locavore Asian restaurant, or Franny's Bistro for American-inspired food tucked inside a cozy cottage.

For a more rustic feel, you can certainly camp at Camden Hills — the sites are private, thickly wooded and affordable. For a more glamp-adjacent experience, Camp DeForest in Lincolnville is a renovated 1950s motor lodge with 10 rooms and four standalone cabins. It's all the nostalgia of summer camp with the comforts of home.

Even if you're not staying overnight, the property's dining venues are open to the public, and non-guests can reserve campfire sites in 90-minute slots. Be sure to stop at Green Tree Coffee on your way in and out of town.