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  • Maine

    Castine, Maine | A Historic Midcoast Maine Town

    Considered one of the oldest towns in New England, Castine is a charming midcoast Maine spot offering cozy inns, scenic views, and plenty of history.

    By Aimee Tucker

    Aug 08 2022

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    castine inn maine

    The Castine Inn.

    Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
    One summer, I found myself in Castine for a brief 24 hours and was determined to see and share as much of the lovely harbor town, named by Yankee as one of the 10 Prettiest Coastal Towns in Maine, as possible. Ready to see what I got up to? Let’s explore Castine, Maine!
    Castine, Maine | A Historic Midcoast Maine Town
    Welcome to coastal Castine, Maine!
    Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
    Located about 130 miles north of Portland, Castine is big enough to spend the day (or more), but small enough to still feel special. Its Main Street slopes down towards the sea and includes most of the town’s dining, shopping, and lodging. I opted to spend the night at The Castine Inn overlooking Penobscot Bay. Built in 1898, the inn is surrounded by a wraparound porch and has a lovely public garden. It’s the kind of place where you still get a key for your room, and you can open the windows to let in the fresh ocean air. Basically, it’s my kind of hotel.
    The Castine Inn | Castine, Maine
    The Castine Inn.
    Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
    Although the Inn has many charming features, the dining room (used at breakfast) is especially bright and cheerful thanks to a mural that spans the entire room, depicting scenes from Castine.
    The Castine Inn | Castine, Maine
    The charming dining room at the Castine Inn.
    Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
    Another favorite place for many to stay, just across the street, is the Pentagoet Inn.
    The Pentagoet | Castine, Maine
    The Pentagoet Inn.
    Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker
    Both sit on the higher end of Main Street, while the lower end is dominated by shops and eateries.
    Main Street in Castine, Maine
    Main Street in Castine, Maine.
    Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
    However, if you’re in need of some reading material or a game of Castine-Opoly, The Compass Rose Bookstore and Cafe has you covered.
    Compass Rose Bookstore & Café
    The Compass Rose Bookstore & Café.
    Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
    maine lobster taffy
    When in Maine…
    Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
    At the bottom of Main Street you’ll find The Breeze & Castine Variety, another good spot for a quick bite or takeout lunch.
    The Breeze & Castine Variety
    The Breeze & Castine Variety.
    Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
    I’d heard good things about their lobster rolls, so (“When in Maine…”) I decided to get one and take it down to the water for lunch.
    The Breeze & Castine Variety
    The warm and inviting inside at The Breeze & Castine Variety.
    Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
    The roll was large – cold sweet lobster meat dressed with a little mayo on a bed of shredded lettuce – and served in the customary toasted New England-style hot dog roll, along with a small bag of potato chips. If you ask me, there’s nothing better in the summer than sitting by the ocean with a lobster roll.
    Lobster Roll | Castine Variety in Castine, Maine
    The notable lobster roll from Castine Variety.
    Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
    Eager seagull waiting for crumbs optional…
    seagull
    Seagull appears indifferent…reaction to falling crumbs proves otherwise.
    Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
    By the water, you’ll also find a few other dining options – Danny Murphy’s Pub and Dennett’s Wharf.
    castine maine dennetts wharf
    The indoor/outdoor seating at Dennett’s Wharf is a popular evening dining option.
    Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
    Not to mention, some lovely harbor views.
    castine kayak maine
    The picture-perfect headquarters of Castine Kayak.
    Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker
    castine maine
    View of Castine Harbor from the Maine Maritime Academy Waterfront Campus.
    Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
    After lunch, I decided to wander around and admire some New England architecture the beautiful historic homes and churches in Castine, of which there are many.
    castine maine house
    I loved this yellow door.
    Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
    castine maine house
    And these green shutters…
    Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
    castine maine house
    And the brightness of this American flag against the white house.
    Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
    castine maine house
    And this charming picket fence!
    Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
    Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Castine
    The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Castine, the oldest meeting house in eastern Maine.
    Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
    As I strolled, I repeatedly came across large and colorful painted signs sharing snippets of town history, marked with flags.
    Castine Historic Sign
    One of Castine’s many signs offering tidbits of the town’s historic past.
    Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
    Although today’s it’s mostly a small tourist town, until 1820 the British, French, and Dutch fought over Castine’s strategic location at the mouth of the Penobscot River. This gives Castine, Maine a lively history, and the signs (“not all of which are strictly accurate” says the Castine Historical Society) both mark and help tell the tale. The Castine Historical Society itself is a wonderful place to stop, situated in a corner of the town common inside a former schoolhouse.
