Many more unique and distinct cultural, scenic, historic, and recreational opportunities wait to be discovered further north and west of the Bold Coast region.
From Calais, head into the Province of New Brunswick, Canada and explore the Fundy Coastal Drive or River Valley Scenic Drive, bike or hike the Sentier Trail system, discover the culture of St. John, or explore the eclectic shops of historic St. Andrews by-the-sea (established by Loyalists from Castine, Maine!)
Wander along the Million Dollar View Scenic Byway toward Aroostook, the Crown of Maine and home of the Potato Blossom Festival.
Access the many cultural, scenic, and recreational opportunities in the Grand Lakes region. During summer months, a journey to Grand Lake Stream, other Unorganized Territories, and the Downeast Lakes offers an intact and accessible wilderness experience like no other. And the Grand Lake Stream Folk Art Festival is a renowned cultural event not to be missed. The historic industrial logging community of Baileyville and the wilderness recreation destination of Princeton offer services to support diverse, year-round outdoor adventures in these water-and forest-dominated landscapes.
Indian Township is a Reservation of the Passamaquoddy Tribe. The Passamaquoddy Cultural Heritage Museum occasionally offers workshops. Indian Township is home to several nationally known basket makers whose work is showcased at the Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor.
Travel Route 9 or Route 6 to the Lincoln Lakes and city of Bangor through a rolling landscape of forests dotted with lakes, farms, and wild blueberry fields. Distant views from Route 6 are of the Katahdin Woods and Waters, Moosehead, and Baxter State Park region. A short side trip down the Davis Road off Route 9 leads to the Alexander Art Trail, a peaceful walk in the forest amongst an exhibit of hand-carved oak sculptures. And make sure to call ahead for a visit to the Old Farm Museum!
At the western end of the Bold Coast, stay a little longer and explore the entire Schoodic National Scenic Byway. Hike around Schoodic Mountain, ride the Downeast Sunrise Trail, explore the Frenchman’s Bay Conservancy lands, or learn all about the region from a kid’s perspective.
Take the ferry from Winter Harbor to Bar Harbor, where you can explore downtown shops, pubs, and restaurants or wander over to the main section of Acadia National Park.
For those heading further west, try coastal US Route 1 to experience historic maritime Maine in Bucksport, Searsport, Belfast, Bath, and beyond.
For information about the greater DownEast Acadia region, contact DownEast Acadia Regional Tourism at (207) 546-3600; info@downeastacadia.com.
For information about Maine, contact the Maine Office of Tourism at
1-888-624-6345 or 1-877-624-6331(tty).
