About the region
The sun hits the nation’s shore first in the Downeast & Acadia region, and with so much to do and see, that’s a very good thing.
Acadia National Park has enough natural drama and cultural curiosities to satisfy even the most widely traveled wanderers. Few places can claim the kind of 100-mile ocean view you’ll find atop Cadillac Mountain. And when you come down to earth, you’ll still find your head in the clouds as you hike or bike 120 miles of trails or roll over 55 miles of the legendary Rockefeller carriage roads. When your energy runs out and your hunger kicks in, nearby Bar Harbor hosts the kind of world-class amenities and regional charm that will make your nights on Mt. Desert Island as bright as your days.
But in a region named by the sailors who set sail for its shores, there’s even more to explore when you make land. Countless quaint coastal towns like Blue Hill and Winter Harbor carry the natural beauty of this region right in their names. Others offer more civilized attractions, like Mt. Desert’s renowned Haystack Mountain School of Crafts and Castine’s Maine Maritime Academy—ranked the #1 Best Public College on Money magazine’s Best Colleges list.
And the list goes on to include everything from blueberry barrens blossoming with the state’s sweet, signature fruit to the candy-striped lighthouse at West Quoddy Head. But don’t worry, when the sun comes up tomorrow, it’ll do it first here.
Towns & cities:
Bar Harbor | Bucksport | Calais | Eastport | Ellsworth | Grand Lake Stream | Lubec & Campobello Island | Machias | Milbridge | Stonington | Winter Harbor