    Castine Historical Society
    In the background, the Castine Historical Society.
    Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker
    Inside are two permanent exhibits – one on the 1779 Penobscot Expedition (historically a real low point for Paul Revere), and the other a community quilt commemorating Castine’s bicentennial in 1996. The 24-foot long quilt, which is as technically impressive as it is beautiful, was designed and constructed by dozens of members of the Castine community, and tells the tale of Castine’s history through pictures.
    Castine Community Bicentennial Quilt
    The 1996 Castine Community Bicentennial Quilt.
    Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
    For more history, you can also check out the Wilson Museum, which offers a closer look at local history through displays of pre-historic artifacts, ship models, and a reconstructed 1805 kitchen.
    castine wilson museum maine
    The Wilson Museum.
    Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
    Or you can just pop into the Castine Post Office, the oldest continuously-operating post office in the United States. We named it as a spot in NewEnglandville | The Town of Our Dreams, saying “This elegant 1814 building still has its original gaslight fixtures, but there’s an ongoing debate over whether post-office use began in 1831 or 1833. Just be grateful that the earlier name, “Majabigwaduce,” was simplified to Castine. ”
    The Castine Post Office.
    The 1814 Castine, Maine, Post Office.
    Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
    castine maine post office
    Inside the historic Castine Post Office.
    Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
    Then again, you can enjoy another dose of history (this time with ocean views) at Fort Madison. Only the grass bunkers remain from the early 1800s fort, but its location at the mouth of the harbor makes it the perfect place to enjoy the natural beauty of the Maine coast.
    castine maine fort madison
    The entrance to Fort Madison in Castine, Maine.
    Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
    castine fort madison cannon
    Historic Fort Madison, complete with cannons.
    Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
    There’s also a wooden staircase over those grassy mounds that takes you down to the rocky shore below.
    castine fort madison water
    The rocky view from Fort Madison.
    Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
    And speaking of the coast, Castine, Maine, is also home to the Maine Maritime Academy, established in 1941. It’s a public college and nautical training institution – one of six maritime training colleges in the United States. Its 500-foot naval research ship, the TS State of Maine, is worth a visit at the town dock if you have time. That is, if it’s there! During my visit, it was not.
    maine maritime academy
    The Maine Maritime Academy calls Castine, Maine home.
    Want yet another Castine claim to fame? The town is also home to an unusually large number of elm trees (“Under the Elms and by the Sea” it says on the free town map and walking tour), and once you start to look for them, you realize they’re everywhere. Large and stately, they tower overhead and cover the streets with a canopy of green. It’s a heartwarming sight. Once common throughout America, Dutch elm disease destroyed most of this country’s elms in the 1930s. In Castine, the community works hard to keep their elms healthy and strong, and their effort is appreciated.
    castine maine elm trees
    Castine, Maine is known for its many elm trees.
    Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker
     biggest elm tree in Maine
    Is this the biggest elm tree in Maine? Perhaps.
    Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
    And what coastal Maine town could be complete without a lighthouse? Castine’s is Dyce Head, built in 1828. Today it’s privately owned, but there is a footpath visitors can follow around the property for views. I’d heard the path takes you down to the water, but after finding myself in the woods with a steep (and slightly scary) view of the ocean below, I decided I must have taken a wrong turn (the path starts off clear but quickly fades) and headed back.
    Dyce Head Light
    The decommissioned Dyce Head Light is accessible via footpath.
    Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
    castine dyce head light
    Footpath view of Dyce Head Light.
    Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
    Finally, before leaving Castine, there was just one thing left to do – dip my toes in the water. I headed to Wadsworth Cove Beach to get the job done, and its pebbly shore offered the added bonus of a little massage.
    wadsworth cove beach castine
    Wadsworth Cove Beach is just a short drive from downtown.
    Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
    What a perfect visit – history, lobster, lighthouses, and all the coastal New England charm you can fit into a single day. I’m already looking forward to a return visit next year. Castine’s charm is not to be missed. Have you ever visited Castine, Maine? Which midcoast Maine town is your favorite? This post was first published in 2015 and has been updated. 

    SEE MORE: 10 Prettiest Coastal Towns in Maine10 Most Beautiful Places in Maine25 Best Beach Towns in New England

    Aimee Tucker

    Aimee Tucker is Yankee Magazine’s Home Editor and the Senior Digital Editor of NewEngland.com. A lifelong New Englander and Yankee contributor since 2010, Aimee has written columns devoted to history, foliage, retro food, and architecture, and regularly shares her experiences in New England travel, home, and gardening. Her most memorable Yankee experiences to date include meeting Stephen King, singing along to a James Taylor Fourth of July concert at Tanglewood, and taking to the skies in the Hood blimp for an open-air tour of the Massachusetts coastline.

    More by Aimee TuckerLinkedIn

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