What to do on a Coastal Maine Vacation

Looking for an end of summer or early fall trip? Look no further than Downeast Maine. I just returned from my idyllic coastal Maine vacation, and it is no wonder why this is a bucket list destination. The scenery is so gorgeous, with rolling green fields, skylines dotted with regal pine spires, and granite boulders embraced by crashing waves. The air is crisp and clean, transitioning to early fall, and leaves are beginning change already. 

I love the coast of Maine, the quiet, hometown, close neighbor vibes, wildlife, and so much great food. If you’re panning a trip to New England soon, don’t miss the Maine coast. Here are some of my favorite things and recommendations for Mount Desert Island and the surrounding area. 

Acadia National Park

You can’t miss visiting the park. It’s an absolute bucket list travel item – the beautiful and quintessential Maine landscape will swallow you whole. Although it’s a national park, Acadia and all of Mt Desert Island is very small and still rural. Therefore, it is easy to become fully immersed in nature through hiking and biking trails (plenty are rated as easy), or drivable roads, easily accessed points of interest. I’ll put together a whole separate post on Acadia, but here I’ll hit on some highlights. 

Cadillac Mountain

Cadillac Mountain is probably the most popular site in the area, a must visit peak during your Maine vacation. It’s the tallest peak on the Eastern Coast, and it gets very busy. Acadia has seen a huge boom in visitation after Covid, and it’s been a little taxing on the park and surrounding towns. The park has mandated a reservation system for driving up to Cadillac summit to resolve some of the traffic strain, as there is limited space at the top. If you want to drive up, you just apply online for a reservation, however, hiking up is a much more rewarding option. There are a variety of hikes, primarily the North and South Ridge trials, but others around the park merge into the main arteries up the mountains. The trails are forested, with granite ridges that offer sneak peaks of the harbor. The scenery is gorgeous, but the smell of a warm balsam forest doesn’t compare to anything else. 

Hike to Bar Island at low tide

Bar Island is only accessible by a narrow strip of sand exposed at low tide- it’s called a bar- and this is the namesake of Bar Harbor. It’s a short sandy walk from the town (at Bridge St.) to Bar Island, where you can hike the Bar Island Trail to the top and get a cool view of Bar Harbor. Be aware of the tide schedule, because the bar really is underwater at high tide and you won’t be able to get back. I think this is a really interesting, hidden gem type of thing to do in Bar Harbor. Because it’s so dependent on the tides, which change throughout the year, a lot of visitors will miss the opportunity to explore the sand bar and island.

There are a lot of places to swim on Mt Desert Island. Jordan Pond and Sand Beach are popular sites within Acadia, but also get so busy in the summer, and the parking lots are full by early morning. Seal Harbor is another town on the Southwest point where you can find Seal Beach, a less crowded public beach that is much easier to enjoy. 

I love Acadia, and I have visited the park and Mt Desert Island so many times. Lately, the summers around the Acadia and Bar Harbor get so busy- and that’s not surprising at all because it is a beautiful area- but sometimes the crowds are just hard to deal with. Head over to the Schoodic Peninsula and Winter Harbor, they’re located to the east, just across the bay from Bar Harbor, to enjoy epic scenery with less crowds. The drive is part of the Schoodic National Scenic Byway and you will not be missing out by heading to some smaller towns. Schoodic point is a cool point of interest and under appreciated site in Acadia. It’s so cool- granite cliffs are partially submerged in the water, so the waves crash dramatically over the rocks. Nature really puts on a show here, like ThunderHole in Acadia. There’s also a lighthouse on Mark Island, visible when you drive into the Peninsula, with a lovely backdrop of Cadillac Mountain.  

Visit Deer isle and Stonington- these quintessential Downeast small and quiet towns offer plenty of craggy coastlines, providing endless views of Maine landscapes and seascapes. It is truly a hidden gem on the Maine coast; everywhere you turn is a view fit for a Maine postcard- and it’s not very busy at all. There is so much deliciously fresh seafood, art, small beaches, it’s honestly unbelievable that this area doesn’t draw many tourists – hopefully it stays a secret 🤫 . 

