Penobscot Bay

Scooped out of the middle of the Maine Coast, Penobscot Bay is Maine’s center for both lobstering and pleasure-sailing. After miles of flirting with the coastline, Route 1 finally runs smack along the water as it passes through a series of picturesque Maine [1] villages. This is prime lobster country, with each coastal community competing for bragging rights over who has the meatiest and juiciest of these eight-legged crustaceans.

Not that these communities are all the same; portside Rockland [2] gives way to upscale Camden [3] and funky Belfast [4]. In the bay, the various islands each have their own character, from the working lobstering island of Vinalhaven [5] to the car- and electricity-free Monhegan [6].

Getting to Penobscot Bay

Any trip to Penobscot Bay will take you far from the highway. For Rockland or Camden, take exit 28 off of I-295 to U.S. Route 1 and work your way up the coast to Newcastle. From Newcastle continue up Route 1 to Rockland (25 mi., 40 min.), Camden (30 mi., 50 min.), or Belfast (50 mi., 1 hr. 10 min.). Alternatively for Belfast, take I-95 to Augusta (exit 109), then U.S. Route 202 and Route 3 east to the coast (45 mi., 1 hr. 15 min.).

Concord Coach Lines (800/639-3317, www.concordtrailways.com [7]) offers bus service to Rockland (Maine State Ferry Terminal, 517A Main St.), Camden/Rockport (Maritime Farms, 20 Commercial St./Rte. 1, Rockport), Belfast (Big Apple Convenience, 268 Main St.), and Searsport [4] (Steamboat Gallery, 161 E. Main St./Rte. 1) on its three daily non-express trips up the coast.

In Rockland, All Aboard Trolley Co. (21 Limerock St., Rockland, 207/594-9300, www.aatrolley.com [8]) circulates around the downtown area and stores. In the other towns, you are limited to taxis. Try Schooner Bay Limo & Taxi (Rockland, 207/594-5000), Mid-Coast Limo (Camden, 207/236-2424), and Belfast Taxi Company (Belfast, 207/338-2943).