Cynthia - Click to enlarge Edition #29, 17 November 2008

Hello, my name is Cynthia, a mermaid from the cool waters of New England. Thank you for visiting my collection of articles on coastal New England. Please tell your friends about this web site.

Look for other articles in this series on the home page.

Belfast, Maine

Belfast, Maine is located about 25 miles north of Rockland on the coast of Belfast Bay within the larger Penobscot Bay. Belfast was first settled in 1770, and was incorporated as a town in 1773. In 1853, Belfast was incorporated as a city, the 8th in the state of Maine. Here is a map of Belfast.

Belfast calls itself, "The heart of coastal Maine". The title is well deserved, as Belfast received a Gemmy award in 1996 from mid-western travel writers as a premier American destination. No other New England area has received such an honor.

The Penobscot Marine Museum is located northeast of Belfast in nearby Searsport at 5 Church Street. The museum's second annual Festival of Wreaths and Silent Auction will be held on December 5th and 6th, 2008.

Belfast Bridge Belfast City Park lies one mile east of downtown on High Street (Northport Avenue). This multi-acre park contains a creative playground, lighted tennis courts, a baseball diamond, outdoor swimming pool with lockers and showers, and picnic areas. Admission to all are free.

If you are a fan of Lighthouses as I am, you will love the Penobscot Bay area. Be sure to bring your camera, and remember to send me a few pictures!

Are you an outdoors type of person? Belfast area summer activities include boating, kayaking, biking, camping, fishing, and hunting. In the winter there is ice fishing, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing.

Each year, Belfast plays host to a number of special events. The National Boat Building competition takes place in late July. Teams of two all build the same skiff design. Each team is graded on construction time, quality of workmanship, and speed on the water.

Running from June until Labor Day, the Belfast Historical Society hosts The Museum in The Streets. This is a self-guided walking tour of downtown, which allows visitors to experience Belfast's rich heritage. Groups are welcome and there is no admission charge.

In each town, there are restaurants that stand out as exceptional. Residents pay regular visits, and those that move away make a special trip each time they are back in the area. In Belfast, one such restaurant is Darby's at 155 High Street. From Thai and Moroccan to American and Chinese, Darby's has something for everyone. People love the casual atmosphere, helpful staff, and generous portions.

Located at 3 Main Street, Weathervane Seafood Restaurant is the place to go for great seafood. Start your meal with Bea's creamy Clam Chowder [NE]. Now comes the hard part. Should you go for the Grilled Maple Salmon, the Broiled Sea Scallops and Haddock, or the Baked Stuffed Tilapia? Why not go all the way and treat yourself to a single or twin Boiled Lobster Dinner? Visit the Weathervane on Thursdays, and the twin lobster dinner is offered at a reduced price!

Learn more about Belfast at www.belfastmaine.org. If you should see me in the water, be sure to wave!

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Photo Credits:
Cynthia at Sunrise: DSI Photo
Belfast Bridge: Webshots

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