Rockland, Maine, USA

The Abenaki people once called this town Catawamteak, meaning “great landing place,” and Rockland certainly remains exactly that. This gateway to island-dotted Penobscot Bay is a thriving port of fishing boats and tall-masted sailing ships. Main Street is the hub with an array of specialty shops, antique stores, historic storefronts and the Center for Maine Contemporary Art. Other museum stops include the renowned Farnsworth Art Museum and the Maine Lighthouse Museum. The charming lighthouse and fascinating transportation museum in nearby Owls Head also merit a visit. Food enthusiasts will find bohemian cafés, working-class diners, informal takeout shacks and nationally acclaimed fine-dining restaurants. The last twenty years have seen an explosion in wine production in the region, and a visit to the wineries offers the perfect opportunity to venture farther up the coast to Mount Battie and Camden.