Rockport in the coastal state of Maine is a seaside, picturesque town that lies on the middle of the coastline. Visitors will find a quiet and beautiful harbor with fishing boats and schooner, shops selling items made by local craftsman and artisan, restaurants serving the freshest seafood, museums and galleries, and opportunities for outdoor adventures. Named by Forbes Magazine as one of the “Prettiest Towns in America,” Rockport boasts a laid-back vibe that makes it perfect for a relaxing weekend escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and the city.
1. Beech Hill Preserve
A designated conservation area in the town of Rockport, the Beech Hill Preserve encompasses nearly three hundred acres of land, including Beech Hill, one of the area’s few bare-topped hills, a sod-roof Norwegian-style home dating back to the year 1913, forests along the lower slopes, and a commercial blueberry operation. Two miles of trails can be found throughout the preserve, ranging from easy to moderate. The Beech Hill Preserve provides easy access to one of the Penobscot Bay region’s multi-faceted and most scenic conservation properties. Among the outdoor activities possible in the preserve are birding, picnicking, and hiking.
316 Beech Hill Rd, Rockport, ME 04856, Phone: 207-236-7091
2. Aldermere Farms, Rockport, Maine
A landmark in the midcoast region of Maine, Aldermere Farms is one of the premier Belted Galloway cattle breeders in the world. Owned and operated by the Maine Coast Heritage Trust, this 136-acre farm is part of the conservation efforts to protect the working landscapes, ecological diversity, outdoor recreation opportunities, and scenic beauty of coastal Maine. One of the most identifiable features of the Belted Galloway cattle is that they look a bit like the Oreo cookies. Visitors at Aldermere Farm can visit with these unique cows, try some delicious food, and take a class among other activities.
70 Russell Ave, Rockport, ME 04856, Phone: 207-236-2739
3. Ralston Gallery, Rockport, Maine
The Ralston Gallery is home to the photography work of Peter Ralston, an unpretentious storyteller that likes to poke around “nooks and crannies” throughout the state of Maine with his camera. Offering the most comprehensive collection of prints by this acclaimed photographer, the gallery is also where visitors can purchase beautiful prints for their own home. The Ralston Gallery also features an impressive limited edition print collection from Jamie and Andrew Wyeth, lifelong friends of Peter Ralston. Situated at one end of the Rockport Harbor, the gallery gives tourists to the region a look at “the real Maine.”
23 Central St, Rockport, ME 04856, Phone: 207-230-7225
4. Rockport Opera House, Rockport, Maine
Established back in 1891, the Rockport Opera House today is owned by the town and brings a variety of entertainment to its stage. In addition to the array of annual events and shows that take place at the theater every year, the Rockport Opera House also hosts many different guests year-round. Along with one of the shows, visitors can also take in the gorgeous architecture of the theater, as the building has retained a good amount of its original historic charm. With its shows and special events, the Rockport Opera House has become an anchor of the local community.
6 Central St, Rockport, ME 04856, Phone: 207-542-3555
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5. Camden-Rockport Historical Society, Rockport, ME
The Camden-Rockport Historical Society is housed in the historic Conway Homestead, built by the Thorndike family around 1770. The homestead is one of the region’s earliest houses and today highlights daily life up to the 1930’s. Listed on both the Maine State Register of Historic Sites and the National Register of Historic Places, Conway Homestead and Camden-Rockport Historical Society offer a museum with many exhibits about the local history and life in midcoast Maine over the centuries, a blacksmith shop, the sugar shack, and a barn. Open June to September, visitors can see vintage clothing, quilts, artifacts, photographs, and more.
7 Commercial St, Rockport, ME 04857, Phone: 207-236-2257
6. Graffam Bros Seafood Shack, Rockport, Maine
The Graffam Bros, Seafood Shack offers take-out and a great outdoor dining experience during the summer season, as well warm and cozy indoor dining during the winter months. No matter the season, this local seafood dining establishment is a favorite spot to grab a bit among both tourists and local residents alike. Typically open Monday to Saturday from 8:30am until 5:00pm, Graffam Bros. is widely known for its award-winning seafood, service, and quality. Along with its Shack, the company also operates its Graffam Bros. Market right across the street, shopping quality lobsters all over the country.
