Belfast, Maine: Directions, Accommodations & Much More...

Home Port of Belfast, Maine:
We are very pleased as the beautiful & historic small city of Belfast, Maine has welcomed us to make this our permanent home port. Belfast is located just off U.S. Route 1, across the Bridge from Searsport.

Wanderbird in the Good Company of Tugs
in her Home Port of Belfast, Maine

About Belfast:
Belfast is located on Penobscot Bay and at the mouth of the Passagassawakeag River. The Belfast Area has rich in history dating back more than 200 years. The community was an early fishing village, and was named for the City in Ireland in 1765. The harbour and waterfront were the hub of commercial activity. The Belfast area had many active shipyards. Searsport alone, just to the north of Belfast, was home to eleven yards and to more shipmasters than any other town in America. Between 1810 and 1890, more than 200 ships slid down the ways in Searsport and in 1887 alone, more than 1,200 vessels arrived in local ports. During this time of great prosperity, shipbuilders and merchants built beautiful Greek Revival, Colonial, and Victorian mansions throughout the area. Captains decorated spectacular mansions with treasures carried home from exotic ports. Many of these homes are now B&Bs or Inns. The Penobscot Marine Museum of Searsport, a village of eleven vintage buildings preserves the local maritime history and the Belfast Museum is located in the heart of Downtown Belfast.

Belfast carried the spirit of enterprise into the 20th and 21st centuries. During the 1940's the area embraced the shoe business and became major center for the poultry business. Belfast is currently known for its galleries, shopping, and dining with its well preserved architecture and its New England coastal town charm. Lobstermen continue work the same waters their ancestors.

At Home in Our Port of Belfast:

Your Arrival:
You should plan on arriving in Belfast between 6 and 9 PM on the evening before your cruise departure date. You may check in at our Ship's Store & Office anytime prior to boarding. You may stay aboard the WANDERBIRD, as our guest the night before your cruise departs, but plan on finding dinner in town at a local pub, seafood restaurant or our local tapas bar. (We have a good list of recommendations below). The first meal we serve aboard will be breakfast on the morning of departure. We will serve cold drinks, tea & coffee that evening and you may want to explore our colourful and friendly new home port, and pick up a few last minute items.

The Docks:
Just follow Main Street downhill to the water and you will see us at the town docks! Expedition Vessel Wanderbird. Free Parking is available nearby.

The Ship's Store & Office:
Located at 33 Main Street, the office is a very short uphill walk from the docks. Check out our fine ship models, scrimshaw, sea theme fine art & sculpture, Labradorite & silver or our pewter sea-theme jewellery, our Inuit art collection and many other beautiful handicrafts - all found during our travels aboard Wanderbird. We also have our own line of Wanderbird hats, shirts, fleece jackets & vests, aprons, expedition parkas for northern travel & more!

Directions to Belfast:
If you are flying: the Bangor International Airport (approximately 1 hour drive), the Portland Jetport (2 hours drive) or Boston (4-1/2 hours drive). Car rentals are available at all three airports.
Click here for a map by Google.

From Bangor Internationl Airport/Area:
Start out going NORTH on GODFREY BLVD. approximately 0.2 miles and continue to go STRAIGHT toward EXIT TO CITY for 0.1 miles. Stay STRAIGHT to go onto GODFREY BLVD. approximately 0.2 miles and turn RIGHT onto MAINE AVE. for 1.5 miles. MAINE AVE becomes US-2 / ME-100 / ODLIN RD. follow this 0.8 miles. Turn LEFT onto I-395 E. and continue 0.7 miles and then merge onto US-202 W via EXIT 2 toward HAMPDEN - continue 4.1 miles. US-202 W becomes WESTERN AVE / ME-9, follow this
0.4 miles. Turn RIGHT onto US-1A / MAIN RD N. Continue to follow US-1A South for 19.2 miles. Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto US-1 W / ME-3 W. for
9.9 miles and stay STRAIGHT to go onto MAIN ST. for 0.6 miles. Turn SLIGHT LEFT to stay on MAIN ST. and continue for 0.2 miles to end of Main St., Belfast, ME 04915, US

