34 Best Shopping in The Mid-Coast Region, Maine

This well-established gallery showcases artwork that captures the beauty of Maine, including Dana Heacock's brightly colored giclèe prints, cards, and Abacus calendars. Well-executed, often entertaining home-decor items and delicate or statement pieces of jewelry also make excellent souvenirs of your visit to Boothbay Harbor.

In a restored 1800s farmhouse in the center of town, this gallery showcases exceptional paintings and sculptures from the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. The focus is on artists inspired by Maine's beauty, especially those who have painted on Monhegan Island. Among those represented are Rockwell Kent, James Fitzgerald, Andrew Winter, Carroll Thayer Berry, and Charles Woodbury. Contemporary artists include Andrea J. Peters, Kevin Beers, and Henry Isaacs.

Don't miss this charming little store in a sweet old mansard-roofed structure. The upstairs once served as a community dance hall, and the original piano is still on the stage. Kids will delight in the array of "penny candy" as well as fun small toys. There are also kitchen utensils, candles, gifts, pretty cards, and books. At an outdoor window on the side of the building, you can order an ice-cream cone to enjoy on a walk down to the harbor.

If you'd like to take home a piece of Maine, this is the place to shop. Everything in this large store was created by the state's finest artisans and artists. There's lots of jewelry, plus clothing, home decor, art, kids' items, and much more.

This independent, community-minded bookstore is a great place to browse, discover new books, and settle into a wing chair or sofa to read for a bit. There's a good selection of works by Maine authors, and book signings are often held for new releases.

Renys is a beloved Maine institution—or, as their slogan says, "a Maine adventure." It has 17 locations throughout the state, and a visit to Maine truly isn't complete without browsing the endless bargains at at least one of them. Damariscotta is where it all started seven decades ago, and the original store—a quaintly crowded clothing store at 116 Main Street—is still going strong. Stop in there for bargains on Columbia, Carhartt, and other brands. Then cross the street and browse the larger outlet at 163 Main Street for great deals on housewares, nonperishable food items, seasonal goods, toys, and much more. You'll be amazed at what you find. And don't miss Waltz Soda Fountain, open during the summer at the left side of the building. It's been there since 1948. Order a malted, egg cream, lime rickey, or Moxie ice cream float at the counter, and slide into a booth to enjoy your sweet trip down memory lane.

Accomplished artist Sarah Richards specializes in horses and other animal subjects, capturing them in flowing swaths of color. In addition to original paintings and prints, Richards' gallery sells drinkware and clothing bearing some of her most popular images. Also here are lovely watercolors by her late mother, the talented floral artist Lyn Snow.

You can peek into the workshop next door to see potters create this shop's beautiful plates, vases, and other vessels—often decorated with lighthouses, pine trees, lupine, chickadees, or other Maine-centric illustrations. The merchandise also includes home accessories, jewelry, and other items made by local artisans. There's a second shop in downtown Damariscotta.

This welcoming store carries everything from moderately priced costume jewelry to fine contemporary and estate pieces. Pick up a lovely souvenir of your Maine Coast visit, or select a treasure to be loved for years. The owners love to provide personal service, including help redesigning family heirlooms for today's style.

The creations of this nationally recognized, local furniture company are displayed in a beautifully restored 19th-century home about a block from Bean's. The two-floor showroom is filled with artful, finely crafted wood pieces that have clean, classic lines. If you'd like to see how the furniture is made, ask about tours given on Wednesday and Friday at the large workshop 30 minutes away in Auburn (by appointment only).

This fine-art gallery specializes in American and European paintings—often featuring Monhegan Island seascapes and landscapes—from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. Featured artists include Rockwell Kent, William Zorach, and Abraham Bogdanove. Also on display are the brightly hued paintings by gallery owner Keith Oemig, whose work is included in the collection of the Portland Museum of Art.

This candy store for those who love stringing their own necklaces is filled with a dazzling array of beads in a range of prices. Staffers are always happy to lend assistance, and you can sit down and create jewelry on the spot if you'd like. ABOCA also offers classes in its workshop behind the store.

The selection of strikingly glazed ceramics, including oyster-shape dishes, for sale here are handmade on-site by owner Alison Evans. You can also shop for home goods, local art, and cashmere clothing.

If you're an Anglophile or a Brit missing Merrie Old England, this is the shop for you. Among the many shelves of imported goods are proper teapots, lots of English teas, Branston pickle and other condiments, Lyle's golden syrup, biscuits, sweets, and preserves. You'll also find tartan scarves, knitted sweaters, tweed caps, single-malt glasses, pint glasses, jewelry, and calendars. 

