We all need a Savior
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
Romans 3:23
None of us can earn our way to God by being good enough. We all need mercy.
🗺️ Farm Day Trips guide
Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Camden, Rockland & Midcoast Maine
Pair Glendarragh's July Open Farm Days and cut-your-own lavender in Appleton with Rockland's Wyeth art and the Owls Head transportation museum.
7 places · updated October 17, 2026
🌱 What’s happening now
Updated October 17
🪻 In season now
SeaLyon Farm · Natalie's at Camden Harbour Inn
✏️ Report outdated info
This guide covers inland Midcoast Maine between the Sheepscot River and Penobscot Bay. Glendarragh Farm Lavender grows on 26 acres along the St. George River in Appleton, about 25 minutes inland from Camden, and keeps a year-round shop on Main Street in Camden. SeaLyon Farm sits in Alna, in the Sheepscot valley near Wiscasset, beside the station of a narrow-gauge steam railway museum.
Lavender season here is short. Glendarragh opens its fields from late June through July, with daily Open Farm Days in July and evening concerts in mid to late July, so July is the month to plan around. Rockland, about 35 minutes from Appleton, has the Farnsworth's Wyeth collection, the Maine Lighthouse Museum and the Owls Head Transportation Museum, and Camden adds a free nature center and harbor dining. SeaLyon has not published visiting hours, but in fall the railway runs a pumpkin train to the farm.
The lavender farms
- SeaLyon FarmLavender farm · Alna
U-pick lavender in summer and seasonal events; many visits are by ticketed train trip from the railway's Sheepscot station (2026 dates sell out).
- Glendarragh Farm LavenderLavender farm · Appleton
Late June through the end of July
Open farm days daily in July, 10–3, with cut-your-own bunches and picnics; ticketed evening concerts in July 2026; year-round shop in Camden.
Best time to visit
Glendarragh's fields bloom from late June through July; in 2026 its Open Farm Days ran daily in July from 10 AM to 3 PM, and evening concerts were held July 15, 18, 22 and 29. Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay is open May through October, 9 to 5. In August the Owls Head Transportation Museum holds Wings & Wheels with an airshow (August 19–22, 2026), followed by the Pine Tree Jamboree in September (September 10–13, 2026) and a Pumpkin Walk in late October (October 23–24, 2026). Fall is also when the WW&F Railway runs its Autumn Sunset Steam Train and Pumpkin Pickin' Train to SeaLyon Farm. In winter, the railway still runs Saturdays and holds a Victorian Christmas Train, and the botanical gardens' Gardens Aglow lights run November 14 to January 2. Several places close for the season: Penobscot Marine Museum closed October 10, 2026, and reopens May 28, 2027.
Places to see nearby parks, trails, beaches and landmarks
- Merryspring Nature Center🌲 Preserve · Camden · about 14 mi, 25 min drive
A free 66-acre sanctuary with forest trails, a vernal pool, the North Meadow, gardens, an arboretum and a small fairy village. Tuesday Talks run May through October.
Daily during daylight hours, year-round
Free
- Farnsworth Art Museum🏛️ Museum · Rockland · about 19 mi, 35 min drive
Its Wyeth Center shows work by N.C., Andrew and Jamie Wyeth, and the museum holds one of the largest public collections of Louise Nevelson's sculpture among nearly 16,000 works. 'Andrew Wyeth: Human Nature' runs November 7, 2026 to March 21, 2027.
Monday and Wednesday–Sunday 10–4; closed Tuesdays
Adults $20, seniors $18, students $10; 16 and under free
- Maine Lighthouse Museum🏛️ Museum · Rockland · about 19 mi, 35 min drive
Rockland's harborside museum holds what it calls the nation's largest collection of lighthouse, lifesaving and Coast Guard artifacts, including Fresnel lenses.
Daily 10–4 (as posted in 2026)
Adults $14, seniors $10, military $8; children 12 and under free with an adult
- Owls Head Transportation Museum🏛️ Museum · Owls Head · about 23 mi, 40 min drive
Working pre-1940 aircraft, cars and engines, with summer events like Wings & Wheels and its airshow, and engine-room demonstrations on open-house days.
Year-round, daily 10–4 (Thursdays to 7 PM); closed some holidays
Adults $17, seniors $14, youth 11–17 $11, children 3–10 $7
- Montpelier, the General Henry Knox Museum🏛️ Historic site · Thomaston · about 19 mi, 35 min drive
A museum about Revolutionary War general Henry Knox and the people behind the American Revolution; it is closed for the season in fall 2026 apart from a December holiday open house.
Seasonal; closed for the season as of October 2026
- Penobscot Marine Museum🏛️ Museum · Searsport · about 26 mi, 45 min drive
Exhibits such as 'At Home, At Sea' tell the story of 1800s Searsport and its seafaring families, with a large collection of historical photographs; events include SardineFest in early October.
