This classy Queen-Anne Victorian, Castine’s oldest summer hotel, has a tranquil wraparound porch overlooking the village and harbor. It’s easy to spend a few hours here doing absolutely nothing. But you probably came to eat and sleep, right? In that case, you’ll be interested to know that the inn has 16 guest rooms filled with antiques and period details. And you can dine in the intimate and classy restaurant that serves artful platefuls of local seafood and fish. Caution: their bouillabaisse may cause French visitors to weep with envy. For drinking, the inn’s striking, old world pub is covered with rare photos of eccentric world leaders.

CASTINE

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From Orland, a few miles east of Bucksport along US 1, ME 175/166 heads south to the dignified and historic village of Castine. Following an eventful history, today’s Castine is charming, quiet and refreshingly off the beaten track. Almost all of its houses were built before 1900, so it’s easy to get a feel for how this seaside town would have been back then. It’s also the home of the Maine Maritime Academy and its big training ship, the State of Maine (1952), which you can visit.