Things to Do in Camden, Maine | Captain Swift Inn Great Location in Camden
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Play Where You Stay - So Much To Do & See!

people skiing down the mountainThere is so much to see and do along Maine’s Mid-Coast and Camden is the ideal location from which to plan your exploration! As our guests, we are available to help you with recommendations of things to do in Camden Maine, and reservations for area activities and dining.

You can easily walk from our Camden Maine Inn to the harbor, shops, opera houses, and restaurants. The charming towns of Lincolnville, Rockport, and Rockland are just 9 miles from the Inn.

Guests of the Inn enjoy miles of:
  • hiking
  • mountain biking
  • canoeing
  • kayaking
  • rock climbing

Lupine flowersFor a more leisurely outing, consider:
  • visiting local specialty shops
  • taking a cruise on a historic windjammer
  • reading a book at Laite Beach
  • taking in a show at the Camden Opera House
  • watching a performance at the Rockland Strand
  • taking the ferry to one of the many islands for a quiet afternoon of exploration
  • touring one of our local wineries and or breweries
  • visiting one of the many museums
  • playing a round of golf at a local public course

The list goes on . . .

Authentic Hospitality

Let us know if you are celebrating a special occasion and we will help make it memorable! We have several different packages and items you can add to your stays such as a dozen roses, a bottle of wine or a split of champagne, chocolate-dipped strawberries, decadent dessert, balloons, and more!

Whatever The Season - Camden Has It All!

Hiking

couple hiking
So many places to hike and so little time! Visit Camden Hills State Park; hike Mt. Battie, Ragged Mountain, Bald Mountain Preserve, and/or Merryspring Nature Center. Hikes for all skill levels! Guided hikes are available.

Harbor Sailing

sail boat
The Camden Harbor is filled with historic schooners offering a sail through the harbor, passing Curtis Island Light House. The Grace Bailey, one of Captain Swift’s ships, still sails today! These two-hour sails are scheduled throughout the day beginning in the morning and ending with a sunset cruise. Advance reservations are recommended.

Light House Tours

lighthouse at sunset
You'll pass Curtis Island Light House when you take a harbor cruise and by car, you can tour 4 other lighthouses along route 1 -(Breakwater Lighthouse; Owls Head Light House; Marshall Point Light House) all only 35 minutes from the Inn. If you have time for another, continue to Pemaquid Point Lighthouse in Bristol (and check out the beach – it is worth the stop!).

Kayaking

kayaking at sunset
Take a guided kayaking tour of Penobscot Bay and enjoy a leisurely paddle past historic schooners, Curtis Island Lighthouse, or play in warmer waters on Lake Megunticook where you'll paddle past a nature preserve, passing loons, osprey, eagles, and turtles! Kayak rentals for non-guided paddles are also available.

Beaches

beach with sailboats in background
Catch some sun and relax at Lattie Beach just a few blocks from the Inn, or go to Lincolnville Beach only 9 minutes from the Inn. There are several other local beaches both Lucia Beach at Birch Point State Park and Crescent Beach 13 miles from the Inn and Drift Inn Beach by Port Clyde 24 miles).  If you are looking for fine white sand, visit Pemaquid Beach, only 50 minutes away. And don’t forget to borrow the Inn’s beach chairs; umbrella and towels. We can also prepare a cooler with a picnic lunch!

Mountain Biking

mountain biking
Rent a mountain bike from Maine Sports Outfitters and head to Camden Hills State Park for some mountain biking. Camden Hills State Park offers a variety of trails of varying degrees of difficulty totaling approximately nine miles in length. Many of the trails offer scenic views of Camden and Penobscot Bay. Twenty percent of the trails are considered easy, but depending upon your skill and love for adventure, some of the trails may seem too difficult to ride. In those instances, a combination of hiking and biking should make them suitable for all levels of riders.

SUP Explore Tour

lake at fall
Maine Sports Outfitters offers a three-hour guided tour and is perfect for people looking for an introduction to the fast-growing sport of Stand Up Paddle Boarding. Their instructors will walk each participant through the basic skills before paddling on the beautiful Megunticook Lake or the lovely, protected Megunticook River. Don’t forget your sunscreen!

Breweries

beer
Pace yourself and visit 3 local breweries all within 30 minutes of the Inn. Begin at Sea Dog Brewing Company, then make your way to Rock Harbor Brewing Company in Rockland; and then Marshall Wharf Brewing in Belfast - remember to eat along the way!

Wineries

vineyard
Spend your weekend visiting several wineries, all within 20 minutes of the Inn! Cellardoor Winery in Lincolnville; Salvage Oaks Vineyard in Union; Breakwater Vineyards in Owls Head and Sweetgrass Winery and Distillery in Union. Attend a tour or do a tasting - and enjoy the view!

Antiquing

antique piano
Grab a map and plan your route through small villages and towns, stopping at interesting and eclectic antique shops along the way! Several shops are in Camden, Rockland, and Lincolnville!

Leaf Peeping

arial view of road and fall leaves
Whether you are driving along the Atlantic Highway, hiking at Maiden's Cliff, or taking a chairlift ride at The Camden Snow Bowl - you'll be in awe at the breathtaking colors during Fall Foilage. Don’t forget your camera!

