Historical sites in Machias, the county seat, include the beautiful Centre Street Congregational Church and Maine’s oldest building east of Bangor ~ the Burnham Tavern Museum, which contains items related to the 1775 capture of the British ship Margaretta by local citizens who won America’s first naval battle of the Revolutionary War.  The University of Machias, America’s easternmost college campus, is here and the town often is used as a base for ATV day trips.

The Roque Bluffs State Park has a half-mile-long sandy beach.  Route 92 in Machiasport is one of the county’s most scenic, with beautiful views of Machias Bay, Fort O’Brien State Park, and Jasper Beach, one of the world’s two jasper beaches.  Attractions include the Gates House Museum, Indian petroglyphs more than 1,500 years old on Hog Island, and the Libby Island Lighthouse.

The photogenic town of East Machias contains several historic buildings, including Washington Academy and the beautiful Congregational Church.  The East Machias River, which flows through the center of town, offers fishing and whitewater canoeing.  The 11,000-acre Rocky Lake Public Reserve, north of town, provides boat launches, campsites, and fishing!

Eastport is a working waterfront, with fishermen bringing in their catch of lobsters, scallops, clams, mussels, crabs, mackerel and halibut. Two tugboats assist freighters that bring in wind turbine blades and leave with wood products. You can catch your own fish off the Breakwater, no license required. Nothing beats the taste of freshly-caught seafood!

The walkable downtown, a National Historic District, was completely rebuilt after a disastrous fire in October 1886. Here you can visit the Tides Institute and Museum of Art, the Peavey Library, the country’s oldest ship’s chandlery and a variety of restaurants. A little farther from downtown you’ll find the nation’s oldest working stone-ground mustard mill, a world-renowned boat-building school, hiking trails, and an airport equipped for executive jets. Some visitors arrive by car, others by boat or plane, and stay in a variety of accommodations from motels and B & Bs, to campgrounds.

The Passamaquoddy Tribe of nearby Pleasant Point shares its strong history and culture, most notably during Indian Days every August. Traditional Native baskets made from sweetgrass and ash are available downtown.

Other festivals include Maine’s best Fourth of July celebration, also known as Old Home Week, a time for families and friends to reunite and celebrate old-fashioned values. Don’t forget the Pirate Festival and Salmon Sunday in mid-September, and our very special New Year’s Eve festivities.

The Eastport Arts Center is the thriving hub of our creative community. Its programs include a theater company, a youth string orchestra, a symphony orchestra, an art gallery, arts education classes, a film society and a concert series that brings many music and drama groups here to perform.

Bring your passport: the border with Canada runs down the middle of Passamaquoddy Bay between Maine and New Brunswick, making Campobello, Grand Manan and Deer Islands our international neighbors. Visiting is easy, by car or ferry, and nearby sights include the Roosevelt family’s summer home on Campobello and many lighthouses.

If you’re interested in a three-nation vacation with lots of possibilities for every member of the family, consider making Eastport your destination.

L.L. Bean started in Freeport in 1912 with 100 pairs of boots.  By 1982 the store’s immense popularity with shoppers inspired more than 130 brand name outlet stores, boutiques, specialty stores, fabulous restaurants and gift shops to open their businesses in Freeport.

Today Freeport is a tourist destination with more than 3.5 million visitors annually.  Adding to your shopping experience are open air concert series, talks with tips on outdoor activities, art festivals and street performers.

While shopping diversity has become synonymous with Freeport, you’ll find the town has retained an allure and elegance that builds on its cultural past.  Many businesses retained the original architectural style of buildings from an early era, which gives Freeport’s Main Street a traditional historic flair.

A short distance from the thriving downtown you can find the amazing Desert of Maine with natural 70-foot sand dunes; Winslow Memorial Park with a beach, boat landing, playground and campsites; the Audubon Society’s Mast Landing Santuary with day camp and trails through the woods and fields and Wolfe’s Neck State Park offering 233 acres to explore.

Bethel

Our mountain forests provide recreation and opportunities in every season, a source of relaxation for the outdoor crowd!  The Appalachian Trail and the recently-opened Grafton Loop Trail provide multi-day backpacking trips … but shorter hikes/day hikes here abound … for folks of all ages and abilities.  Bird and wildlife watching opportunities are abundant, from teh trails in the forest and also from the comfort of your vehicle along our scenic highway system.  Guided ATV tours are increasing in popularity!  Fishing and swinning in our dozens of rivers, streams, and lakes are wonderful ways to get closer to nature. There are few pastimes that beat sitting near one of our many waterfalls, several within an easy walk of the roadsides.  Our fall foliage provides a breathtaking backdrop for several weeks in teh autumn.  Winter provides an endless array of active outdoor pursuits as well as just snuggling up in front of a fire in one of our classic New England hostelries.

The Bethel area offers an abundant choice of accommodations, food services, and recreation amenities in all seasons.  This is the perfect place for a family reunion or a quiet getaway; it’s a place where you can climb one of our mountain peaks and be one with nature!  Bethel claims to be Maine’s Most Beautiful Mountain Village … and so much more!

Wilton claims to be the “place to play”.  While here you will find a plethora of outdoor activities to enjoy year-round on the Wilson Lake or you might choose to spend a day on the links at the Wilson Lake Country Club.

If visiting museums is more to your liking then make sure your vacation includes a stop at then Wilton Farm and Home Museum.  The museum is housed in a solid Maine structure built during the Civil War.  It includes one of Maine’s finest collections of farm tools, a nearly complete collection of Maine bottles and memorabilia from G.H. Bass, originator of the famous Bass Weejun.

In August, Wilton hosts its famous two-day Blueberry Festival with parades, chicken barbecue, music, pie eating, a classic car show, pig scramble for kids and a lively “wife carrying competition.” Wilton in August is the place to be.

Fourteen miles northwest of Wilton you’ll discover the Mount Blue State Park.  It boasts 5,021 acres; campground; sand beach with bathhouse; hot showers; flush toilets; boat launch; amphitheater, and nature center. The Adirondack shelters are available for large group use, and canoes may be rented. The park maintains cross-country ski trails, a major snowmobile trail, and an ice rink during the winter.

For accommodations you’ll find excellent choices from charming inns, to local motels and great camping options.