Mount Desert Island
New England's only national park turned 100 in 2016 – it's a fine-looking centenarian. Within its borders are impressive coastal landmarks and great…
Must-see attractions in Down East
Down East
This little-known reserve a few miles northeast of Cutler has hiking trails amid spectacular coastal scenery. If you've visited Acadia National Park and…
Nervous Nellie's Jams & Jellies
Down East
Nervous Nellie's cooks up delicious jams and chutneys the old-fashioned way from its base on Deer Isle. It's well worth making the trip to load up on jars…
Acadia National Park
Don't leave the park without driving – or hiking – to the 1530ft summit of Cadillac Mountain. For panoramic views of Frenchman Bay, walk the paved 0.5…
Down East
The highlight of a trip to Campobello Island is a visit to the 34-room 'cottage' where Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt spent many fine summers. Free guided…
Acadia National Park
One of Acadia's most surprising features is this beautiful stretch of sandy shoreline tucked between mountains on the east side of Mount Desert Island…
Acadia National Park
On clear days, the glassy waters of this 176-acre pond reflect the image of Penobscot Mountain like a mirror. A stroll around the pond and its surrounding…
Down East
On the waterfront, about half a mile west of the town dock, the Wilson Museum houses an exquisite collection of fossils as well as global artifacts made…
Down East
Knowledgeable guides tell colorful stories about Eleanor Roosevelt during a memorable one-hour talk held in the Wells-Shober Cottage (a five-minute walk…
Down East
This photogenic red-and-white striped lighthouse anchors the eastern end of the Quoddy Head State Park, and opens for visits during July and August …
Down East
Just north of town, Blue Hill's eponymous mountain may top out at only 934ft, but it offers a stunning vantage point over the peninsula, namely because it…
Mount Desert Island
Some of the most beautiful gardens on the island lie hidden atop a forest-backed bluff overlooking the east side of the harbor. Flowers bursting with…
Penobscot Narrows Bridge & Observatory
Down East
Acrophobes, look away. At the photogenic Penobscot Narrows Bridge, a narrow, 420ft granite tower (taller than the Statue of Liberty) contains a lookout…
Mount Desert Island
For rainy-day amusement, pay a visit to this handsomely designed museum, which displays the exquisite wooden carvings of Wendell Gilley, one of the world…
Mount Desert Island
Created in 1957, this lovely 2.3-acre garden is laced with paths, little shelters and ornamental Japanese-style bridges. Azaleas and rhododendrons bloom…
Roosevelt Campobello International Park
Down East
Connected by bridge to Lubec, Campobello Island – actually in New Brunswick, Canada – was the summering destination of former US president Franklin D…
Down East
Occupying 185 acres of forest and coastline along the Castine Peninsula, the Witherle Woods are part of the Maine Coast Heritage Trust. They contain a…
Down East
When the fog's not obscuring the view, the 541-acre Quoddy Head State Park has magnificent scenery. From the parking lot, walk the Coastal Trail, which…
Mount Desert Island
There is only one lighthouse on Mount Desert Island; it sits in the somnolent village of Bass Harbor in the far southwest corner of the park. Built in…
Acadia National Park
Waves rush into a natural opening carved into the rocks to create a thunderous splash, reaching high into the air when conditions are right. Steps from…
Acadia National Park
Ringed with lush forests and nestled between the slopes of two mountains, Echo Lake makes for a lovely escape from the crowds on the busier eastern side…
Acadia National Park
This fjord-like embayment is one of the most striking natural features in Acadia. It was formed by glaciers and makes for a picturesque backdrop to a…
Mount Desert Island
Run by the National Park Service, this appealing little museum gives the lowdown on all things Cranberry Isles–related. Exhibits cover everything from…
Down East
About 1.5 miles west of Stonington, a short path leads to a lovely cove overlooking a serene coastline. True to its name, this beach is sandy: a rarity on…
Down East
One of the prettiest town commons in Maine, Castine's grassy quadrangle dates back to the early 19th century and is framed by an architectural showcase of…
St Croix Island International Historic Site
Down East
The site of one of the first European settlements in the New World is visible from this historic park, 8 miles southeast of Calais. In 1604, a company of…
Down East
Around 10 miles off the coast, the barren rocks of Machias Seal Island are home to a colony of so-awkward-they're-cute Atlantic puffins, plus plenty more…
Mount Desert Island
This downtown museum contains a fascinating collection of cultural artifacts related to Maine's Native American heritage – particularly the Wabanaki…
Down East
Jasper Beach is a bizarre, mile-long beach consisting entirely of polished, red-hued jasper stones. As the waves wash in, the rocks slide against one…
Abbe Museum at Sieur de Monts Spring
Acadia National Park
This summertime offshoot of the Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor is located at the Sieur de Monts Spring area inside Acadia National Park. This was the original…
Edmund S Muskie Visitor Centre
Down East
A good introduction to Campobello Island's Roosevelt attractions is this visitor center, which has exhibitions on FDR and a small auditorium that screens…
Down East
Overlooking the leafy town common, the Castine Historical Society hosts temporary exhibitions throughout the year, often with thought-provoking themes. A…
Great Cranberry Island Historical Society
Mount Desert Island
Less than half a mile up the road from the town dock, the Historical Society runs a small but intriguing museum with changing exhibitions covering island…
Down East
A much-loved gathering place in Blue Hill, the library has changing art exhibitions and hosts story times and hands-on activities for kids. From late June…
Down East
Dating from the 18th century, this two-story Colonial home was one of the first houses built in Castine (a forested wilderness at the time). Guided tours…
Mount Desert Island
This pretty stretch of rocky shoreline backed by pine forest is reached by a short trail (one-mile round-trip) that starts near the Great Cranberry Island…
Down East
On Lubec's main drag, this photogenic wood-and-shingle complex was one of over 40 herring smokehouses operating in the area during the 19th century. Here,…
Acadia National Park
Botany buffs will appreciate the detail of these acre-sized botanic gardens, which show 12 of Acadia's biospheres in miniature, from bog and coniferous…
Down East
This small, one-room gallery stages changing exhibitions throughout the warm months. It's a fine place to discover local arts and artisans (with many…
Down East
This deep, narrow lake draws locals on hot summer days who come for a dip off the tiny beach on the southern end. The lake is quite long, so you'll need a…
