The Greatest Cape - Midcoast Maine Vacation Rental

One of the things we love best about the Greatest Cape is its location in the heart of Tenants Harbor. A two minute walk will bring you to the General Store, several local restaurants, the library, a playground, and of course, the harbor itself. A few miles down the road is Port Clyde, at the very tip of the St. George peninsula, where you'll find galleries, a few shops, restaurants, and the best ice cream shop around! You can venture off the peninsula into nearby Rockland and Camden for more great restaurants, shopping, and sightseeing. This page will help you learn about all that the area has to offer.

Between Tenants Harbor and Port Clyde is a treasure that mainly the locals know about - a gorgeous public beach that spreads wide when the tide is low, and all but disappears when the tide is high. Great for climbing on rocks, taking pictures, bringing a picnic and splashing around for hours, launching a kayak, or building a sandcastle. Small adjacent parking lot, and street parking is fine as well. A tide chart may help you plan your trip.

The lighthouse and surrounding rocky shore are simply beautiful and great for photographs and exploring. Try to go when the small museum and shop are open, but you're welcome to visit at any time of day. You might even recognize it - it's the very lighthouse that Forest Gump jogged to in the movie! It's just down the road from the Drift Inn Beach, a gorgeous walk on a nice day.

If you have the better part of a day free, you must visit Monhegan! You'll take a ferry from Port Clyde, which is either a 50 or 70 minute trip, depending on which boat you choose. Bikes only - there are no cars on the island, except a few owned by one of the 80 or so people who live here year-round. Many who live on the island are artists or fishermen, and those who visit can spend hours hiking through the woods, cliffs, and seaside trails that circle and cross the small island, and also enjoy many small shops and galleries. Well worth the trip - bring a picnic as you will probably find yourself across the island from the small town when you feel hungry! Here is a great website to find out more.

A great choice for a rainy day or any day, the museum is about a 15 minute drive from Tenants Harbor, on Route 73.. It's full of vintage cars and planes from all over the world, all of which are maintained for actual use. Check the calendar of events as well; they have wonderful air shows and special exhibits.

With a variety of tours designed for beginners as well as experienced paddlers, join Port Clyde Kayaks for a chance to see the peninsula in a very special way. Their website has full details, as well as a great deal of information about the local area.

Mt. Battie and Mt. Megunticook are part of Camden Hills State Park, just north of Camden on Rt. 1. Mt. Battie is quick to conquer and at the top you'll find stunning views of the local harbors and surrounding islands. There are 30 miles of trails, and you can also drive a car to the top if you wish. Bring a picnic and a camera!

There are lots of wonderful places to shop on the peninsula and beyond. One place you should certainly visit is about halfway between Tenants Harbor and Port Clyde, a local pottery shop called Noble Clay. Another favorite is Stonefish, in the center of Port Clyde, filled with an eclectic mixture of treasures. Don't miss Hedgerow if you are a gardening enthusiast, or even if you just like beautiful things; they also host a popular market on Saturday mornings in the summertime, but you have to get there early before all the best items are snapped up!

Just 20 and 30 minutes away, Rockland and Camden both bustle with shops, restaurants, and great sightseeing Camden was recently rated the "prettiest harbor in Maine" by Down East Magazine, and from the town's central pier you can purchase tickets to ride on any number of beautiful schooners. In Rockland, galleries and speciality shops abound, and local attractions include walking the breakwater or joining Captain Jack's Lobsterboating Adventure! A new favorite is Fiore's Artisan Olive Oils and Vinegars - you can taste every single variety before you make your choices - then come home and get cooking! Between the two towns you'll find Maine Sport Outfitters, a great place to rent bikes, kayaks, and other equipment, book kayak tours (2 hours in Camden Harbor, $35!), and shop for sporting goods and more.

Located in downtown Rockland, this impressive museum is newly updated and contains a wide range of exhibits, including an exciting new collection of the works of Robert Indiana. Always popular is the extensive collection of works by N.C., Jamie, and Andrew Wyeth . Visit the museum website to find out more! We love the museum shop there as well.

Mosquito Head is a small parcel of land that juts out into Penobscot Bay It is our very favorite local walk - in just over an hour (at a leisurely pace) you can walk the head, partly through woods, partly on rocks, and enjoy a treasure that only the local residents know about. A map at the house will help you find your way there.

Everyone knows, the seafood in Maine is second to none. In Tenants Harbor and Port Clyde, you can buy lobsters that were caught just offshore that same day. Sweet local shrimp, crabmeat, and many varieties of fish are available daily at local shops (Cod End's fish market is right in town). With so many restaurants to choose from in the area, your biggest problem will be finding the time to try everything! A new favorite of ours is the Happy Clam, which is a one minute walk from the house; they specialize in German fare, and have great seafood baskets, burgers, and more. We also love the Village Ice Cream Shop in Port Clyde, which has fantastic baked goods (made to order, if you choose), great lunches, and ice cream, of course! If you're planning a trip to Rockland or Camden, our very favorite restaurants are Primo (Rockland), Sheperd's Pie (Rockport), and Francine's Bistro (Camden) - all worth the trip on their own merit.

We couldn't begin to list all the fairs and festivals that take place throughout the year in Maine, but we do have several local favorites to tell you about. Plan your trip to coincide with one of them, and enjoy the fun.

Take a train ride from Rockland to a number of destinations along the Maine coast, or ride all the way to Brunswick and back - a great excursion with gorgeous views at every turn. The Maine Eastern website contains full details.

Another choice for little kids is the Coastal Children's Museum in Rockland. Check their website for open hours and more information. The Jackson Memorial Library in the center of Tenants Harbor (3 minute walk from the house) has a children's storytime each week, and is a wonderful place to spend a few hours. The upstairs is devoted to children's books and play.

There are several choices for local movie theaters; the Strand Cinema in downtown Rockland has been beautifully restored and has a calendar that includes films as well as live events. Flagship Cinemas in nearby Thomaston is a standard multi-screen cinema.