Total Est. Time: 1 hour, 2 minutes
Total Est. Distance: 36.73 miles

From the Portland International Jetport/Area:
Start out going EAST on JETPORT ACCESS RD. for 0.1 miles. Turn SLIGHT LEFT to stay on JETPORT ACCESS RD. and continue for 0.1 miles, then turn LEFT to stay on JETPORT ACCESS RD. for another 0.2 miles and finally Turn SLIGHT RIGHT to stay on JETPORT ACCESS RD. for another 0.1 miles. Turn RIGHT onto INTERNATIONAL PKWY. and go 0.3 miles. Turn RIGHT onto CONGRESS ST / ME-9 / ME-22. and travel 0.1 miles - Stay STRAIGHT to go onto CONGRESS ST / ME-9 / ME-22 and Continue to follow CONGRESS ST. 1.7 miles. Merge onto I-295 N toward FALMOUTH for 23.9 miles.
Take the US-1 exit- EXIT 28- toward COASTAL ROUTE / BRUNSWICK / BATH for 1.2 miles. Stay STRAIGHT to go onto US-1 N / BLUE STAR MEMORIAL HWY. Continue to follow US-1 N. for 43.9 miles. Turn LEFT onto CAMDEN RD / ME-90. Continue to follow ME-90 for 10.7 miles. Turn LEFT onto US-1 / COMMERCIAL ST. Continue to follow US-1 for 1.9 miles. This road ends at US-1. Take left and drive NORTHEAST on ELM ST / US-1 toward MECHANIC ST. Continue to follow US-1 for 16.6 miles. For the Belfast exit, turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto NORTHPORT AVE. and go 0.9 miles.
NORTHPORT AVE becomes HIGH ST., continue on for 0.5 miles. Turn LEFT onto MAIN ST and go approximately 0.2 miles to end of Main St., Belfast, ME 04915, US

Total Est. Time: 2 hour, 27 minutes
Total Est. Distance: 102.75 miles

From the Downtown Bar Harbor Area:
Start out going NORTH on MAIN ST / ME-3 toward ME-3 / MT DESERT ST. for 0.1 miles. Turn LEFT onto ME-3 / MT DESERT ST. and go 0.4 miles then turn RIGHT onto EDEN ST / ME-3. for 0.2 miles. Stay STRAIGHT to go onto EDEN ST / ME-3. Continue to follow ME-3 N. for 19.3 miles. Turn LEFT onto MAIN ST / US-1 / ME-3. Continue to follow US-1 W / ME-3 for 37.0 miles. Take the ramp toward ME-137 / DOWNTOWN BELFAST AND WATERFRONT for 0.1 miles and keep RIGHT at the fork to go on HIGH ST. for 0.7 miles. Turn RIGHT onto MAIN ST and go approximately 0.2 miles to end of Main St., Belfast, ME 04915, US

Total Est. Time: 1 hour, 37 minutes
Total Est. Distance: 58.04 miles

Belfast Resources:

Chamber of Commerce
1(207)338-5900 www.belfastmaine.org
PO Box 58, Belfast, Maine 04915

Accommodations:

Belfast Harbor Inn (Motel on U.S. Route 1)
207-338-2740 or 1-800-545-8576 www.belfastharborinn.com
91 Searsport Ave, Belfast, Maine 04915

Harbor View House of 1807 (B&B in Historic District)
207-338-3811 or 1-877-393-3811 www.harborviewhouse.com
213 High St., Belfast, ME 04915

The White House (B&B in Belfast Historic District)
207-338-1901 or 1-888-290-1901 www.mainebb.com
1 Church Street, Belfast, ME 04915

Alden House (B&B in Belfast Historic District)
Innkeepers: Ted and Deborah Hensley
207-338- 2151 or 1-877-337-8151 www.thealdenhouse.com
63 Church Street, Belfast, ME 04915
(Our Wanderbirders/Guests Recommended this B&B)

The Jewelled Turret Inn
40 Pearl Street, Belfast, Maine 04915
207-338-2301 or 1-800-696-2304 www.jeweledturret.com
(Our Wanderbirders/Guests Recommended this B&B)

