Jonesboro, Roque Bluffs, and Whitneyville
Garden Side Dairy at Hatch Knoll Farm offers specialty goat milk cheeses, classes, and opportunities to interact with the goats and walk in the boots of farmers.
Enjoy a game of golf, hike along the Tide Mill Creek trail, or relax and picnic beside the Chandler River at the Jonesboro Memorial Park, site of the historic settlement of Chandler River Village.
Roque Bluffs State Park, a 274-acre park, offers miles of hiking trails, a picnic area and freshwater pond, and a gravel beach lined with wild beach roses. This area is perfect for swimming, beach-combing, wildlife viewing, walking, picnicking, and paddling with the kids.
During the annual Wild Blueberry Festival in Machias, Welch Farm in Roque Bluffs offers educational and historic tours of their family-owned wild blueberry farm.
Blueberry Hill Farm Agricultural Research Station, where the University of Maine conducts research into blueberry farming techniques (limited tours are available, but visitors must arrange these well in advance).
Located at the confluence of the Machias River, the Downeast Sunrise Trail, and the Machias River Preserve, Whitneyville is a fine spot to stop and wander.
Machias, Machiasport, and East Machias
Situated along the Machias River and around Bad Little Falls Park, Machias is a cultural and service center regionally famous for its role in the Revolutionary War. Machias is the site of the Battle of the Margaretta, the first naval battle of the Revolution, and hosts an annual celebration, Margaretta Days. The Burnham Tavern played an important role in that battle, gaining distinction as one of 21 homes in the United States most significant to the American Revolution. A historic walking tour offered by a local historian begins at the Chamber of Commerce office on Main Street. Inquire about their self-guided historic audio tour.
Machias offers shopping, lodging, and dining (including world-famous blueberry pie and delectable lobster stew!) all within walking distance. Machias is home to the University of Maine at Machias and the Beehive Design Collective (located in a historic Grange Hall and open to the public), both participating in arts, community, educational, entertainment and philanthropic events throughout the year.
The Downeast Sunrise Trail is easily accessible from downtown Machias, near the dike where antique vendors, farmers, and fisher-folk display their offerings. Machias hosts several yearly festivals celebrating art, history, food, and local culture, including the Wild Blueberry Festival.
Machiasport is home the Gates House Museum and the Fort O’Brien State Historic Site (which preserves the remains of a fort that was originally built in 1775 to protect Machias Bay, and was destroyed and re-built three times over a 90 year period).
East Machias Aquatic Research Center, a research and community outreach facility on the East Machias River, offers tours of the fish hatchery and Historic Museum/Education Center.
The East Machias historic district consists of thirty-two buildings on 630 acres, including the Washington Academy campus, churches, and private residences.
For more information on the Milbridge to Jonesport region, contact Machias Bay Area Chamber at (207) 255-4402; info@machiaschamber.org.