Late May to early October (reopens May 28, 2027)
- Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum🏛️ Museum · Alna · about 1 mi, 2 min drive
Steam trains on two-foot narrow-gauge track leave from the Sheepscot station, a short drive from SeaLyon Farm; fall rides include a sunset steam train and a pumpkin train to SeaLyon Farm. Distance is from SeaLyon Farm.
Saturdays year-round 10–5, plus scheduled event days
Tickets required; buy ahead
- Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens🌷 Garden · Boothbay · about 20 mi, 35 min drive
It calls itself New England's largest botanical garden, with miles of shoreline and woodland trails where giant troll sculptures hide among the native trees. Distance is from SeaLyon Farm.
May through October, daily 9–5; Gardens Aglow November 14–January 2
Adults $28, seniors and veterans $24, children 3–17 $12; $4 more per ticket at the gate
Where to stop: farms, food and stays
- Sweetgrass Farm Winery & DistilleryWinery or vineyard (21+) · Union
A family-run Union winery and distillery about 5 minutes from Glendarragh, making Back River Gin, apple brandy, rum, whiskey, wines and ports since 2005 (21+ to taste; plan a designated driver).
- Natalie's at Camden Harbour InnRestaurant · Camden
Fine dining overlooking Camden Harbor, with a modern New England menu built on Maine fish, farms and gardens; book a table ahead.
- LimeRock InnInn or B&B · Rockland
An eight-room inn in Rockland's residential historic district, a few blocks from Main Street, serving a three-course breakfast.
- Granite InnInn or B&B · Rockland
An 1840 granite house on Main Street, later an Elks lodge, now an eight-room inn overlooking Rockland Harbor within walking distance of the museums.
- Perry's Nut HouseGift shop · Belfast
A Route 1 roadside stop in Belfast since 1927, selling homemade fudge, fresh nuts and old-time candy among curiosities like a stuffed gorilla.
- Lake Pemaquid CampgroundFarm stay or campground · Damariscotta
More than 200 sites plus cabins and cottages on 7-mile Lake Pemaquid, with boat rentals at the marina, a pool and a snack bar.
A one-day plan
- 10:00 AMGlendarragh Farm Lavender
Arrive at opening on a July Open Farm Day; walk the fields to the river, cut a bunch of lavender, and eat a picnic lunch you bring on the grounds. Allow about 2 hours.
- 12:30 PMOwls Head Transportation Museum · about 40 min drive
About 40 minutes to Owls Head; see the pre-1940 planes and cars for about an hour.
- 2:00 PMMaine Lighthouse Museum · about 10 min drive
About 10 minutes into Rockland; 40 minutes with the lenses and lifesaving gear.
- 2:45 PMFarnsworth Art Museum · about 5 min drive
A few minutes away (or walk); spend the last hour before the 4 PM close in the Wyeth Center. Closed Tuesdays.
- 4:30 PMMerryspring Nature Center · about 20 min drive
About 20 minutes north to Camden; walk the meadow and forest trails for 45 minutes. No dogs.
- 6:00 PMNatalie's at Camden Harbour Inn · about 5 min drive
About 5 minutes to Bayview Street for dinner overlooking the harbor; reserve ahead.
Tips
- Glendarragh's farm is seasonal (late June through July) while its Camden shop at 22 Main Street is open year-round; the site lists both 'six days a week' and 'daily' for July, so call (207) 236-8151 before a Sunday or Monday visit.
- Concert nights at Glendarragh allow parking only at the main entrance, not along the road, so carpool.
- Dogs: leashed, friendly dogs are welcome at Glendarragh, but not at Merryspring (there is a dog park across Route 1 in Rockport).
- Farnsworth Art Museum is closed Tuesdays; children 16 and under get in free.
- Buy Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens tickets online to save $4 each, and book WW&F train tickets in advance.
Checked in October 2026 against official park, tourism and business websites. How we check listings
Questions
When does lavender bloom at Glendarragh Farm?
The farm opens for bloom from late June through July; in 2026 its Open Farm Days ran daily in July, 10 AM to 3 PM.
Can I cut my own lavender in Midcoast Maine?
Yes. Glendarragh invites visitors to pick a bunch to take home and hang to dry.
Can I visit SeaLyon Farm in Alna?
The farm has not published visiting hours; in fall you can reach it on the WW&F Railway's Pumpkin Pickin' Train from the nearby Sheepscot station.
Are dogs allowed at Glendarragh?
Yes, leashed and friendly pets are welcome on Open Farm Days.
🪪 Collect a stamp at every stop
The free Lavender Passport keeps a stamp for each farm and stop you visit, in real life and in the Lavender Farm Simulator. At the farm, play Field Quest to collect plant varieties as you walk, climb the leaderboards and unlock sponsor rewards.
Open the Passport🏡 Own a farm, café or inn here?
Add your listing for free so travelers find you, or become a Featured sponsor to sit at the top of this guide, on the Passport map and in the event calendars.
Add your listing Get featured