4 Huse St, Rockport, ME 04856, Phone: 207-236-8391
7. Nina June, Rockport, Maine
Nina June takes the best ingredients the state of Maine has to offer and gives them a bit of a tasty, fresh Mediterranean twist. The restaurant gives off an atmosphere of walking into a cafe along the Mediterranean Coast, rather than the midcoast of Maine. The flavors, leisure, and style are all inspired by Europe’s Mediterranean region, when menus change daily but are always full of great flavor combinations, seafood, and fresh ingredients. The owner and chef of Nina June, Chef Sara, has come from her acclaimed restaurants in New York City, bringing her talents and flavors to the seaside town.
24 Central St, Rockport, ME 04856, Phone: 207-236-8880
8. Tomi Sushi and Noodle Bar, Rockport, Maine
Tomi Sushi and Noodle Bar has been serving Thai cuisine, sushi, and a few Japanese dishes here and there to the Rockport community since 2018, when Vee Aramthip took over Mr. Wat’s and changed the name. Guests can enjoy a variety of noodle dishes and fresh sushi.
106 Commercial St, Rockport, ME 04856, Phone: 207-230-7315
What is Rockport, Maine known for? What to do. What are the top attractions to visit in Rockport, Maine?
The top attractions to visit in Rockport, Maine according to local experts are:
- Beech Hill Preserve
- Aldermere Farms, Rockport, Maine
- Ralston Gallery, Rockport, Maine
- Rockport Opera House, Rockport, Maine
- Camden-Rockport Historical Society, Rockport, ME
- Graffam Bros Seafood Shack, Rockport, Maine
- Nina June, Rockport, Maine
- Tomi Sushi and Noodle Bar, Rockport, Maine
More Places to Stay: Samoset Resort
The Samoset Resort is a scenic hideaway in Maine, perfect for families and couples looking for luxury and outdoor fun next to the ocean. Located next to Penobscot Bay in Rockport, this historic resort offers stylish accommodations, great restaurants, a luxury spa and scenic golf. Spend a relaxing weekend by the pool and explore other Maine destinations such as Portland and Bar Harbor on your trip.
The Samoset Resort offers 178 guest rooms, most of which are located in its historic hotel. the Samoset Resort seeks to emulate that perfect seaside stay. Decorated in soft tones of blues, browns and tans and accented with granite and marble, each room blends nicely with the beautiful backdrop. The sea and Maine greenery really are the highlight of the resort and to emphasize this, each and every guest room comes with their own private balcony or terrace. For guests traveling with larger groups, the Samoset Resort offers cottages and condominiums as well. Samoset welcomes guests of the furry variety, with some pet-friendly rooms available.
The guest rooms and suites are all equipped with the standards of comfort. Each come with down bedding, flat screen television with Showtime, alarm clock with an iPod docking station, refrigerator, free wireless, Keurig coffee maker, illuminated make-up mirror as well as laundry and valet services. The guest rooms come with a few different options, one of which is the view. Guests can decide if they want an ocean view or garden view. Other options include an extended sitting area with a queen sofa bed, oversized tubs and glass shower and an extended balcony with a private hot tub.
For the guest searching for a more luxurious and authentic trip, the Samoset Resort has three guest cottages available. The cottages are surrounded on one side by the resort golf course and the ocean bay on the other, leading to some lovely views. The resort lighthouse is also nearby, an easy walk from the front doors of the cottages. The cottages are meant to embody a trip to Maine and are decorated to match with wood flooring, lots of windows and pleasant neutral tones. Each cottage comes with an extended array of amenities including a large screened-in porch, heated bathroom tile flooring, glass showers, a comfortable living room with flat screen television, a fully stocked kitchen with microwave, stove and dishwasher, a gas fireplace, along with everything included in the guest rooms. Two of the cottages are single bedroom, perfect for a couple’s retreat, while the third is expanded with a second bedroom and bathroom.
