Situated between Rockland, Camden, Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park (3 hours north) and Portland, Boothbay Harbor, and L.L. Bean in Freeport (90 minutes south), Blue Tulip’s Tenants Harbor lodging is centrally located for tourists, shoppers, art or nature lovers exploring Mid-Coast Maine’s beautiful, rock-bound coast.
The peninsula’s gently rolling hills are perfect for bike riding. Nearby harbors, inlets and rivers are popular with sailors and kayakers. Known fondly as “Wyeth Country,” the Rockland/Port Clyde/Tenants Harbor/Cushing area’s beautiful views, museums and galleries also attract photographers, painters and artists throughout the year.
The Blue Tulip is within walking distance of Tenants Harbor’s general store, library, post office, restaurants, and the St. George Elementary School. Port Clyde’s Drift In Beach, Marshall Point Lighthouse and Museum, Monhegan Island Ferry, general store, ice cream shop, art galleries, souvenir shops, boat ramps and kayak rentals are just 3 miles away.
Places to Go, Things To Do
Monhegan Island Boat Line, Port Clyde
“Coastal Discovery Cruises” (www.monheganboat.com)
Maine Eastern Railroad, Rockland
Coastal Maine train rides between Rockland & Brunswick. (www.maineeasternrailroad.com)
Maine Windjammers, Rockland
Day or overnight cruises off the Maine coast (www.sailmainecoast.com)
Lighthouses
Marshall Point Lighthouse Museum and Gift Shop, Port Clyde
Visit the lighthouse seen in the movie “Forest Gump”! Beautuful island views with great little museum. Open Memorial Day through mid-October. (https://www.marshallpoint.org/)
Maine Lighthouse Museum, Rockland
Celebrates Maine’s historic lighthouses. (www.mainelighthousemuseum.org)
Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse, Rockland Harbor
Mile-long hike on the rocky breakwater!
(www.lighthouse.cc/rocklandbreakwater/)
Owls Head Light State Park, Owls Head
Great views of Rockland Harbor!
(www.lighthouse.cc/owls/)
State Parks, Recreation, Nature Walks
Birch Point State Park, South Thomaston
Beautiful views, sandy beach, gently rolling surf. (Birch Point)
Camden Hills State Park, Camden
Exceptional views of Penobscot Bay from the top of Mt. Battie! (www.stateparks.com/camden_hills.html)
Camden Snow Bowl, Camden
Gentle slopes for skiing, snowboarding, sledding, tobogganing thru late March. Mountain biking and hiking trails thru summer. 45 minutes from Tenants Harbor! Site of the International Toboggan Championships in February! (www.camdensnowbowl.com)
Port Clyde Kayaks, Port Clyde
Schedule a guided tour or rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboards for a few hours.
(www.portclydekayaks.com)
Roaring Spout and Town Forest Trails, Tenants Harbor
Two lovely walking trails, very close to Blue Tulip. You can pick up trail maps at the Town Office or Jackson Memorial Library.
Museums
Owls Head Transportation Museum, Owls Head
Large collection of antique aircraft, antique autos, bicycles, carriages. (www.ohtm.org)
Farnsworth Art Museum and Wyeth Center, Rockland
Featuring works of art by Maine artists, including three generations of Wyeth painters. (www.farnsworthmuseum.org)
Olson House, Cushing
Immortalized in paintings by Andrew Wyeth, now the artist’s burial place. (www.farnsworthmuseum.org/olson-house/)
Center for Maine Contemporary Art (CMCA), Rockland
Maine’s leading non-profit institution dedicated to advancing contemporary art through exhibitions and educational programs. New $3.2 million facility opened in 2016.
(www.cmcanow.org)
Knox Museum and Mansion (“Montpelier”), Thomaston
Recreated home of Revolutionary War hero General Henry Knox, George Washington’s first Secretary of War. (www.generalknoxmuseum.org)
Maine State Prison Show Room, Thomaston
Inexpensive, handcrafted wooden products made by Maine prison inmates. (www.state.me.us/corrections/industries/)
Educational Opportunities, Camps
Blueberry Cove Camp, Tenants Harbor
Resident or day camp for young people age 5-17. Two-week programs include sailing school. Less than one mile from the Blue Tulip. Drop off the kids and relax with us! (www.extension.umaine.edu/tanglewood)
Herring Gut Learning Center, Port Clyde
Marine-focused learning center for children, adults, teachers. Popular summer sessions.(www.herringgut.org)
Hurricane Island Outward Bound School, St. George
Inclusiveness and reliance on teamwork set an Outward Bound expedition apart from any other learning experience. Expedition members–whether middle or high school students, college age or adult–are “crew, not passengers.” (www.hiobs.org)
Penobscot School, Rockland
A center for language learning, cultural exchange. Popular 6-week “Summer in Maine” English immersion program. (www.languagelearning.org)
Theaters, Performance Venues
Camden Opera House, Camden
Year-round concerts, plays, recitals, conference presentations in a restored 19th century opera house. Check www.camdenoperahouse.com for calendar of events.
Everyman Repertory Company, Rockport
Mid-Coast Maine’s only professional theater company offers full-length productions and readings throughout the year, sometimes in collaboration with the Farnsworth Art Museum. See www.everymanrep.org for schedules and tickets.
Flagship Cinema, Thomaston
Traditional movie theatre showing first-run movies year-round in 8-10 mini-theatres with large comfortable seats. (www.flagshipcinemas.com/thomastonhome)
Rockport Opera House, Rockport
The historic Rockport Opera House is the perfect venue for concerts, theatrical productions, readings, meetings, even weddings and family reunions. Contact www.rockportoperahouse.com for schedule and availability.
Strand Theater, Rockland
The historic Strand Theatre offers first-run movies, concerts, readings and conference presentations throughout the year. See www.Rocklandstrand.com for schedule and tickets.