- I recently visited Belfast, Maine, a city rich in history, local culture and coastal scenery.
- Belfast is the perfect contrast to busy city life and a great escape from the city.
- I think it's an underrated destination.
When I went to Belfast, Maine for Independence Day on July 4th, I was expecting nothing more than a fulfilling long weekend with friends, away from the hectic life in New York.
I got all that and more.
It was my first time in Maine and I was amazed by the history, local culture and dramatic coastal scenery of this small town that I had never heard of until my friends moved there last winter.
According to the city's website, Belfast is a rapidly growing emerging city.
At the end of my trip, I thought Belfast was a hidden gem for tourists and one I would definitely return to again and again, away from the big cities.
Belfast, Maine is located about 100 miles up the coast from Portland.
To get to the small town on Penobscot Bay, we flew from New York City to Portland, Maine, where friends picked us up at the airport and took us on the two-hour drive up the coast to their home.
The town is rooted in maritime history.
Belfast was incorporated as a town in the 1700s, but began to thrive as a shipping center in the 19th century, according to the city's website. For nearly 100 years, Belfast residents built wooden sailing ships and operated steamships, transporting a variety of goods from ice and apples to hay and fertilizer.
Then, in the 1980s, creative types flocked to the town, which transformed it into an artists' oasis with galleries and warehouse studios.
Today, Belfast still retains much of its 19th century seaside atmosphere.
The seaside town has 7,000 residents, according to World Population Review.
According to the Boston Globe, Belfast's architecture blends traditional New England homes with Old World styles from the Italianate and Greek Revival periods, giving the city a European twist on the classic New England aesthetic.
My friend told me that Belfast gets a lot of tourists in the summer, but overall it didn't feel crowded. We never had to wait too long for a table in a restaurant, and we didn't see many people crowded together.
There are many historic inns in the town.
As I walked around the town I saw more historic inns than traditional hotels and realised that tourists visit Belfast for its unique accommodation.
These accommodations resemble giant mansions, and seeing them up close made me wish I'd booked one night at a place like the Jeweled Turret. According to the property's website, this antique-filled B&B is a 19th-century Victorian landmark that's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
There is also the Alden House Inn. The Greek Revival building was built in 1840. On a weekend afternoon, I found guests gathered on its porch and decided I wanted to spend some time there.
However, I stayed with friends and their neighborhood was surprisingly walkable for a small town.
According to Walk Score, Belfast is a pedestrian-friendly city, scoring 74 out of 100.
We walked from my friend's apartment to the hiking trails, the waterfront, and the downtown area, all within walking distance.
My friends live just a stone's throw from the Farmer's Market and the Belfast Truce Bridge, which pedestrians use to cross the Passagasawakeag River.
We went hiking instead of taking the car.
My friends live less than five minutes from the Rail Trail along the Passagasawakeeg River.
I was spending the day working remotely from Belfast and decided to go for a little hike during my lunch break.
The views of the rolling hills and lush green woodland in the distance were stunning – an ideal place to refresh between shifts.
You can also walk to the town's many small shops and buy locally grown produce.
My friend said the best thing about Belfast is the amount of local shops. There is no Walmart, Target or Costco in town. The only branded stores I saw were Walgreens, CVS and Dollar General.
According to the Press Herald, Maine towns are known for their small businesses, and Belfast in particular has a plethora of locally owned retailers, from general stores and DVD rental shops to shops selling vintage dollhouses and handmade clothing and furniture.
The Press Herald reports that these independent stores attract customers by allowing owners to get to know their regulars and provide a unique, personalized shopping experience.
During our trip, we went to a farmers market that sells local produce and foods, and our friends cooked a feast for us.
We had watermelon and feta salad, roast duck, lobster mac and cheese, and potato salad with duck fat and herb dressing, dill, parsley and garlic sprouts.
The ingredients were very fresh and the local pastries and bagels we bought for breakfast were fresh as well.
We also drove to a few places, including Acadia National Park.
Acadia National Park is just a 90 minute drive from Belfast, and we visited on a misty Saturday for a day trip, and were surprised to find it wasn't as busy as most of the national parks we've visited on the weekend.
The coastal park, surrounded by islands, looked majestic in the hazy weather. We hiked through the forest to the rocky shoreline, where we visited tide pools and found a giant cave. It was even more picturesque than the trail in Belfast, and I learned how Maine inspired my favorite American author, Stephen King.
Belfast and the surrounding area are dog friendly.
My friend in Maine has a very sweet and active dog named Zeus who accompanied us on nearly every adventure during our trip, from restaurants to the Rail Trail to Acadia, one of the most dog-friendly national parks in the U.S. according to the National Park Service.
Having Zeus with us made the trip much more interesting and fun – it wouldn't have been the same without him – and it made me realise that next time I go to Belfast I want to bring my dog with me.
I wish I could have stayed longer and I will definitely be back.
Not only is Belfast a city with lots of unique attractions, but it's also an ideal destination for tourists who want to travel sustainably – eco-travel experts say supporting local businesses and going car-free is the responsible thing to do for the health of the planet.
Next time I'm in Belfast I plan to browse the local shops, book a historic inn, take more day trips to places like Portland, and also see Acadia on a clear day.
