Belfast

it’s a gem, but if you go, be sure to check out the unassuming Marine Museum, there are a lot of buildings that look like they are just an old house, or an old barn, but inside is a lot of cool stuff….

I lived here for almost a year between 04-05. It’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. Be sure to check out the fantastic co-op and toy shop!

Belfast, on the coast of Maine, is 18 miles (20 minutes-half an hour) north of Camden and about 60 miles (an hour to an hour and a half, depending on traffic) south of Bar Harbor. It’s got a small downtown (about 8 square blocks) filled with unique gift shops, clothing stores, a health food co-op, a “general store for the 21st century,” and a shoe store that claims to be the oldest in America. There’s lots of great historical architecture here—Federal style ship captains’ mansions, Gothic Revival brick buildings in the downtown, and just about everything in between. There are several art galleries in town as well. Belfast boasts a movie theater that plays first-run movies and a couple of art-house film series each year, and the volunteer-run community theater, the Belfast Maskers, have a reputation as one of the best theater companies in the state of Maine. There are a number of great restaurants in town ranging from the Dockside (seafood, a “family restaurant” environment) to Chase’s Daily (organic, vegetarian food with veggies raised at the Chase family farm in nearby Unity). Belfast is close to other great attractions including the Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport, the harbor, the galleries and museums of Rockland, and much more.

Belfast is easy to reach. It’s an easy drive from Bangor (about 45 minutes hour) and Augusta (about an hour). It takes about 2 hours to drive from Portland to Belfast if you take Interstate 95 and then Route 3 from Augusta; and about 2 1/2 to 3 hours if you take Route 1 (the 3-hour estimate would be for summertime traffic).