Climbing Tours

man rock climbing
Whether a novice or a skilled climber, book a trip with Equinox Guiding Services. They will customize every trip to meet your goals and create a memorable experience for you!

Camden Opera House

Camden opera house exterior
Two blocks from the Inn you'll find the Camden Opera House. Opened in 1894 and on the National Register of Historic Places, The Camden Opera House is a 500-seat auditorium, that hosts a wide range and variety of performances, concerts, theatre, national and international conferences, and other events.

Rockland Strand

Rockland Strand Theater exterior
The Strand has been entertaining audiences since 1923. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the theater underwent an extensive renovation in 2005. Today, the Strand Theatre is a multi-use venue offering the best of current independent and world cinema, live musical performances & concerts, comedy, and other special events on stage and screen.

Megunticook Lake

canoes on lake
Rent a canoe or kayak and paddle around on Lake Megunticook. Or take a beach chair and umbrella from the Inn and spend the day at Barrett's cove where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the lake and cliffs. There is a swimming area, picnic tables, and grills. And we’ll happily prepare a picnic lunch to hamper for your trip!

Museums

woman in museum looking at art
Take a 15-minute drive to Rockland and spend the day visiting several museums - The Farnsworth Art Museum; Maine Lighthouse Museum; Owls Head Transportation Museum; Owls Head Lighthouse Museum, The Center for Maine Contemporary Art, and the Sail, Power and Steam Museum. So much to see, all just minutes from the Inn.

Wildlife Cruise

seal in the water
Book a Wildlife and Eco Tour on Camden Harbor Cruises and be on the lookout for eagles, osprey, seals, coots, terns, and porpoises. Settle in for the one-and-a-half-hour cruise across the bay to a remote seal habitat. In addition, the crew will cast a lobster trap to see what's lurking on the bottom of the ocean floor.

Island Explorations

rocky beach
Book a ferry to one of the Mid Coast Islands, departing from either Lincolnville or Rockland for a day of exploration. Rent a bicycle on North Haven Island and wander around the island stopping at shops, restaurants, and beaches. Advance ferry reservations are required.

Restaurants

table at restaurant
Take a stroll to Camden's Harbor and enjoy a wide variety of dining including Seafood, Italian, Thai, Mexican, Pub Fare, and more! Waterfront dining is available.

Shopping

woman with shopping bags
Unique one-of-a-kind shops line the streets of Camden's Harbor Village. You'll find stores specializing in gifts, home accents, clothes, leather, Maine-made keepsakes, interesting bookstores, art galleries, markets, boutiques, and Maine-made chocolate shops! And don't forget to stop and get a scoop of ice cream along the way! Just a few miles away is Rockland and Main Street is also lined with interesting shops to explore.

Skiing & Tobogganing

person skiing
Interested in some leisurely skiing or tobogganing, visit the Camden Snow Bowl and enjoy nearly 1,000 feet of vertical elevation and more than 20 expanded trails. The Snow Bowl is also home to the only remaining original, gravity-operated 400-foot-long wooden toboggan chute. Tobogganers exit the chute onto frozen Hosmer Pond for a thrilling ride from top to bottom. Each February the Snow Bowl hosts the annual U.S. National Toboggan Championships - a weekend of competitive racing in costumes. All are invited to enter the competition regardless if you come in costume!

The Camden Snow Bowl is the only ski area in the East Coast with ocean views! That alone is worth the lift ticket!

Golf

Woman golfer
Just minutes from the Inn you'll enjoy two public golf courses, The Goose River Golf Course and the Rockland Golf Club:

Goose River Golf Course - Camden, ME

Scenic and challenging, this is one of Midcoast Maine's hidden gems. Several holes offer spectacular views of Mount Battie and Ragged Mountain. A rolling landscape that traverses varying terrain along the meandering Goose River offers plenty of challenges for players of all abilities. A different set of tees uniquely positioned on each of the nine greens adds variety to your golf round. The extremely well-maintained greens are small, fast, and slightly elevated with many subtle breaks. One hundred-year-old pine trees set in a countryside setting with occasional glimpses of the wildlife and waterfowl inhabiting the pine groves and wetlands compliment your golfing experience. The 9-hole golf course features 3,049 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 36. The course rating is 67.8 and it has a slope rating of 119. You may call the Goose River Golf Club directly at (207) 236-8488 to make tee time reservations

Rockland Golf Course - Rockland, ME

The 18-hole golf course at the Rockland Golf Club facility features 6,121 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 70. Designed by Roger Sorrent, the course rating is 68.6 and it has a slope rating of 112 on bent grass. The Rockland Golf Club offers tee times from early in the morning to late afternoon, Monday through Sunday. You may call the Club directly at (207) 594-9322 to make tee time reservations or view the course's website to reserve a tee time online.

Interested in a Truly Personalized Itinerary of
Things to Do and Places to Dine While in Camden?

Your Maine Concierge Icon

We enjoy helping our guests discover some of our area's best attractions and local restaurants. But if you are looking for a highly personalized itinerary based on your preferences, then we invite you to check out Your Maine Concierge. They will work with you to create an itinerary filled with choices of things to do; see and places to dine. They have three levels of services and as our guest, you'll receive a discount of 10-50% off their fees based on the level you choose! Simply use the code CAPTAINSWIFT to activate your discount.

SAVE by booking directly with us through our Book Direct Special.

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