Activities in the Down East, Acadia, and Deer Isle, Maine Area
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DOWN EAST ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
There is no truer place than the coast of Maine, it makes you change your sense of perspective, your priorities, your mind and your direction.Each day Starts Ocean washed and wind swept, utterly different than the day before. Where else do we get the chance to step out into so much renewal?
Experience the wonder of summer in Down East and Acadia, Maine. A place of unpretentious realness where island values are old fashion values and pleasures come in simple forms.
There are no theme parks, mini malls or video arcades. Yet before your very eyes, your children will transform into shipwrecked pirates, then superheroes with beach towel capes chasing seagulls along the shore. In the quiet of the evening you may here a distant light house bell or the last fishing boat motoring in with its catch, and as the sun finally sets, the easy laughter that comes when a family feels like a family again.
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The Down East coast line remains much as it’s always been...
you, however, may never be the same again. |
THINGS TO DO IN THE AREA: ANTIQUES, BEACHES, RESTAURANTS, ICE CREAM SHOPS, MARINA, CAMPING, WINE SHOPS, APPAREL & GIFT SHOPS, ART & PHOTO GALLERIES, ART/MUSIC/CRAFTS WORKSHOPS, BOOKS & GIFTS, MASSAGE, MUSEUMS, TENNIS, GOLF, NATIONAL PARK, BICYCLE RENTALS, BOAT CHARTER AND EXCURSIONS, BOAT/CANOE/KAYAK/SAILBOAT RENTALS/LESSONS, WHALE WATCH, PUFFIN TRIPS, LIGHTHOUSES, ISLAND PICNICS, SIGHTSEEING, GUIDED TOURS, LOBSTER BAKES, HUNTING & FISHING, ART SCHOOLS, WHOLESALE SEAFOOD, THEATER/FILM, HIKING TRAILS, LIBRARIES, ISLAND HOPPING.
Events in the Area courtesy of the Deer Isle Chamber of Commerce
and the Blue Hill Peninsula Chamber of Commerce
For the Active Person...
The coasts of Maine offer anything from moderate to extreme adventure. You can rent or bring your own canoe or kayak and take advantage of the many publicly accessible smaller islands off our coasts. Some of the islands boast interesting climbing challenges as well as hiking opportunities.Biking around the area is a beautiful experience, especially on some of the wooded back roads that lead to the Nature Conservancy trails. Bike/hike the Rockefeller Carriage Roads in Bar Harbor (bike rentals available). Plan a day trip on the CAT Ferry. This 'super ship' carries over 700 passengers; you can drive your car, bike or RV aboard. The CAT takes you from Bar Harbor to Yarmouth in Nova Scotia in less than three hours. The ship is beautifully detailed and offers a movie theater and a casino on board. Travel destinations include concerts, festivals, food, golf, whale watching and lighthouses.
Stonington's Old Quarry Ocean Adventures offers boat excursions as well with a variety of different tours, from a puffin and seabird tour to the romantic sunset cruise.
Take a walking tour of some of our historic Maine villages and forts that were occupied during the American revolution (Castine, with Fort Pentagouet; Bucksport, with Fort Knox). Experience architecture of a by-gone era, specialty shops and fine dining. Attend classes at the WoodenBoat school, take some sailing lessons in Blue Hill or Kayak lessons in Stonington.
If your the type that likes to reap a reward for all your hard work, you can try your hand at clamming. A two dollar town licence is required, available at any of the Town Halls. You will want to wear rubber boots and have a proper clam hoe too. Both can be bought at supply stores in the area. Steamed clams taste even better when you have dug them yourself. It is also possible to be a guest on one of the lobster boats and see how it's really done. If you work hard, you may be rewarded with a lobster of your choice, but you will have to get up at 4 AM in the morning to catch the boat.For the Leisure Person...
Sit back, relax, it's your vacation. Take a wonderful boat ride to Isle Au Haut and other islands for a very reasonable price. If shopping is what you crave, there are countless art and craft galleries to be found all along the coastline, many of which sell pieces not to be found anywhere else in the world. Take some art classes at the world renowned Haystack Mountain School of Crafts or at the Seamark Workshops. Take in some live theater, a workshop or a movie at the historical Opera House. Sample some wine at 'The Clown' wine shop in Stonington or taste the many local seafood dishes offered by numerous restaurants in the area.
If you like to harvest your own meal, collecting mussels from the beach is much easier than clamming (You just pick them from the rocks). They can be found in many coves at low tide and are wonderful steamed with some garlic and wine.Even if you just sit and watch the tides, the boats or incredible sunsets - all your days on the Down East and Acadia coast will be memorable.
