Penobscot Bay, Maine: From the Land to the Sea (in Photos)

Rich in maritime heritage and bountiful soils, the towns and fishing villages of Penobscot Bay make up an idyllic destination that is both seafaring and earthbound. From shanty to gourmet, restaurant menus highlight farm-fresh produce as much as lobster, while local wineries and inns offer culinary surprises unique to Maine. Tall ships and lighthouses are ready and waiting for when the sea inevitably beckons.

Read the original story, “Penobscot Bay, Maine: From the Land to the Sea (in Photos)’’ by Anne Banas, a regular contributor to SmarterTravel.

Microgreens at Primo Restaurant

In greenhouses and gardens scattered over four acres of farmland, Primo Restaurant (in Rockland) grows microgreens and other produce for its kitchen.

Playful Animals Roam Free at Primo

Primo also raises pigs, chickens, guinea hens, and ducks, which frolic freely in the farm’s fields and ponds. The ducks’ eggs make desserts like Toasted Almond Crème Carmello especially luscious.

Primo’s Seasonal Menu by Chef Melissa Kelly

Two-time James Beard Award-winning Chef Melissa Kelly uses the sustainably farmed food for Primo’s Italian-inspired menu, served inside a 130-year-old Victorian house.

Relaxing Gardens at Hartstone Inn & Hideaway

Private English-style gardens offer a retreat in between fine-dining meals at the Hartstone Inn & Hideaway in the heart of Camden.

Hartstone’s Daily Multicourse Breakfast

Gourmet breakfast entrees in the Hartstone’s sunny dining room come with fresh fruit, juice, coffee or tea, and iPads stocked with ideas on what to see and do in and around Camden.

Made-in-Maine Wines at Cellardoor Winery

On its 200-year-old farm in Lincolnville (just outside of Camden), Cellardoor Winery produces white and red wines, which can be sampled in the 1790s barn and farmhouse.

Farnsworth Art Museum Expresses Lots of Love

In Rockland, the nationally recognized collection at the Farnsworth Art Museum focuses on Maine’s role in American art, featuring works from artists such as Winslow Homer and N.C. Wyeth. On the grounds, the historical Farnsworth Homestead is adorned by Robert Indiana’s LOVE sculpture.

Cappy’s Company Store & Bakery

Established in 1979, Cappy’s Chowder House brings more to Camden Harbor than just seafood; its Company Store & Bakery is stocked with prepared foods and local Maine products perfect for a picnic or day sail.

Schooner Olad Sailings and Charters

Built in 1927, the classic Schooner Olad sets sail daily on two-hour excursions from Camden Harbor all summer long.

Hoisting the Sails on Schooner Olad

On board the Olad, passengers can assist the first mate in hoisting the sails as the classic yacht catches wind and heads out to sea.

Curtis Island Light on the Edge of Camden Harbor

Sail along Maine’s rocky shoreline for an up-close view of Curtis Island Light (built in 1896), which is set on a public park accessible only by boat.

Schooners and Windjammers in Penobscot Bay

Fleets of schooners and windjammers ply the waters of Penobscot Bay, hugging the shoreline and its lighthouses and hidden mansions, as well as tacking out to small islands that serve as refuges for local wildlife.