I say it all the time, just how lucky we are in Boston to have access to so many beautiful New England locations for weekend getaways. There are SO many beautiful areas to explore, and I want to see them all.
This past weekend we did a getaway in Camden, Maine with some friends, and I can’t recommend it enough. On the way up we stopped at the outlets in Freeport, Maine for some L.L. Bean action (and Sperry and Bass and Vineyard Vines. . . ). I had never been to the Freeport outlets and was overwhelmed by great stores and deals. The outlets are an easy two hour ride from Boston and totally doable for a day trip.
The friends we traveled with visit Camden every year and have their own set of stops they make, including Red’s Eats, a lobster shack in Wiscasset, Maine. It’s cash only, with a few outdoor tables and a long line, but it is so worth it!
Lobster rolls are served naked, an entire lobster stuffed into a buttered, toasted roll, and served with butter and mayo on the side, just the way I like it. We also shared fried scallops, the best I have ever had.
Camden was a short drive away; breaking it up with a few stops made the drive more bearable and definitely more delicious! We stayed at the Hartstone Inn in Camden, which I will cover in a separate post.
Our first order of business, after some wine and snacks, was a walk down to the harbor, which is quintessential New England.
We got some gorgeous weather over the weekend, and it felt SO good to wear flip flops and a dress. Being outdoors and by the sea makes me positively giddy, especially with the whole summer stretching out ahead.
Because the weather was so nice, we got to spend a lot of time outdoors, including a hike up to the top of Mt. Battie. It was a fairly easy 1.4 mile hike up, and the views were outstanding. Having a mountain that close to the sea is just about perfection for me. Hike in the morning, and boat in the afternoon!
Isn’t it stunning?
Post-hike, we did some wandering around Camden, including some shopping and indulging in deliciousness offered by local pubs. The Drouthy Bear was just across from our inn and the perfect place for a Pimm’s Cup, hand cut fries, sausage rolls, bacon butties, and live Celtic music, which brought my husband back home for a couple of hours. Such a sweet bar!
Our wandering also included the newly opened Vintage Lounge at 16 Bayview, a new luxury hotel right on Camden harbor. Cocktails and local smoked salmon filled us up, while the lounge vibe made us cozy and relaxed. 
Half of our group works in hospitality, and we ended up taking a site tour of the hotel, including checking out the stunning roof deck, which I could sit on for days, just staring out at all that blue. Seriously, I may have some mermaid in me.
The suites at 16 Bayview were gorgeous and so impressive. I especially loved the giant soaking tubs in them! We definitely are bookmarking the hotel for a future stay!
All in all, Camden is a place you could easily fill a weekend, with cute boutiques, plenty of restaurants, spas, outdoor activities, and more. I could even see spending a week and exploring other neighboring towns like Rockport.
Stay tuned for my review of the Hartstone Inn, coming soon!
