Things to Do in Downeast Maine

Jonesboro, Maine’s Little Red Chandler River Cottage is the perfect base camp for exploring the “Bold Coast” of Maine.

Use as your base camp for exploring the real “Bold Coast” of Down East Maine and the beauty it offers. Roque Bluffs State Park (6 mi.), Machias (10 mi.), Beal’s Island (16 mi.), Cutler (23 mi.), Quoddy Head State Park, Lubec (35 mi.) & Acadia National Park (60mi.).This rustic cottage will quiet your soul. Come, unwind and live on tidal time. Some wonderful day trips await you. The following are links to just a few of our favorites:

Roque Bluffs State Park (6 miles)

A beautiful place to watch the sunrise. Here there is a lovely half-mile crescent of sand and pebbles with views of the islands of Englishman Bay. It is a rite of passage to take a dip in the cold 55 to 60-degree waters here. It will wake up your senses! We recommend water shoes as there will be rocks and pebbles underfoot. For those who are inclined to seek a warmer swimming experience, there is a freshwater pond within the park grounds. Or you can just spread out a blanket on the sandy beach and enjoy the views. While here it would also be worth noting to the left of the sandy beach, there are some large rock outcroppings. Visit them to see evidence of the last Ice Age. When there was a mile thick sheet of ice that crept down from Canada. The ice sheet progressed ever so slowly from the North West to the South East. This glacier carrying rocks within its’ base leaving its’ mark on these outcroppings, leaving scares or grooving on the ancient lava rocks. (Ice Age Trail Guide) There is a small harbor at the terminus of Shoppe Point Rd. with a 100-foot pier that juts out in Englishman Bay. An excellent place from which to take photos of fish.

Download the Roque Bluffs Guide (PDF)

Acadia National Park (60 miles)

Need we say more about this national treasure?
Acadia National Park

Campobello Island, The Summer retreat of Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt, New Brunswick, Canada (47 miles)

Located in Canada just over the Lubec Narrows Bridge. You’ll need to present your passport at the Canadian Customs Border Agency stop there. It is only a short 4-mile drive to the park. There are hourly guided tours of the historic Roosevelts residence by well inform park personnel. An enjoyable thing to do while visiting Roosevelt’s summer residence is to have “Tea with Eleanor”. https://www.fdr.net/tea-with-eleanor.php. Put on by experienced history interpreters. You’ll sit down with others on a finely clothed table setting and partake in Eleanor’s favorite brew of tea and learn through the interpreters about the life of this remarkable woman.

The Roosevelts Summer Home
https://www.fdr.net/

Eastport Windjammers Whale Watching Tours in Eastport

Located on the north end of town, this family-run business will take you out on their new 47″ Lobster Boat to see a variety of whales and seals. It is advisable to call them as their 1:30 pm tour will fill up quickly at peak times of the year. Visit is their Website: Eastport Windjammers Website

Freshwater Fishing

A Fishing License will be required and can be obtained at the Jonesboro Town Office or Pineo’s True-Value Hardware store in Machias. Washington County is known for having some of the best Smallmouth Bass fishing around, and there are numerous lakes to choose from.

Eastport, Maine (50 miles)

Eastport is another historic and scenic coastal seafaring town. Samuel de Champlain first settled the area in 1604. Their settlement out on St. Croix Island predates the Jamestown settlement in Virginia by three years and the Pilgrim’s settlement in Plymouth by 16 years. There is a small National Park 25 miles north of Eastport that documents their harrowing story of survival.  Eastport is a great town to walk with several shops, art galleries, and restaurants located on Water Street. Well worth a visit.

National Parks Service Website – Saint Croix Island

Kayaking & Canoeing

We have one canoe that can be used at no charge. One hundred yards down from the cottage, there is a comfortable access point. It is off of Evergreen Point Road where you can paddle to your heart’s content, exploring the Chandler River Bay and its’ tidal estuaries. It is essential to note the tide condition. You’ll have about 6 hours to explore before low tide could strand you from returning to this location. If this were to happen, you could return to the small harbor at the end of Evergreen Point Road, where there is deeper water at low tide. Please be aware of the tides.

Barren View Golf Course (6 miles)

This nine-hole golf course is close by. So named for the nearby Blueberry Barrens, which turn red in the Fall. Golf clubs & carts are available to rent, and there is a Clubhouse & Pro Shop. A welcoming staff awaits.