Here are some highlights:

First up: the LDI Dock ’n Dine for dynamite lobster on Little Deer Isle. This lobster shack is located immediately after the suspension bridge- the first major point of interest on the islands. There’s a little park called After the Bridge Park, where you can find LDI. They serve up acclaimed lobster rolls, or a whole lobster, as well as Gifford’s ice cream. Gifford’s is a popular Maine brand, and they have fun Maine themed flavor names: Moose Tracks, Meer Tracks, Maine Black Fly, Maine Black Bear…you get the idea. Mainers REALLY love their ice cream. The park is right on the water and you can walk along this little beach full of little seashells (which is common around here). The water in this cove stays pretty warm, at least by Maine standards, because it’s somewhat protected from the rest of the frigid Atlantic. 

From here you can visit the scenic Pumpkin Island Lighthouse. It’s a short drive from the bridge, and a great view into Penobscot Bay. 

Nervous Nellies Jams and Jellies

Stop for some homemade jam at Nervous Nellies. Maybe you’re thinking: A jam store? Really? YES, IT’S AMAZING! You’ll want to leave plenty of time for this experience, probably more than 1 hour, because the real draw to this attraction is a forest full of  sculpture displays made out of found material, scraps, and vintage housewares. They’re quirky, whimsical, and weird, you’ll lose track of time wandering around the woods admiring and exploring these amazingly detailed displays. There’s a whacky treehouse (which you can explore), a garage jam band, Camelot, Captain’s quarters, and even a church. It’s so unique and cool, it’s like a whole village recreated from old stuff. Oh, but the jam is also 10/10, so don’t forget to buy some after getting lost in the woods. 

Stonington was established based on the booming granite quarrying industry, hence its name. Granite here was shipped all over the world and used to build some prominent US buildings. There is a little granite museum (fees by donation) where you can learn about the history of the area and the famous Stonecutter Memorial nearby. From this area, you can take a ferry to Isle Au Haut, a remote island part of Acadia National Park. 

Stonecutters Restaurant is also a well-loved local favorite, located next to the famous statue. I highly recommend eating here for fresh-caught seafood and beers. 

You can also visit an old quarry site via a short, but rewarding hiking trail called the Old Settlement Quarry Trail. Only 1.6 miles easy hike with views of the harbor, and of course the old quarry. 

There are several short but scenic hikes in the area, located just off the main roads. Dip into these small trails to enjoy being in the forest, up close to the pines, ferns, and wildlife. It’s so peaceful walking amongst the old growth forest, and it smells like warm pines trees-sweet and balmy. In the late summer, the mosquitoes aren’t as bad and it’s the perfect time to hike up to a granite outcrop for great views of the sail boats from between towering pine spires. Here are a few other recommendations:

Tennis Preserve Loop Trail – 2.6 mile loop

Shore Acres Preserve Trail – 1.7 miles

Barred Island Preserve Trail- 2.5 out and back

The Islands are known for having a vibrant art community as well. In downtown Stonington there are plenty of excellent art shops. You can stop in and get an idea of local Maine artists and maybe pick out  a unique souvenir or gift. 

Antiquing is a very Maine thing to do, and there are so many notable shops and along the mid-coast region. There are a few that I think are definitely worth visiting.

The Big Chicken Barn in Ellsworth is, in fact, housed in a massive, old chicken coop. There are many individual shops and stalls inside, and the upstairs is the largest book store in the state. 

Nearby is 1A Relics, and it has a similar set up with multiple vendors of antiques, eccentricities and handmade art. It’s full of cool displays, for example, there is a whole Stephen King section with larger-than-life Pennywise and other IT themed and creepy decor. Even if you’re not shopping for something specific, you can lose track of time admiring the shop.