east coast travel - ilivetotravel's travel log

Around Belfast. Maine, That Is.

A little over 30 miles from Bangor, lies the coastal town of Belfast, Maine on Penobscot Bay. It sits about midway on the Maine coast right on US route 1. With about 7,000 inhabitants, it is a small town but it is the seat of Waldo County.

At the start of my trip to Maine a week ago, we decided to check out Belfast before heading to the main reason for our trip (exploring Acadia National Park). It was a great decision.

Belfast, Harbor Walk, Maine, Penobscot Bay, Passagassawakeag River, Belfast Main Street, architecture, city hall — City Hall

Maine Architecture at Belfast

Belfast, Harbor Walk, Maine, Penobscot Bay, Passagassawakeag River, Belfast Main Street, architecture

The town’s homes and buildings have beautiful architecture. Walking around the main street and nearby side streets is a real treat. Plenty of businesses around to look through.

Belfast, Harbor Walk, Maine, Penobscot Bay, Passagassawakeag River, Belfast Main Street, architecture, post office

Belfast, Harbor Walk, Maine, Penobscot Bay, Passagassawakeag River, Belfast Main Street, architecture, New England church

Belfast, Harbor Walk, Maine, Penobscot Bay, Passagassawakeag River, Belfast Main Street, architecture, Opera House

Checking out Harbor Walk

A neat thing to do is to walk the trail along Front St. by the water: Harbor Walk. Once you reach the Belfast Boathouse, if you are there around low tide, you can walk along the “beach” and behind beautiful houses sitting on prime real estate.

Belfast, Harbor Walk, Maine, Penobscot Bay, Passagassawakeag River, Front Street Shipyard

Belfast, Harbor Walk, Maine, Penobscot Bay, Passagassawakeag River, beach

Belfast, Harbor Walk, Maine, Penobscot Bay, Passagassawakeag River, Maine beach house, architecture

Walking in the opposite direction, you pass Heritage Park with its cool lobster bench. It has places to sit and eat and I understand the town holds events there.

If you keep going, you pass eateries and a brewery. Unfortunately, we were there in the morning so could not enjoy what likely is a great scene later in the day.

Belfast, Harbor Walk, Maine, Penobscot Bay, Passagassawakeag River, Front Street

Along the Front Street Shipyard

Continuing the walk, you get to walk through the Front Street Shipyard where you can see the work taking place as you walk through it (stay on the path!) and its marina to get to the bridge where you can cross the Passagassawakeag River (that was hard to type!).

A phenomenal lobster roll

The best part of the visit to Belfast was the Must Be Nice Lobster food truck on Harbor Walk selling lobster rolls. Both the setting and the roll were a phenomenal way to cap the visit to Belfast!

losbter, lobster roll, foodporn, foodie, Belfast, Harbor Walk, Maine — View from the food truck sitting area

An unexpected find: Bayside, Maine

P.S. – Upon leaving Belfast, we decided to explore the area a little more and discovered Bayside in Northport. Interestingly, this village used to be the site of a religious community’s summer camp – must have been a great one to spend a week or two back when! Cottages were built in the camp between 1870-1920 (roughly) and those cottages remain today though the camp closed in the 1930s. They have been beautifully kept up / restored, and a drive or walk around the narrow streets is well worth the detour from route 1 and Belfast!