Hotels in Rockland

As Rockland’s star has risen as an arts and culture destination, a few stylish new hotel options have popped up, while old classics have gotten a “boutique” rebrand. Half a dozen years ago, the Rockland Harbor Hotel (520 Main St.; tel. 207/594-2131) transformed a run-down old motor inn into a fresh, attractive 82-room property with seaside color schemes and balconies overlooking the ferry terminal. It’s within walking distance to everything downtown, and doubles range between $250 and $350 for their smaller rooms in peak season. If you’re craving that “old Maine” seaside inn feel, you can still find it, especially farther down the peninsula. Try the East Wind Inn in Tenants Harbor (tel. 800/241-8439 or 207/372-6366), at 21 Mechanic Street. It’s a former sail loft converted to lodgings, perfectly situated beside the harbor with water views from all rooms and a long wraparound porch. Doubles with private bathrooms start at $269 during the summer.

The city of Rockland has made an effort to regulate rampant seasonal Airbnb rentals, but you won’t want for options on  online rental platforms, and you will likely pay less than you would at a hotel, especially if you're willing to bunk several miles away from the action in Rockland.

If you’re looking for an active summer destination with the family in these parts, the summer camp/retreat known as Medomak (tel. 207/845-6001) offers an interesting lakeside set of options—as it has been doing since 1904—from archery and tennis to yoga and beer or cheese tastings. You sleep in pine cabins, and the emphasis is on the idea of living lightly on the earth—the director has a background in environmental education, and there are regular programs and workshops. Only catch? This is a half-hour inland from the prime coastal towns such as Camden, Rockland, and Rockport. Also bear in mind that the camp season only runs from late June through mid-August.