We spent the 4th of July afternoon in Belfast, our first coastal Maine town of this trip. We've been really excited to make it to the coast, and it has not disappointed. 

This seagull posed for the perfect 4th of July photo opportunity. 

The entire town, in fact, looked festive. 

Downtown Belfast was a great mix of local artisans, shops, restaurants, and ice cream bars. We really liked The Eclectic Closet, a second-hand store where we scored some great finds from the dollar bin, our favorite. 

The town was alive with tons of people out and about, enjoying the sea breeze and the long awaited sunny and warm summer weather. These two folks exemplified a laid back coastal town vibe, relaxing in the shade and taking in the view of the ocean 

Of course, the main draw of Belfast is its perfect location on the water. 

Everywhere we looked was an ideal postcard panorama. 

Seagull friends. 

We waded in the water from the beach area and collected shells and pretty pieces of granite and other rocks. 

Wearing my new $1 shirt! 

The water felt wonderful and wasn't too cold. 

Dave captured these amazing shots of this cormorant, an aquatic bird we first confused with a loon.