The Flume Cottage is the ultimate retreat option available at the Samoset Resort. Beautifully seated on the rocky shore, the Flume Cottage is situated right on the ocean front. The views from the cottage windows do not get any better. The Flume Cottage is located on a singular rock pile with a gated walkway leading up to it, ensuring complete privacy for the guests who rent it. The cottage includes a master bedroom and private bathroom, along with an additional bedroom and bathroom. Add on a fire-place equipped living room, spacious dining room and a master kitchen and the Flume Cottage shapes up to be a perfect family retreat. A private deck sits over the ocean with its own hot tub and dining set so guests can fully enjoy the ocean breezes. The Flume Cottage comes with all the amenities as the Guest Cottages as well as a private four-passenger golf cart for getting around the resort in style.
For guest’s seeking repeated trips to the Maine coast, Samoset also has timeshare condominiums. The condominiums feature partial kitchens, dining/living room areas with a queen sofa bed, and one to two bedrooms.
While the accommodations might be authentic Maine-style, the restaurants are all Italian, with La Belle Vita and the Enoteca Bar and Lounge. La Belle Vita is decorated in traditional Trattoria style making guests feel like they’ve just walked off a plaza in Rome. Decorated in whites and dark woods with antique-style black fixtures, La Belle Vita brings a touch of class to casual dining. The meal options are all traditional Italian dishes, with an antipasti menu, delicious zuppe and all manner of entrees.
La Bell Vita also offers a traditional brick oven for cooking a wide offering of authentic Italian pizzas. Being in a coastal city, La Belle Vita also has a wide selection of fresh seafood dishes and the private herb garden on the resort means every dish is seasoned with fresh herbs and spices. For guests looking for a truly coastal experience, La Belle Vita also has an outside terrace surrounded by a standing stone retaining wall that offers a great view of the ocean, perfectly emulating the quaint cities along the Italian coast. La Belle Vita is open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner and offers a special brunch on Sundays that showcases cooking styles from the different regions of Italy.
The Enoteca Bar and Lounge is located right next to La Belle Vita. It wouldn’t be Italian without wine, and the Enoteca Lounge, in its warm reds and antique lighting, embodies the wine bars of urban Italy. The Enoteca Lounge features a wide selection of wines and cocktails for enjoying with friends. The lounge features communal wine tasting tables scattered around a warm fireplace. For those looking for a bite, floor-to-ceiling stone slabs dictate the offerings at the live-action antipasti bar and the warm glow of the brick oven isn’t far away.
The final restaurant is the Clubhouse Grille. Located at the eighteenth hole of the golf course, Clubhouse Grille is a nice luncheon option for golfers and resort guests looking for a quick bite or drink. With standard options like Angus beef burgers and the house special lobster rolls, the Clubhouse Grille is perfect for filling up the tank before hitting the greens again. Guests can sit outside on the patio with views of the golf course or opt to sit inside and catch a game on the fifty inch flat screen television.
The Samoset Golf Course is a coastal golf course that offers unique challenges and great views of the Atlantic Ocean. The 18-hole course is ranked as one of the top ten in the Northern US and offers challenges unique to its coastal region. The course utilizes a stone seawall to add elevation to the course and additional bunkers. The hills and ocean water are used as natural obstacles and the 185 yard 18th hole will challenge any golfer. The resort also features a golf complex with a golf range, practice green, Pro Shop and a scouring school that gives hours of instruction and golf fittings.
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The Maine Spa at the Samoset Resort is perfect for the guest looking for that perfect day of ocean relaxation. The dark stone and wood building features multiple treatment rooms with a variety of products meant to bring out that fresh ocean smell to compliment a day of rest and rejuvenation. The Maine Spa has a core menu made up of the staples of massage and body treatments, as well as pedicures, manicures, waxing services and nail and makeup services. Before and after treatments, guests can visit the indoor and outdoor relaxation rooms to take in the smells and sounds of the ocean.
For those looking to work the body as well, the Samoset Resort also offers The Club, a fully equipped workout center. The Club has a Cardio Theater with cardiovascular equipment, the Icarian Strength Center with weights strength building machines, an indoor pool and a hot tub for finishing off. A number of different classes are available in all sections of The Club for guests looking for some direction in their workouts.
