Just remember, wear your masks, and do as the electric road signs all over New England tell you to: STAY WICKED FAH APAHT.

CASTINE COTTAGES

33 Snapps Way, Castine; 207-326-8003

If youre looking for a clean, sweet, and rustic property where you can enjoy the great outdoors, and have easy access to a gorgeous, status town (if youre not quarantining), Castine Cottages is a terrific option. The friendly, family-owned property has six two-bedroom cottages overlooking Penobscot Bay, and with a private dock and beach. Whats nice about the bright and airy setup here is that the cottages are all side by side far enough to socially distance, but close enough that youre not isolated deep in the woods, if thats not your thing. This makes it a great option for vacationing with multiple friends or families, without crossing any safety boundaries. Castine is a classically beautiful New England village, and a summertime utopia, even in these strange times. MarKels Bakehouse continues to serve the best sandwiches and baked goods in the area, with an Evenings at the Watermark pizza pop-up. Starting rate is $725 per week.

ARAGOSTA

300 Goose Cove Road, Deer Isle; 207-348-6900

Speaking of the best food in Maine, Aragosta, in the strikingly beautiful Deer Isle, is a once-in-a-lifetime place for someone looking for a special restorative experience after all this anxiety and stress. Owned and run by Chef Devin Finigan a culinary icon and James Beard award nominee Aragosta, with its minimalist-chic waterfront cabins and delicious, whimsical and hyperlocal tasting menu, is the kind of place you will never forget, and likely dream about forevermore. The location has seven cottages and seven suites, breakfast and dinner available onsite, and beaching and hiking for days which means, you truly do not have to leave, and why would you? While its kid-friendly, the location is also incredibly romantic. (Remember romance?) Starting rate is $280/night, including breakfast.

OCEANFRONT CAMPING AT REACH KNOLLS

670 Reach Road, Brooklin; 207-359-5555

Just down the street from Aragosta, in Brooklin, is a gem of a primitive camping site with an ultra-welcoming owner who will help you check your problems at the check-in desk. Set on the dramatic shores of Eggemoggin Reach, this is a quiet, unpretentious, and dirt cheap hideaway to unplug and recenter. Youll need your own tent or RV (no bigger than 38 feet) , of course, and the simple, nostalgic vibe is the opposite of glamping. Theres a coffee pot in the main office, wild strawberries everywhere, and a dramatic, rocky beach with the most luminescent shells for kids to collect. Tent sites start at $29/RV $39.

TOPSL FARM

365 Bremen Road, Waldoboro; 207-832-1602

Farther South, at the cozy and cool Topsl Farm in Waldoboro, youll find 85 acres of camping, camping-light, A-frame cabins, cottages, and a loose, contact-free way of life complete with premade picnics and homemade marshmallows. Topsl is a popular, increasingly hip, place to visit because of its enchanting coast, farm, and forest trifecta effect. Weekend stays, which are partially inclusive, with some meals and activities, start at around $490 for two nights.

INN BY THE SEA

40 Bowery Beach Road, Cape Elizabeth; 207-799-3134

As for staying at proper hotels, everyone has their own comfort level, and checking in to a real hotel with common areas and cardio gyms, might be outside of that comfort zone. That said, many hotels are taking their own precautions, on top of the state regulations, to make all guests feel as safe as possible. At the paradisal Inn by the Sea in Cape Elizabeth, some of the Inns new protocols include touchless curbside check in, enhanced housekeeping services, and strict social distancing at the pool and restaurants. There is daily yoga on the big seaside lawn, so you can distance, breathe fresh air, and enjoy the ocean view. The spa is now open, and liquid relaxation at the bar is allowed and encouraged. We are living in a global pandemic, after all.

Alas, its not all doom and gloom. Most people are trying really, really hard to keep each other safe, said Commissioner Heather Johnson of the Maine Department of Economic & Community Development. Its certainly been difficult trying to balance public health and economic well-being; but we hope that this shared sense of responsibility toward your neighbor, toward human beings in general, reminds us of the kind of caring and considerate people we are here in Maine.

Alyssa Shelasky can be reached at Shelasky@gmail.com.

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5 beautiful and responsible places to stay in Maine, if you can make it there - The Boston Globe