Camden is an affluent town in the state of Maine, a little over an hour north of Portland, in the mid-coast region of Maine. It has been a tourist destination for years and is home to some of the wealthiest individuals in Maine. It had an economic boom in the 1990s when credit card giant MBNA placed major offices there and paid for major town renovations while providing jobs to locals. Now it is an upscale seaside community with many different shops and restaurants.
Camden is considered by some to be one of the most beautiful places in New England. Its town motto is "where the mountains meet the sea". The rolling Camden hills run from inland right up to the ocean itself creating amazing landscapes, hence why so many people visit and live in this area. This in turn also makes Camden a very expensive place to live and visit. Don't be surprised to see basic needs such as food, lodging and gas costing more here than in towns just 5 miles away; this is usually due to the high taxes levied by the town.
Camden is home to many affluent families with breathtaking estates and mansions dotting the hills and oceanside. These houses may be one of a kind and amazing to look at, but Camden's residents do not enjoy it when tourists wander off the beaten path and end up in their neighborhoods. Walking up and down private neighborhoods taking pictures of houses and gardens is frowned upon.
Nevertheless, residents are not cold to visitors; in fact, they are very warm and welcoming. Don't hesitate to ask for directions or where good restaurants are; they will usually help you.
The town is cut in half by US Route 1 which runs south to north and continues up the Maine coast. Highways 105 and 52 head west and give access to inland Maine.
Concord Coach Lines operates 2 daily buses to and from Portland. Concord Coach (dead link: January 2023) buses continue to Boston after a short stop in Portland. Also, trains to Boston's North Station are available by way of Amtrak.
The nearest airport is in Owls Head about 20 minutes south. This is a small regional airport with flights from Boston and New York.
There are several taxi companies operating in the Camden area. Keep in mind their fares are typically higher than taxis in large urban area due to the area not being as dense and requiring longer drive times.
Walking is an effective mode of transportation in the downtown district, but a car is easier to get to the surrounding hills and residential areas. Also remember that Maine is very rural away from the immediate coast. Just ten minutes west of Camden and you will find yourself in very unpopulated areas. This makes having a car a necessity in Maine.
Maine lags behind the rest of the country with public transportation, so that is not a viable option when visiting Camden. The closest thing to public transportation is a "trolley" that runs between Camden and the towns south of it and to the City of Rockland.
It is also worth noting that traffic in Camden is very heavy and may sometimes be hard to navigate. The road system follows no grid or reasoning, and most streets are not large enough for two lanes of traffic. There are also several places where some streets have the right of way and others do not, these are not clearly marked either. If you are driving in Camden and find yourself being honked at chances are you have not allowed someone the right of way. If you are heading north on Route 1 into Camden, watch for the only stop sign you will encounter on Route 1. Though it is a great annoyance to both tourists and locals for the huge backups it creates, drivers on the intersecting road have the right of way and take it. Also be prepared for start and stop traffic, the streets were designed for horses and buggies, not cars and not many of them.
Camden is split into different neighborhoods, although not clearly defined. The central and most eastern part is the downtown district and harbor area. This is where you will find all of the shops and restaurants. This is the most dense area of town and in turn will have the most foot and vehicle traffic. It's also worth mentioning that there are an unusual amount of crosswalks downtown. Maine observes the 'people first' rule and not allowing pedestrians to cross will result in a fine.
The neighborhoods to the Northeast and Southeast are the most lavish in Camden. The High Street historical District to the north of town has old manors and sea captains houses. The south east has Bay View Street with expensive boutiques and further south sprawling estates on the ocean side. The central region of town is almost completely residential and follows the only street grid in town. There is parking on these streets however it is heavily regulated (residents have the right to park first) leaving your car overnight will almost always result in a ticket, but during the day you should be fine.
To the west of downtown and beyond the central region are the sprawling Camden Hills. The homes in this residential area have the best view, a panoramic view of downtown Camden and the bay. If exploring this area by car take warning, the roads are very narrow and usually follow along steep drop offs. Many of the neighborhoods in the Camden Hills area are also private housing developments, so even if you think you can get a nice picture at the top of a hill, look to make sure it isn't someone's back yard. You will find the Camden Snow Bowl and Ragged Mountain Park here. This is a small ski mountain during the winter (in fact the only ski mountain where you can see the ocean) and a field and tennis courts during the summer.
There are many boats which can be chartered and taken into the bay for a day of sailing, Penobscot Bay can be breathtaking.
Popular activities include sailing, biking, hiking and shopping. The Penobscot Bay is nearby for the many water activities
There are many shops within the downtown district selling things such as clothing, fine art, jewelry, accessories, books, movies and many other authentic Maine items.
There is very little crime in Camden. You will be pretty safe walking around any part of town at night and only need to watch out if you have just left, or are in the vicinity of, the bars downtown. However, the only thing you will really have to worry about is opportunistic theft. Use common sense and keep your car locked, especially if it is filled with luggage or other valuables in plain sight. Other than that, you should have nothing to worry about. The Camden PD is very active and crime is minimal even during peak tourist months.
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