With an emphasis on interior design, this boutique stocks lovely bed linens, home-decor accents, and specialty soaps and toiletries. There's also a selection of kids' clothing no grandmother could resist.

Just across the river from Wiscasset, this pottery is renowned for its vibrantly colored, exquisitely glazed porcelain, which is also sold at shops in Portland and York but is all made right here—the original location. The store also carries a fine selection of jewelry, glassware, and glass sculptures.

Head to this gallery for fine pieces created by talented Mainers. It represents more than 75 of the state's artists and craftspeople, and its offerings include pottery, jewelry, glassware, artwork, and handmade chocolates.

This exceptional shop specializes in lovely, locally made wares, including jewelry, unusual gifts, and baby items. Just up the street, its sister store, Hatch Home, features new and antique accents for the home as well as a wide color selection of Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan.

There's something charmingly old-school about this pretty boutique, with its warm and friendly service and fine displays of women's clothing, accessories, and beauty products. Geared toward elegant but no-fuss women of every age, the shop stocks clothing items such as fine cashmere shawls; pretty but not froufrou lingerie; and sophisticated loungewear as well as a good selection of natural beauty products and fragrances, unique jewelry, and inspiring books.

Before crossing the cribstone bridge to Bailey Island, stop at this sweet little cottage—complete with a picket-fenced flower garden—for some old-fashioned confections. The brittle, bark, buttercreams, truffles, dipped candied fruit, and fudge that fill the glass cases are all made in the candy kitchen just behind the counter. There's ice cream, too!

Pop into the Maine State Prison Showroom for handcrafted wooden items ranging from beautiful cutting boards to furniture offered at very modest prices. Since 1824, prison inmates participating in the skills-building industries program have created wooden goods to be sold to the public; the proceeds fund the program. The store contains hundreds of items. Some, like ship models, have a nautical theme. Other items include toys, bowls, jewelry boxes, birdhouses, bureaus, and tables. They also sell metal fire pits.

To complement its interior design services, Maine Street Design fills a storefront with carefully selected decor accents, lamps, tableware, and furniture. Much of the merchandise is Maine made. There are also cookbooks and condiments.

It's hard to know where to look first when you enter this store filled with appealing home-decor accents. Shop for colorful pottery, tableware, candles, holiday ornaments, decorative birdhouses, textiles, and some packaged foodstuffs.

This emporium is a candy store for anyone who enjoys spending time in the kitchen. Chances are you'll find any utensil, pot, gadget, or machine might need—as well as some things you didn't know you needed. There's a good selection of cookbooks, plus spices and condiments, and wines and craft beers, too.

This welcoming boutique specializes in beautiful lingerie, shapewear, and loungewear—and in helping you find the best size and fit. Locally made CBD products are also available.

Grandmothers take note! This sweet shop sells lovely babies' and children's clothing, accessories, and toys. The quality is high, so don't expect bargain-store prices. 

Look for the green clapboard building with red trim a few steps to the right of the ferry landing. This is an old-time, honest-to-goodness general store, with wide-plank floors and an inventory that offers a little bit of everything: groceries, fresh pastries, candy, wines, liquor—even live lobsters. A great contraption makes fresh-squeezed OJ before your eyes. Outside, a sign touts the "Native Ice" for sale. The breakfast and lunch bar serves egg dishes, pancakes, sandwiches, pizzas, and smoothies. Hop on a stool, eat at a picnic table on the dock, or take your food with you. Above the store is a gallery dedicated to the art of three generations of the Wyeth family, which has long, deep connections to this area. Although you won't find any original paintings by N.C., Andrew, or Jamie here, there is a fine selection of prints, including some limited editions, and books for sale.

This shop specializes in jewelry featuring brightly colored tourmaline and other gemstones mined in Maine. Most of the pieces are the work of Maine designers. Watermelon tourmaline—part pink, part green—is a specialty.

Decidedly contemporary, with a Scandinavian bent, this well-curated boutique stocks offbeat cards and letterpress stationery, locally handcrafted goods, jewelry, and one-of-a-kind objects for the home.

Tucked down a driveway beside the trail to the Giant's Stairs, this tiny cottage is packed with carefully selected, Maine-made items created by nearly 100 artisans. The paintings, jewelry, soaps, clothing, textiles, and other wares make the perfect gifts or souvenirs.