Barren View Golf Course Website

Lubec and Quoddy Head Lighthouse State Park & Trail (35 miles)

Visit the easternmost land in the United States and its’ lighthouse there. The lighthouse built in 1858 has guided mariners through the dangerous coastline waters there. Visit the lighthouse museum there and learn about its’ history. From there, you can go on the trail that starts just west down from the lighthouse. It is a moderate trail that is about a 4-mile round trip. Well worth a visit with dramatic views of the rocky Downeast Maine coast.

Quoddy Head Lighthouse Trail
Download Quoddy Head Guide (PDF)

Lubec, Maine
Lubec is a typical small and quaint Downeast Maine town. It has a history of Sardine packaging companies that once dotted its’ waterfront. Sadly all of these Sardine packing companies have closed now. The Historic McCurdy Smokehouse Museum (https://www.mccurdysmokehouse.org/) is a worthwhile stop to learn more about the Sardines legacy to Lubec. The town now is home to an eclectic assortment of shops, galleries, brewpubs, and restaurants and is worth exploring.

Visit Lubec
https://www.visitlubecmaine.com/

Town of Machias, Maine (10 miles)

Machias is a small Downeast town where there is some semblance of amenities. With a Hannaford Grocery Store, Walgreens, two hardware stores, and an assortment of other small shops to visit. Machias gets its name from the Passamaquoddy Indians. In their language, it means “Bad Little Falls.” So named for the rugged falls located on the Machias River in downtown Machias. Its’ history goes back to the 1630s when it was a contested territory between England and France. The English had established an offshoot of the Plymouth Plantation Company trading post here. Trading with the Passamaquoddy Indians for Beaver and other fur skins. The French had initially explored the area and had attempted to reclaim the area, but England finally prevailed. Over the next 140 years, the town slowly grew as settlers migrated from away to the area. Machias has the distinction of being where the first naval engagement of the Revolutionary War occurred. Read more about this here: About the Battle of Machias. It was during these troubles that the aforementioned Hannah Watts Weston gained her  fame.

Machias Maine Website

Jonesport & Beal’s Island, Maine (25 miles)

The towns of Jonesport & Beal’s Island are your typically picturesque lobster fishing communities. They are located on a peninsula that juts out into the Gulf of Maine and is worth a visit. The Great Wass Island trail is a moderately difficult 5-mile trail located out on Beal’s Island. Sturdy hiking shoes are a must.

Town of Jonesport
Town of Jonesport Website

Town of Beal’s Island
Read More About Beals Island

Great Wass Island Preserve on Beal’s IslandGreat Wass Island PreserveGreat Wass Island Preserve
Great Wass Preseve Website

Cutler, Maine (35 miles)

Cutler is another small lobster fishing community. On the 4th of July, they have fun lobster boat races there. The boats line up by Little River Island loaded with their family members and race down the channel all in good fun. While visiting Cutler, a very worthy trail is the Western Head Preserve Trail. Located at the end of Destiny Bay Road, which is just west of Cutler. It is a 3 mile round trip of relatively easy walking. It offers splendid views of Maine’s rocky coastline. It is one of our favorites.

The Cutler Coast Public Land Trail is about 6 miles in length and is moderately strenuous and is located about a mile past Cutler. This trail requires a 1 ½ mile trek down through the woods before you get to the ocean. The waves crashing on the rocky coastline will make this hike worth it. A suggestion is to leave plenty of time for this hike as the total round trip is 6 ½ hours. There have been many hikers who have become lost in the darkened woods on their way back.

Further down Route 191 is the Bog Brook Cove Trail. It is a meandering trail through the Downeast woods that offers an easy walk ending at the Bog Brook Cove’s pebbly beach.

Town of Cutler
Town of Cutler Website

Western Head Preserve Trail
Western Head Preserve Website

Cutler Coast Public Land Trail
Download Cutler Coast Guide (PDF)

Puffin Tour to Machias Seal Island
Bold Coast Website

Bog Brook Cove Trail
Bog Brook Cove Trail Website

Other Maine Trust Heritage Trust Trails
Maine Coast Heritage Trust Trails Website

Wild Blueberry Land (12 miles)

A store that is everything Blueberry. Owned and run by a family of Blueberry farmers. Come and learn more about the Maine Blueberry & shop in their well-stocked gift shop.

Wild Blueberry Land Website