Frost House (B&B in Belfast Historic District)
207-338-1604 www.frosthouse.com
8 Northport Ave., Belfast, Maine 04915

The Penobscot Inn
Hosts & Innkeepers: Val & Kris Kurapka
1-800-335-2370 or 207-338-5715 baymeadowsinn.com
192 Northport Avenue (Rt.1), Belfast, Maine 04915

Restaurants:

The Penobscot Inn
Hosts & Innkeepers: Val & Kris Kurapka
1-800-335-2370 or 207-338-5715 baymeadowsinn.com
192 Northport Avenue (Rt.1), Belfast, Maine 04915
(This is one of our favourite cosy winter places to dine.)

Three Tides
proprietors: David, Sarah & Baby Luna
207-338-1707 3tides.com
2 Pinchy Lane, Belfast, Maine 04915 (Marshall Wharf/Next to the Tugboats)
(Fun, Hip Tapas Bar - Great Food & Cocktails)

Darby's Restaurant & Pub
proprietors: Gail and Jerry Savitz
207-338-2339 www.darbysrestaurant.com
155 High Street Belfast, Maine 04915 (two doors from movie theater)
(Classic Building, Local Art & Delicious Eclectic Cuisine)

Rollie's Bar & Grill
Proprietor: Our neighbour Randy
207-338-4502 rollies-bar-n-grill.com
37 Main Street, Belfast, Maine 04915
(Our Neighbourhood Sports Pub, Perfect for Hamburgers, Pizza, Fried Seafood & Beer)

"SCOOPS" Actually, Scoops & Crepes
Proprietor: Our neighbour, Karen
207-338-3350 (Look for the Orange Awning/Next to Our Ship's Store)
35 Main Street, Belfast, Maine 04915
(Dreamy Ice cream, Savoury Crepes & Salad, Espresso & Good Company)

Chases Daily
207-338-0555 (Vegetarian Restaurant & Farmer's Market)
96 Main Street, Belfast, Maine 04915
(Great Coffee, Breakfast, Delicious Pastries & Real Baguettes!)

Dockside Family Restaurant
207-338-6889
30 Main Street, Belfast, Maine 04915
(Seafood, Steaks, Sandwiches, Soups, & More)

The Weathervane Seafood Restaurant
207-338-1774 www.weathervaneseafoods.com
2 Main Street, Belfast, Maine 04915 (Next to the Docks)
(Seafood Galore/Good Fried Seafood Platters)

Taxi:

Marty's Old Town Taxi
207-827-8800
(Wanderbirders traveling from Bangor have used this service. Marty will pre-arrange a time for your 'pick up' at the docks in Belfast as well)

Bay Limosine & Taxi
964 Swan Lake Ave
Swanville, ME 04915
207-338-1993
(local cab service)

Where to Go & Other Local Information:

Penobscot Marine Museum
207-548-2529 www.penobscotmarinemuseum.org
5 Church Street, Searsport, ME 04974
(A Fantastic Museum & Local Resource, Definitely Worth a Visit for an In-Depth Understanding of our Maritime History)

Parent Gallery
207-338-1553 www.nealparent.com
92 Main Street, Belfast, Maine 04915
(Much of the Local Photography Featured Aboard Wanderbird,
Is that of Our Good Friend Neal Parent!
Check Out his Photography Classes & Gallery!)

Belfast Maskers Theatre
207-338-9668 belfastmaskerstheater.com
43 Front Street, Belfast, Maine 04915
(Belfast's Own Community Theatre & Playhouse!)

Colonial Theatre
Proprietor: Mayor, Mike Hurley
207-338-1930 colonialtheatre.com
163 High Street, Belfast, Maine 04915
(Classic "Old Style" Local Movie House)

Belfast Food Co-op
207-338-2532 belfastcoop.com
69 High Street, Belfast, Maine 04915
(One of Our Favourite Resources - Local & Fair Trade Goodies, Produce, Wine, Etc.)

Belfast Village Soup
belfast.villagesoup.com
(For Local News, Stories & Weather, Reviews, Festivals and More!)