1. Ducktrap Beach
City: Lincolnville Beach, ME
Category: Parks & Recreation
Address: Off Route 1
Description: Locals try to keep this point where the Ducktrap River pours into Penobscot Bay a secret (you didn’t hear about it here). Turn onto the Fire Road just before the bridge after Lincolnville Beach. Not the best place to lay down a towel—it’s very rocky—but it’s always pleasant to swim here. It’s relatively private, set back from Route 1 down a dirt road. It’s got a nice view of the Ducktrap Bridge, and you can swim on either side of a little peninsula—or ride the current between the two basins. Fun stuff, and free.
2. The Lobster Pound
City: Lincolnville Beach, ME
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (207) 789-5550
Address: Route 1
Description: The staff at this Midcoast landmark probably spends a lot of time cleaning sand out of the entryway—it’s literally steps from the beach. Crowds throng here for its reliably good seafood, especially the shore dinner. The surprise is that you can also get a good turkey dinner or a well-done steak. Exceedingly comfortable, the restaurant can seat large groups and has tables on a patio overlooking the water. Service is friendly and relatively efficient. The parking lot fills quickly, and reservations are highly recommended during the blush of summer.
3. Monroe Saltworks
City: Lincolnville Beach, ME
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (207) 338-3460
Address: Route 1
Description: Begun in the tiny town of Monroe, inland from Belfast, this pottery emporium has grown exponentially, and it now ships its cool, grainy, salt-glazed wares across the country (there are stores in Copley Place, Boston, and Arlington, Massachusetts, as well as here and in Ellsworth). You can get seconds here on their plates, bowls, serving platters, and mugs, which makes things affordable. Check out the crow line.