Hotel at a Glance: Captain Lindsey House

More than 150 years ago, Captain George Lindsey hung his sea-captain’s hat inside the Federal-style home that would become one of Rockland’s first inns. Captain Lindsey House has since grown into a successful bed and breakfast.

• Walk to the waterfront: Lermond Cove and the ferry terminal are just a block away.
• Snuggle by the fire: Guest rooms have been renovated recently and feature electric fireplaces.
• Modern touches include free WiFi and boldly patterned rugs and accents.
• Press accolades: CNN Money singled out the bed and breakfast when it picked Rockland as 1 of the “10 great last-minute summer getaways,” and Frommer’s writes that the inn possesses “a good dose of throwback-Maine character and some of the friendliest inn owners on the entire Midcoast.”

Rockland, Maine: Historic Shipping Hamlet on the Atlantic Coast

Rockland’s granite breakwater stretches for nearly a mile into the harbor, to a century-old red-brick lighthouse that still guides boats to the shore. If you’re visiting Rockland for the first time, a tour of the lighthouse is a nice place to start, or book one of the local sunset cruises. You could also snag a spot along the pier to cast out for sand sharks and rock bass.

Naturally, the water has been central to Rockland’s growth. A shipping hamlet in the late 18th century, the village has become a tourist destination in the years since, landing on CNN Money’s list of the top 10 best last-minute summer destinations. Each August, folks flock to Rockland to sample fresh-caught lobster, steamed crabs and mussels at the Maine Lobster Festival. If you’re not here in August, you can still head downtown to bite into succulent fresh-caught shrimp at one off the many seafood restaurants.

A few local museums make for an educational afternoon on a rainy day. At the Maine Lighthouse Museum, visitors get a glimpse into the history of lighthouses by exploring a collection of historic Coast Guard items and Fresnel lenses. You can also take in paintings of Maine’s idyllic landscape at the Farnsworth Art Museum, which exhibits works by a young Andrew Wyeth.

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