- I recently visited Belfast, Maine, which is full of history, local culture, and coastal views.
- Belfast offers a striking contrast to busy city life and is perfect for a relaxing holiday.
- In my opinion, this is an underrated tourist destination.
When I went to Belfast, Maine, to celebrate the Fourth of July, all I expected was a fun long weekend with my friends to take a break from the hustle and bustle of my life in New York City.
I got all that — and more.
This was my first time in Maine, and this small town, which I had never heard of before my friends moved there last winter, surprised me with its history, local culture, and dramatic coastal views.
According to the city’s website, Belfast is an emerging city.
After my trip, I decided that Belfast is a hidden gem for tourists, and I will return again and again for a city break.
Belfast, Maine, is about 100 miles off the coast of Portland.
To get to the small town on Penobscot Bay, we flew from NYC to Portland, Maine, and our friends picked us up from the airport for the two-hour drive up the coast to their place.
The city is rooted in maritime history.
Belfast was founded as a city in the 1700s, but began to grow rapidly in the 19th century as a center for maritime workers, according to the city’s website. For about 100 years, Belfast residents built wooden sailboats, operated steamboats, and transported goods ranging from ice and apples to hay and fertilizer.
Then, in the 1980s, creatives flocked to the city and turned it into an artists’ oasis with galleries and warehouse studios.
Today, Belfast retains the same 19th century seaside feel.
This seaside town has 7,000 residents, according to the World Population Review.
According to the Boston Globe, the architecture in Belfast blends traditional New England-style homes with old-world styles from the Italianate and Greek Revival eras. I think this gives the city a European twist on the classic New England aesthetic.
My friends said Belfast gets packed with tourists in the summer, but overall it didn’t feel crowded. We never had to wait too long for a table at a restaurant, and I didn’t see many people crowding around.
The city is filled with historic inns.
While walking around the city, I saw more historic inns than traditional hotels, which makes me think that tourists visit Belfast for unique accommodations.
These accommodations look like mansions, and seeing them up close makes me wish I’d booked a night in one, like the Jeweled Turret. The antique-adorned bed and breakfast is a 19th-century Victorian that’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places, according to the inn’s website.
There is also the Alden House Inn, A Greek Revival style building built in 1840. One weekend afternoon, I saw the porch filled with guests and wanted to hang out there.
But I stayed with my friends. Their neighborhood turned out to be walkable for a small town.
According to Walk Score, Belfast is pedestrian-friendly with a score of 74 out of 100.
From my friend’s apartment, we got to hiking trails, the waterfront, and downtown — all on foot.
My friends also live steps from the farmers market and the Belfast Armistice Bridge, which pedestrians use to cross the Passagassawakeag River.
We went hiking without having to take the car.
My friends live less than five minutes from the Rail Trail that spans the Passagassawakeag River.
I spent a day working remotely from Belfast, and we took a short hike during our lunch break.
I was impressed by the view of the hillsides and the land covered in lush green trees in the distance. It was an ideal place to refresh myself in the midst of a task.
We can also walk to many small businesses in town and shop for locally produced food.
My friend told me that one of the coolest things about Belfast is the abundance of local stores. There are no Walmarts, Targets, or Costcos in town. The only brand name stores I saw were Walgreens, CVS, and Dollar General.
According to the Press Herald, Maine towns are known for their small businesses. Belfast, in particular, has a plethora of local retailers, from convenience stores and DVD rental shops to shops selling antique dollhouses and handmade clothing and furniture.
The Press Herald reports that these independent stores attract customers with a unique, personal shopping experience because shop owners get to know their regular customers.
We went to a farmer’s market selling local produce and food during my trip, and my friends cooked delicious dishes.
We enjoyed watermelon and feta cheese salad, roast duck, lobster macaroni and cheese, and potato salad with duck fat and a dressing flavored with herbs, fennel, parsley, and chives.
The ingredients tasted so fresh, as did the local pastries and bagels we got there for breakfast.
There were several places we visited, such as Acadia National Park.
Acadia National Park is only a 90-minute drive from Belfast. We took a day trip there on a foggy Saturday, and I was surprised to find it was less crowded than most national parks I’ve visited on weekends.
The island-fringed beach park looked magnificent in the misty weather. We hiked through the woods to the rocky shoreline, where we swam in tidal pools and discovered a large cave. It was even more beautiful than the trail in Belfast, and it helped me see how Maine inspired my favorite American author, Stephen King.
Belfast and the surrounding area are dog friendly.
My friends in Maine have a very sweet and active dog, Zeus. He accompanied us on almost every adventure during our trip, from restaurants to the Rail Trail and even Acadia, one of the most dog-friendly national parks in the US, according to the National Parks Service.
Having Zeus with us made this trip so much more silly and fun. It wouldn’t have been the same without him. And it makes me want to bring my dog the next time I go to Belfast.
I could have stayed longer, and I will definitely be back.
As well as being a unique city with so much to offer, I think Belfast would be an ideal destination for travellers looking to travel sustainably. Eco-travel experts say that supporting local businesses and going car-free are responsible practices for the health of our planet.
Next time I’m in Belfast, I’ll spend more time browsing the local shops, staying at a historic inn, and taking day trips to places like Portland. Plus, I’d love to see Acadia on a clear day.
