Valentine’s Day in Maine
Thoughtful Date Nights, Cozy Ways to Celebrate Together, & Our Family’s Famous Recipe for Hot Mulled Wine
Midcoast Maine is a perfect place to celebrate Valentine’s Day - it’s less about big gestures and more about time well spent. Winter here is quiet by design. The towns are calmer, the coastal views are sharper, and the best moments are often the smallest ones: a warm dinner out, a snowy walk, a shared bottle of wine back at the farmhouse, or a movie night with the kids after a day outside.
Whether you’re planning a romantic weekend, a Galentine’s getaway, or a family trip that happens to fall in February, here are our favorite ways to do Valentine’s in Maine - Midcoast-style.
Date Night Dinners (Worth Leaving the Farmhouse For)
Midcoast Maine is full of restaurants that feel special without being overly formal - the kind of places where you can settle in, take your time, and enjoy a great meal without rushing. Here are some of our favorites:
Maybe our favorite spot for cozy winter date nights. The menu is bold and flavorful, a fabulous fusion of Mediterranean and Maine cuisine. It’s ideal for sharing a few dishes and lingering over the table – and the view of Rockport Harbor can’t be beat! Best for: Couples who want something special.
If you want a lovely intimate spot in which to celebrate, Franny’s is a beautiful choice - quiet, warm, and thoughtfully done. How to do it: Go early, enjoy the full experience, then head home for dessert by the fire.
A great option if you want something unfussy but delicious. They’ve got small plates, a warm atmosphere, and an easy locals’ vibe. Extra cozy move: Head to Rockland early and enjoy a sunset walk along the breakwater before dinner!
Winter Activities for Couples (Simple + Scenic)
Valentine’s doesn’t need to be a whole production. A few winter activities in Midcoast Maine are genuinely romantic in the simplest way, highlighting fresh air, beautiful scenery, and no crowds.
Snowshoeing in the Camden Hills
If there’s snow on the ground, a winter walk or snowshoe in the Camden Hills feels like stepping into a different world.
How to do it well: Dress warmer than you think you’ll need, bring a thermos (hot chocolate or mulled wine goes a long way), and remember—it doesn’t have to be a big hike to feel special.
A Coastal Walk (Cold, but Worth It)
Winter is one of the best times for a coastal walk. The views feel endless, and the air is sharp and clean.
Best move: Bundle up and choose a route with a clear turn-around point so you can enjoy it without pushing too far. The Rockland Breakwater is one of our favorites!
Sunset Drive + Warm Drink After
This is a great toasty winter plan: drive along the coast in late afternoon, watch the sky change over the water, then stop at the Lemon Bar for a warm drink on the way home. Pro tip: Route 1 along the coast between Rockland and Camden is a great option. Bring a blanket in the car - it makes spontaneous “pull over and look at the view” moments so much better.
Ice Skating Outside (Classic Winter Fun)
A great option if you want something active but low-pressure - especially fun if you follow it with dinner or hot chocolate. Hosmer Pond by the Camden Snowbowl is a classic. PLEASE make sure you see locals on the ice before you venture out!
Galentine’s in Maine (Girls Weekend Edition)
If Valentine’s is about love, Galentine’s is about friendship and connection - and Midcoast Maine is made for that. Winter weekends are quieter, cozier, and perfect for slow mornings and simple outings.
A Midcoast Brunch Date
Start with brunch somewhere warm and delicious like Café Grazie - then wander around town with coffee in hand.
How to do it: Go early, then take your time shopping, browsing, or stopping into local spots you wouldn’t normally make time for.
Spa Day or Wellness Afternoon
Book treatments at The Spa at Camden Harbour Inn or The Samoset. Relax and unwind together while enjoying some time away.
Or have a DIY Spa Day at the Farmhouse
Sometimes the best spa day is the one you create yourself, staying cozy at Three Sisters, soaking in the new Goodland wood-burning hot tub, slipping into plush spa robes, listening to your favorite vinyls by the fire, and savoring the luxury of nowhere else to be.
Family-Friendly Valentine’s Ideas (Easy, Cozy, No Pressure)
Valentine’s with kids doesn’t have to mean a “special event.” It’s often more fun (and more realistic) to lean into simple traditions. Here are some that are cozy, sweet, and low-effort.
Sledding + Hot Chocolate After
If there’s snow, go sledding - even for 30 minutes on the great sledding hill behind the farm - then come home for hot cocoa with marshmallows.
Farmhouse Movie Night
Pick a movie, make popcorn, and pile everyone on the couch. Make it feel special: If the weather’s not too cold, you could put the kids in cozy pajamas, layer on the blankets and have the movie night out on our screened porch.
Puzzle + Board Game Night
This is one of those winter things that everyone remembers later - simple, funny, and wholesomely nostalgic.
Cook at Home Favorites (One of the Best Valentine’s Plans)
If you’re staying at Three Sisters Farm, cooking at home is honestly one of the best parts - especially in winter. With space to spread out and two kitchens, dinner can feel relaxed and fun instead of chaotic.
Here are a few easy Valentine’s-at-home ideas:
Make-Your-Own Pizza Night
Perfect for couples, groups, and families - everyone gets what they want, and it feels festive with very little effort. Pick up some fresh pizza dough from The Carriage House in Thomaston for an extra special local twist!
Cheese Board + Cozy Snacks
Think: Maine cheeses (we STRONGLY recommend stopping by Lakin’s Gorges cheese hut, right down the road in Waldoboro), crackers, sliced apples, honey, and something warm from the oven.
Our Family Recipe for Hot Mulled Wine:
Adapted from a cookbook from a famous French bistro outside of Washington, DC, this recipe has been served at our family’s winter holidays and celebrations for at least 30 years. May it enrich your celebrations as well!
Le Vin Chaud (Hot Mulled Wine)
Serves 12
Rind of 1 orange
Rind of 1 lemon
1 cup water
2 bay leaves
6 cloves
3 cinnamon sticks
1 cup sugar
1 gallon full-bodied red wine
½ cup of honey
1 ounce cognac
Pinch of nutmet
Remove the rind from the orange and lemon with a vegetable peeler.
In a 1 ½ gallon saucepan, combine the water, lemon and orange rinds, bay leaves, cloves, cinnamon sticks and sugar. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
Add the wine and steep over low flame for 15 more minutes. The wine must not boil.
Remove from heat and stir in the honey, cognac and pinch of nutmeg. The wine is great right off the bat, and even better if you let it steep overnight. Serve with an orange slice if you’re feeling fancy – and an optional splash of cognac!
Why Valentine’s in Midcoast Maine is Special
Valentine’s weekend here isn’t about doing the most—it’s about doing a few things well: a great meal, a winter walk, a cozy fire, unhurried time together, and a slower pace you can actually feel—simple, seasonal, and genuinely restorative.
Stay at Three Sisters Farm for Valentine’s Weekend
If you’re planning a winter getaway, Three Sisters Farm in Friendship is a perfect home base for Valentine’s in Maine. Our historic 1850s farmhouse sits on 11 private acres of woods and meadow, with plenty of space for couples, families, and groups of friends to spread out and unwind.
Spend your days exploring nearby harbor towns and beautiful snowy trails - and your evenings back at the farmhouse cooking together, playing games by the fire, or watching the stars from the hot tub in the crisp winter sky.
And however you celebrate Valentine’s Day, Midcoast Maine is at its best in winter - calm, cozy, and quietly unforgettable.