If you go to the Fox Islands

By Christina Tree, Globe Correspondent

Information:

Rockland-Thomaston Chamber of Commerce, telephone 207-596-0376.

Fox Islands Inn (207-863-2122; off-season: 850-425-5095), open through September, is a village hilltop house with pleasant guest rooms, shared baths (two upstairs rooms can be a suite), an inviting living room well-stocked with reading material, and kitchen privileges. Fee includes a continental breakfast and use of bikes.

Tidewater Motel (201-863-4618 or tidewater(AT SIGN SYMBOL)foxislands.net) is open year round, with 11 units, one apartment overlooking the harbor; some rooms with waterside decks, others with kitchens, some with both. This is the place to be if you like to sketch or simply watch harbor life, and it's also handy to village shops and restaurants.

Weekly rentals are possible on both islands, more plentiful on Vinalhaven. Telephone Wesley Reed (207-863-2554) real estate or Frank and Ada Thompson (207-863-4474) of Vinalhaven Rentals.

Libby House (207-863-4696) is another pleasant bed-and-breakfast open through August, and the Payne Homestead at Moses Webster House (888-863-9963) is also attractive, open year round.

The Maine State Ferry Service at Rockland (207-596-2202) round trip service to both islands for people, bikes and cars. Inquire about reservations.

Fox Islands Thoroughfare water taxi: Phone the J.O. Brown Boatyard at 207-867-4621. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., but earlier or later is possible; there's a phone on the Vinalhaven shore next to the boat landing, otherwise phone 207-867-4894.

Restaurants:

On Vinalhaven, The Haven (reservations necessary before Labor Day) is the fine dining spot and The Island Restaurant also gets good reviews. Candlepin Lodge (open from 5 p.m. for light fare, from 6 p.m. for dinner) is a ''family restaurant'' in the truest sense; it includes pool tables and a candlepin bowling alley, also an attractive dining room featuring reasonably priced lobster, steamers, and seafood. On North Haven, the Coal Wharf Dinner is open daily for dinner; it's next to the Brown Boatyard.

Knot-knitting:

Check out the Gram J bags at Hidden Treasure in Carver's Harbor and the curtains at Fox Island Inn; the source for both is Stephanie Crossman (207-863-2176). Reserved by calling: 207-867-2008.