The best way to Rockland, Maine

If you go

THE BEST WAY TO ROCKLAND, MAINE

From LAX, you can fly into Boston, the nearest big airport, nonstop on American, JetBlue, Virgin America and United; direct (stop, no change of planes) on US Airways; or connecting (change of planes) on US Airways, United, Delta, American, AirTran and JetBlue. Restricted round-trip fares begin at $398.

It’s a three-hour drive to Rockland. Or you can fly little Cape Air from Boston to Rockland (www.capeair.com). If it’s a clear day, you get a wonderful view of the coast. Restricted round-trip fares from Boston begin at $273.

WHERE TO STAY

I love the look of the cottages and houses offered by Summer Maine, (207) 596-6295, https://www.summermaine.com, many of them classic beach houses on the St. George Peninsula. Fletcher Hall, the woman who handles the rentals, is very helpful. Weekly prices range from about $800 for a cottage in the off-season to about $3,500 for the bigger houses in peak summer.

WHERE TO EAT

Chase’s Daily, 96 Main St., Belfast; (207) 338-0555. The vegetarian restaurant serves lunch Tuesdays-Saturdays, brunch Saturdays and Sundays, and dinner Fridays. Lunch entrees about $6-$12, dinner entrees $17-$20.

Cod End, Commercial St., Tenants Harbor; (207) 372-6782, codend.com. Open daily in the summer (closed in the off season). Dinner entrees from about $10 and up.

Cameron’s Lobster House, 18 Bath Road, Brunswick; (207) 725-2886). Open daily. Main dishes from $8.95-$21.95, less for sandwiches.

WHERE TO SHOP

Liberty Tool Co., 57 Main St., Liberty; (207) 589-4771, https://www.libertytoolco.com. Open daily from March until December.

Lobster Lane Book Shop, 67 Island Road, South Thomaston; (207) 594-7520, lobsterlanebookshop.com. Open weekends only in the summer and early fall.

Big Chicken Barn, 1768 Bucksport Road (Route 1), Ellsworth; (207) 667-7308, https://www.bigchickenbarn.com. Open daily except major holidays.