Over the last four years, we have had many wonderful days of camping, and a handful of perfect ones. Our first full day of vacation in Belfast, Maine was stunning from beginning to end. A perfect summer day if we’ve ever had one.
So here is our set of instructions for enjoying your own amazing day in Belfast, Maine.
1. Wake up early at the oceanfront Moorings RV Resort, drink in the view, and do your morning stretches.
2. Head down to the rocky beach and do some exploring.
3. Launch your kayak from the beach and enjoy the quiet, picturesque scenery of the Penobscot Bay. If you give your kids the camera, this will keep them entertained spotting loons, lobster traps, sailboats, and fish. Some of their pictures might even be pretty cool. Can you figure out which photo Theo took?
4. Clean up and head into town to check out the beautiful playground at Belfast City Park. With water views and a design that ties into the landscape, this place will be appreciated by the whole family. Chat with the very friendly local parents and you will know exactly what to do with the rest of your stay in Belfast.
5. Eat lunch at the Belfast Co-op Cafe to experience great food and local culture. The soups, sandwiches, and quesadillas were phenomenal. With everything from pizza to hotdogs to vegan burritos, there is something on the menu for everyone.
6. Walk off lunch by strolling along the Harbor Walk. This path takes you through working shipyards and across the bay on a wonderful footbridge.
7. Shop Downtown Belfast where you can visit an olive oil tasting room, a gourmet cheese shop, the oldest shoe store in the country, or one of the well-curated book stores.
8. Return to the campground, where just a short stroll up the hill will land you at one of the best restaurants in this area. Papa J’s has all of the standard fare you might be looking for on your trip to the Maine Coast—whole lobster, lobster rolls, and a long list of seafood options. However, this place also offers so much more. The steaks are perfectly seasoned and cooked, and we could eat the scallops appetizer every day for the rest of our lives. Our waitress told us that the lobster pizza is a runaway favorite. We will have to return to try it. An added bonus is that all campers get a 5% discount. Thank you very much.
9. Take an evening walk on the beach and watch the moon rise over the bay.
10. Pile on the layers for stories around the campfire. S’mores will work just fine, too.
Jeremy and Stephanie Puglisi blog about camping and traveling with their three young children at rvfta.com.
