8 Spots You Have To Check Out On Your Next Visit To Downeast Maine

While most folks from out of state tend to swarm to Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor during the summer time, there's another spot within the state that boasts beautiful views with plenty to do, but where there are less likely to be the large crowds and the high prices you might find at other touristy coastal destinations.

Folks looking for an amazing time, while on a bit more of a budget, might want to head Downeast.

And if you do make your way to this section of the state, traditionally made up of Hancock and Washington Counties and the parts of Maine that shake hands with the Canadian border, here are 8 places you'll definitely want to check out.

Rogue Bluffs State Park 

Open May 15th through October 1st, Rogue Bluffs State Park, which is located roughly 6 miles off Route 1, is a great place to take in nature, whether on foot or by boat. According to the State of Maine website, while there is a fee to get in, it's pretty cheap and covers the entire day; just $4 for adult residents of Maine, and $1 for kids 5 years old through 11. Kids under 5 get in free.

"A beautiful, half-mile crescent of sand and pebbles along Englishman Bay is backed by the shallow waters of 60-acre Simpson Pond, allowing for bracing saltwater swims and much warmer fresh water soaks; no lifeguards available. Between the beach and the pond are several picnic areas and a children's play area adjoining the parking area. A 6-mile trail network just inland from the shore leads through old orchards, fields, and woods, with paths that follow the rocky shores of Great Cove and Pond Cove. "

The Downeast Sunrise Trail

A good number of folks head Downeast to get up close and personal with nature, and to adventure along the Sunrise Trail. Encompassing 87 miles of off-road trail, it runs from Ellsworth to Ayers Junction.

Ryle Mortland, who owns and operates 2 local inns in the Machias area, The Inn At Schoppe Farm, and the Margaretta Inn, along with running the the Machias River Inn, says people come to town specifially looks for ways to get out on that trail, so they created an entire business that helps folks do just that.

He and his wife opened Downeast Adventures, an ATV and E-bike rental business, and he says people who may not have thought to head to the area are drawn downeast by the trail and then stay for everything else it has to offer.

West Branch Farm

Mortland says another draw to the Downeast area that's very family-friendly is the West Branch Farm in Machias.  West Branch Farm offers hands-on experiences with their animals, a gift shop, lodging, and even an on-site, farm-to-table restaurant called The Public House.

"Founded by Maine residents Chris and Sue Meroff, who discovered their love for Machias during their vacations over 25 years ago, West Branch Farms is a labor of love dedicated to meeting the needs of our community and guests. From family-friendly activities to unparalleled wedding experiences, we’re committed to delivering exceptional service and creating memories that endure a lifetime."

Old Sow Whirlpool

If you wanted to head even further Downeast, to the Lubec/Eastport area, you could witness a natural phenomenon that people come from all over to see. Whether you're a homeschooling family, a nature/science buff, or you just like to behold cool and wonderous things, the Old Sow Whirlpool is something you might want to check out. Most people choose to do so from a boat.

"One of the most dramatic demonstrations of the power of the tides is found in the Western Passage of the Passamaquoddy Bay towards the mouth of the Bay of Fundy. “Old Sow” is the largest whirlpool in the western hemisphere, the second largest in the world, second only to the Maelstrom Whirlpool of Norway."

Nervous Nellies Jams and Jellies

Drive to 598 Sunshine Road in Deer Isle, and you will find a very unique spot that's bound to offer something fun for the whole family. Nervous Nellies Jams and Jellies sits on several acres of island land. Part workshop, part gift show, and part art exhibit, this is a spot where there's something to look at around every corner. Aside from taking in the local jam made from local fruit and the gifts made from local artists that line the shop, you must make some time to roam about the grounds.

"Peter's sculpture workshop is a former general store that was moved here in several large pieces on a flatbed truck (early one morning before the school buses got running). The grounds: meadow and woods are filled with sculptures made by Peter from discarded metal, locally-milled lumber, and dump-foraged material. A Western town--jail, lawyer's office, fortune teller, hotel, saloon, Chinese laundry--sits shoulder to shoulder with a Delta-style juke joint, a Deer Isle general store, a church, a Grail castle, wizard's tower, 50's garage complete with jam session, all comprise Nellieville, a lifelong work in progress."

Deer Isle Music Hall and BBQ

If you get hungry while at Nervous Nellies, you just have to go up the road a ways to fill your belly and tap your feet!

What used to be an old dance hall, back in the day, the Deer Isle Music Hall and BBQ, also on the Sunshine Road in Deer Isle, has been revived and reimagined as a family-style BBQ joint that still features dancing and live music.

"We feature wood-fired barbecue and present local, regional, and national touring musical acts across genres. The Old Legion Hall, which houses us, has held music, dancing, wedding receptions, and more for generations. By reviving the hall, we hope to provide music and food to rekindle fond memories and build a generation of new ones. "

Maine Center For Coastal Fisheries

Located at 13 Atlantic Avenue in Stonington, the Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries is a cool little spot to learn a lot about an industry that's at the heart of Downeast Maine. Their Discovery Warf Museum offers folks a better understanding of what fishing Maine's coast is all about, from learning how to put a lobster trap together, to touching some of the sea creatures that live in local waters in their "Touch Tank."

"From local school groups to visitors near and far, we offer a get-your-hands-wet opportunity to engage with and learn about local fisheries and the Gulf of Maine marine ecosystem... It provides thousands of visitors from across the USA and beyond with a variety of interactive experiences ranging from hands-on learnings about various sea creatures in our touch tank, to the first­ hand stories about life on the sea by our Captain Leroy Weed, to the virtual reality experiences of being on a lobster boat or in a river filled with migrating alewives."

Cutler Bold Coast

Called "bold" for its dramatic terrain, the roughly 10 miles of trails that stretch between Cutler and Lubec are comprised of steep cliffs, shoreline ledges, bogs, and barrens. The views, they say, are spectacular. The wildlife is abundant. And according to the State of Maine website, there's a unique forest that's been set up as part of these protected lands.

"The maritime spruce-fir-larch forest is unique here, too. Maine designated 5,216 acres of property as an Ecological Reserve to maintain these representative ecosystems in their natural condition and allow for the monitoring of ecological changes over time. "

The trailhead and parking area can be found 3 miles past Cutler Village.

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Where are your favorite places to visit when traveling Downeast?