DAMARISCOTTA / NEWCASTLE

The charming twin villages of Damariscotta and Newcastle to Salt Point's north have long captivated the hearts of visitors and residents. The clear waters of the Damariscotta River separate the two villages, yet offer welcome to the quaint downtown area. It is this river that produces the widely recognized Pemaquid oysters, a favorite in restaurants across the country. Damariscotta Lake, the state's second largest, provides many fresh-water activities throughout the seasons.

This area enjoys a rare commitment to the arts: the Round Top Center for the Arts, a plethora of galleries, an award-winning public library, and a host of literary and cultural offerings help create an involved, active and multi-generational community. The many art galleries feature the work of local and notable artists and craftspeople; surely, this community of artists is a hallmark of the local area.

Damariscotta is also home to an engaged community theater, an independent bookstore, a nationally recognized hospital, a movie theater, multiple fine restaurants, and quaint shops. The vibrant lifestyle of the people of this area is reflected in their many unique activities and celebrations: the annual Oyster Festival, the well-loved Pumpkinfest weekend, the Alewife festival, the local Ice Harvesting Weekend, Maple Sugaring Weekend, all combine to create a community atmosphere that is both welcoming and intriguing. Year-round activities are enhanced by a popular program of offerings at the YMCA, a public outdoor skating pond, a plethora of nature trails and preserved land for the public use, and organizations geared toward a multitude of individual interests.

Damariscotta is located at the head of the Pemaquid Peninsula; it is the gateway to the coastal villages of Bristol, South Bristol, New Harbor, Pemaquid and Chamberlain.