Bath is 33 miles northeast of Portland. Boothbay Harbor is 23 miles east of Bath and 41 miles west of Rockland.
Veteran Maine travelers contend that this part of the coast is fast losing its native charm -- it's too commercial, too developed, too much like the rest of the United States. The grousers do have a point, especially regarding Route 1's roadside, but get off the main roads and you'll find pockets where you can catch glimpses of another Maine. Back-road travelers will stumble upon quiet inland villages, dramatic coastal scenery, and a rich sense of history, especially maritime history.
The best source of information for the region in general is at the Maine State Information Center (tel. 207/846-0833), off Exit 17 of I-95 in Yarmouth. This state-run center is stocked with hundreds of brochures and a selection of free newspapers, and is staffed with a helpful crew who can provide information on the entire state, but are particularly well informed about the mid-coast region.
Mapping Your Next Stop -- Just across the road from the state information center is the DeLorme Map Store (tel. 888/227-1656). You'll find a wide selection of maps here, including the firm's trademark state atlases and a line of CD-ROM map products. Fun to browse even if you're not a map buff, what makes the place worth a detour is Eartha, "the world's largest rotating and revolving globe." The 42-foot-diameter globe occupies the a... [continue...]
