Guidebook for Harpswell/Brunswick
Drinks & Nightlife
Good ambience and good food
This converted mill has an amazing view of the Androscoggin River and great food, along with an independent film house and local or international art. Free live music Wednesdays
54 locals recommend
Frontier
14 Maine StThis converted mill has an amazing view of the Androscoggin River and great food, along with an independent film house and local or international art. Free live music Wednesdays
Pub with excellent food options and an outdoor patio overlooking the Androscoggin River. Within a 1/2 mile walking distance to our house.
41 locals recommend
Sea Dog Brewing Company
1 Bowdoin Mill IslandPub with excellent food options and an outdoor patio overlooking the Androscoggin River. Within a 1/2 mile walking distance to our house.
Local brews, fun atmosphere, live music on Fridays and Saturdays, and Trivia Night Thursdays!
39 locals recommend
Flight Deck Brewing
11 Atlantic AveLocal brews, fun atmosphere, live music on Fridays and Saturdays, and Trivia Night Thursdays!
Enjoy a funky atmosphere, friendly hosts and artisanal cocktails and locally sourced, and foraged, appetizers. Check their calendar for special tasting dinners, free wine tastings (Thursdays), cocktail classes, pop up vintage clothing sales, etc.
6 locals recommend
Vessel & Vine
4 Pleasant StEnjoy a funky atmosphere, friendly hosts and artisanal cocktails and locally sourced, and foraged, appetizers. Check their calendar for special tasting dinners, free wine tastings (Thursdays), cocktail classes, pop up vintage clothing sales, etc.
Arts & Culture
Bowdoin College often has free theater and music events as well as author talks or lectures during the school year. In the summer, tickets to the Maine State Music theater performances start at $30.
45 locals recommend
Bowdoin College
255 Maine StBowdoin College often has free theater and music events as well as author talks or lectures during the school year. In the summer, tickets to the Maine State Music theater performances start at $30.
Wonderful, free art museum, about a 30-min walk from our home.
44 locals recommend
Bowdoin College Museum of Art
245 Maine StWonderful, free art museum, about a 30-min walk from our home.
Another free museum at Bowdoin College featuring art and artifacts from the arctic.
26 locals recommend
Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum
10 Campus Rd SAnother free museum at Bowdoin College featuring art and artifacts from the arctic.
Eveningstar Cinema
149 Maine StAnother great independent movie theater in Downtown Brunswick
Sightseeing
This historical home was the residence of Civil War hero and former Bowdoin College president Joshua Chamberlain. Longfellow also stayed at this home during his stay at Bowdoin. Summer hours only.
16 locals recommend
Joshua L. Chamberlain Museum
226 Maine StThis historical home was the residence of Civil War hero and former Bowdoin College president Joshua Chamberlain. Longfellow also stayed at this home during his stay at Bowdoin. Summer hours only.
Take a ferry from nearby Bailey's Island to Portland and back, or just a trip around Casco Bay.
87 locals recommend
Casco Bay Lines
56 Commercial StTake a ferry from nearby Bailey's Island to Portland and back, or just a trip around Casco Bay.
Take a discovery class at L.L. Bean in Freeport and take a ride on a kayak from one of the nearby peninsulas
L.L.Bean Flying Point Paddling Center
14 Marietta LnTake a discovery class at L.L. Bean in Freeport and take a ride on a kayak from one of the nearby peninsulas
This is the only granite cribstone bridge in the world. This unique bridge also spans Bailey and Orr's Islands and gives way to some spectacular views... but park before or after the bridge, because you'll need to pay attention as you drive over the narrow bridge.
14 locals recommend
Bailey Island Bridge (Cribstone Bridge)
Harpswell Island RoadThis is the only granite cribstone bridge in the world. This unique bridge also spans Bailey and Orr's Islands and gives way to some spectacular views... but park before or after the bridge, because you'll need to pay attention as you drive over the narrow bridge.
Food Scene
Amazing cocktails, delicious pasta and pizza dishes and excellent service! All for a reasonable price.
17 locals recommend
Scarlet Begonias
16 Station AveAmazing cocktails, delicious pasta and pizza dishes and excellent service! All for a reasonable price.
Vintage drive-in eatery that takes only cash. A must see and visit if you're here between March-October. Try the Fat Boy BLT, fried green beans or onion rings
12 locals recommend
Fat Boy Drive In
111 Bath RdVintage drive-in eatery that takes only cash. A must see and visit if you're here between March-October. Try the Fat Boy BLT, fried green beans or onion rings
A quintessential Maine lobster house. Usually open year round (call first if it's off season). You can get some great seafood, or just a good bloody Mary and enjoy the 360 view.
61 locals recommend
Cook's Lobster & Ale House
68 Garrison Cove RoadA quintessential Maine lobster house. Usually open year round (call first if it's off season). You can get some great seafood, or just a good bloody Mary and enjoy the 360 view.
Homegrown gelato, great atmosphere and free tastings. The place to hang out late nights.
32 locals recommend
The Gelato Fiasco
74 Maine StHomegrown gelato, great atmosphere and free tastings. The place to hang out late nights.
Little Dog Coffee Shop
87 Maine StThe iconic home store of Brunswick-based Frosty's Donuts. Delicious donuts and $1 coffee from Wicked Joe.
23 locals recommend
Frosty's Donuts
45 Main StThe iconic home store of Brunswick-based Frosty's Donuts. Delicious donuts and $1 coffee from Wicked Joe.
Best place to get a deli sandwich in the Midcoast, maybe in Maine. Great prices, lots to choose from and you get an amazing meal. Also open for breakfast.
12 locals recommend
Big Top Delicatessen
70 Maine StBest place to get a deli sandwich in the Midcoast, maybe in Maine. Great prices, lots to choose from and you get an amazing meal. Also open for breakfast.
Dog Bar Jim: The Coffee Shop
90 Union StThe friendliest coffee shop in Brunswick!
Shopping
Estilo
153A Park RowUnique clothing consignment store with great prices.
Excellent, independent music, book and movie store, features used and new books, used and new CDs, Vinyl, games, and movies.
Bull Moose
151 Maine StExcellent, independent music, book and movie store, features used and new books, used and new CDs, Vinyl, games, and movies.
Everything Else
Androscoggin River Bicycle & Pedestrian Path
Androscoggin River Bicycle & Pedestrian PathWalking and biking trail along the Androscoggin River
Parks & Nature
Cathance River Preserve
Evergreen CircleLook for the trail that leads to a labyrinth in the woods near the community garden.
Brunswick Topsham Land Trust
179 Neptune DriveLook for the trail that leads to a labyrinth in the woods near the community garden.
Great swimming beach and quintessential view of a Maine working harbor.
11 locals recommend
Mackerel Cove Landing
33 Abner Point RdGreat swimming beach and quintessential view of a Maine working harbor.
Take a short walk to this unique geological formation, known as the Giant's Stairs (Steps) on the tip of Bailey's Island.
20 locals recommend
Giant's Stairs Trail
Giant's Stairs TrailTake a short walk to this unique geological formation, known as the Giant's Stairs (Steps) on the tip of Bailey's Island.
Visit their website for details about local hikes preserved and maintained by this land trust: https://hhltmaine.org/
9 locals recommend
Harpswell Heritage Land Trust
153 Harpswell Neck RdVisit their website for details about local hikes preserved and maintained by this land trust: https://hhltmaine.org/