The Ultimate Backyard is a truly massive lawn complex overlooking the bay, full of every yard game imaginable and is perfect for any family visiting the Samoset Resort. The Ultimate Backyard features a basketball court, tennis court, pickle ball court, volleyball court, shuffleboard, badminton, croquet, horseshoes, nine-hole Disc Golf, a zero-entry pool and a playground.
The zero-entry 200,000 gallon pool is perfect for toddlers, the elderly or anyone else who has trouble walking into traditional stair-entry pools. Overlooking the Penobscot Bay, the pools many lawn chairs are a good spot for guests to catch some sun while watching the waves hit the rocks. The nearby Splash Pool Bar offers a variety of handmade snacks and sandwiches with a kids menu and ice cream for the children and a cocktail and wine menu for the adults.
The 9-hole disc course is the Samoset Resort’s newest addition to the Ultimate Backyard. Discs are available for guests and the course is perfect for families and couples looking for a more pick-up-and-go experience compared to the Samoset Golf Course.
In the winter the Ultimate Backyard transforms into a winter wonderland. A skating rink is created on the lawn and skates are available for rent as well as skate sharpening services. Guests can also rent snowshoes or cross-country skis and explore the golf greens for some beautiful views of the snowy terrain and the Atlantic Ocean.
The Samoset Resort also erects its Glacial Ice Bar, a truly unique outside bar and lounge. The Glacial Ice Bar is entirely carved from crystal-clear ice. The house chef, Chef Tim, is perfectly gifted for the challenge of The Glacial Ice Bar, being not only a celebrated chef, but also a nationally recognized ice carving champion. Enjoy his unique creations as each year’s Glacial Ice Bar is different from the last. The Glacial Ice Bar is erected for only a couple of days in late January so guests should book early for a chance at a unique drinking adventure.
With 230 acres of ocean-front land, the Samoset Resort is a perfect wedding destination for couples looking for an ocean-side wedding experience. The Samoset Resort’s wedding experts will assist couples with every detail of their wedding from rehearsal dinner to the reception. For those looking for a less hands-on affair, the Samoset Resort also offers pre-planned wedding packages.
The Samoset Resort is an all-inclusive wedding destination. Every aspect of the wedding day can be handled by their wedding experts. Hair and nails for the wedding party are handled by the Maine Spa, the Samoset Resort’s pastry chef makes custom cakes for the big day, and the golf greens, seaside shores and the stone bridge to the resort lighthouse make for perfect wedding photos. Wedding guests stay at the Samoset Resort’s cottages for a luxurious and private stay. Finally, three different wedding venues make for the perfect wedding.
The Penobscot Bay Pavilion is a tented venue that can hold 300 guests. Located on a green lawn right beside the bay, couple can exchange vows with the blue waters, green islands and white sailboats behind them. Once the ceremony and food is done, guests can dance right on the lawn in the cool ocean breeze.
The Baypoint Ballroom is an inside venue with a touch of Maine class. Seating 125 guests, the ballroom is decorated with alabaster chandeliers and beautiful woodwork.
The Knox County Ballroom is Maine’s largest ballroom and seats 300 guests. The ballroom is lavishly decorated in chandeliers and wall sconces.
The Samoset Resort offers a wide variety of services for functions of all sorts, from business retreats and reunions to conferences and conventions. The Samoset Staff are well versed in planning a multitude of events and can assist in all stages of planning. They also have a partnership with massAV to help guests set up and maintain any audio-visual equipment a function may require.
The Samoset Resort offers a variety of meeting and conference rooms for any event. Along with the Bay Point and Knox County Ballrooms, Samoset also has the State of Maine Exhibit Hall which can fit 36 10x10 booths from conventions of all kinds. The Schooner Room, which seats 90 guests, is a unique sitting room with dark wood beams and great ocean views. The Ebb and Tide Board room, with a conference table and lack of distractions, are the perfect setting for serious meetings.
The Samoset Resort also hosts a variety of team building exercises for large family and business groups. These include an Iron Chef Competition, Tales of Cocktail Mixology Challenge, and a Lobster Chowder Cook-Off hosted by the resort chefs. For the outdoor seeking guests, they also offer a Golf Scramble on the Samoset Golf Course and Scavenger Hunt across the resort grounds.
220 Warrenton St, Rockport, ME 04856, Phone: 207-594-2511
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