Five years ago, we sailed on a Maine Windjammer out of Rockland, then stayed for a few days visiting friends. It didn’t take long before we’d bought a summer house there. Here are just a few things we love about the region.

Breakfast at Home Kitchen Café. (Should I have the Irish Bennies or the Sinnie French Toast?)

• Work by local artisans. (Among my favorites are glass by Richard Remsen, photography by Peter Ralston, pottery by George Pearlman.)
• Steamers and lobstah at any local pound.
• Watching the schooners sail past the Rockland Light.
• Wood-roasted oysters and the world’s best mac-and-cheese at Shepherd’s Pie.
• Visiting the Belted Galloways.
• The Farnsworth Art Museum (and soon, the new Center for Maine contemporary Art.
• The Monhegan Ferry.
• Hotdogs at Wassas.
• Owls Head Transportation Museum
• Hunting for bargains at Something Blue (in Rockland) and Serendipity (in Camden.)
• The homemade gnocchi at 3 Crow.
• Gazing at the sea.
• Buying hand-knit baby sweaters, seaglass earrings and other gifts at the Blue Yonder shop at the Rockland airport.
• Art films and concerts at The Strand.
• Arriving and departing on Cape Air.
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