Planning a visit to enjoy this tucked-away slice of the Maine coast? Here’s a guide to where to eat, what to do, and where to stay when you visit Maine’s Blue Hill Peninsula.
By Yankee Magazine
Jul 05 2022
Looking out toward Eggemoggin Reach, the channel that runs between Deer Isle and the Blue Hill Peninsula.
Photo Credit : Greta RybusThe island’s hottest ticket, thanks to chef Devin Finigan’s wizardry with locally sourced ingredients in dishes such as wood-fired duck with rhubarb barbecue sauce and polenta fries.
A destination-dining experience in an 1832 farmhouse overseen by brothers and second-generation chefs Tim and Andrew Hikade. Next door in the converted barn is their own Deep Water microbrewery and pub.
When the magazine Food& Wine set out to find the best burritos in every state, who knew one of its favorites would be in this village of about 180 people? Well, anyone who’s eaten there.
A bakery and pizza restaurant in a Victorian house with views down to a tree-lined cove. The wood-fired pizza is in such demand you have to call a few days ahead and get a precise pickup time; that accomplished, you dine at tables set in a meadow or in the open barn.
Melissa Raftery and Megan Dewey-Wood’s coffee shop not only serves the best java in the area but also serves as a social hub.
The setting for Charlotte’s Web (by Brooklin’s own E.B. White),this fair is a Labor Day staple.
When an entire downtown is on the National Register of Historic Places, a walking tour is a must. Free maps available at the historical society.
The homestead of pioneering back-to-the-landers Scott and Helen Nearing is now a learning center where you can attend community events, sign up for workshops on ways to live simply and well, and take in the gorgeous views of Spirit Cove.
A former private island donated to the state in 1971, with most of its original buildings torn down and the land left to grow wild, is now a 1,200-plus acre park and a prime place for coastal bird-watching.
In warmer months, sculptor Peter Beerits offers occasional tours of his fanciful array of buildings and artworks known as Nellieville; sweetening the deal are the small-batch jams for sale in the shop and cozy on-site café.
When in port, the Maine Maritime Academy’s 500-foot training ship (originally a Navy oceanographic research vessel) is open for visitors to tour.
A classic, understated feel makes this 11-room historic inn a perfect fit within the intimate nature of Blue Hill.
Home to one of the best restaurants in the area. The four upstairs rooms are especially popular with boaters, who are welcomed at the dock.
Hiram Blake Camp | Cape Rosier
This prime example of a relaxed family-style rural camp dates back to 1916, with the great-granddaughter of its founders still greeting guests.
Oakland House | Brooksville
A resort colony that offers eight cottages situated beside woods and water, four newly renovated rooms and suites in the main inn, and simple, hostel-style accommodations in the guest house.
Pentagöet Inn | Castine
Perched on a bluff in the heart of the village, this 19th-century Queen Anne Victorian has plenty of architectural wow factor, not to mention a restaurant and an atmospheric old-world pub.
You can easily spend a day immersed in the work of the artists and artisans who have been drawn to this region. For inspiration, browse the chamber of commerce listing.
This literary oasis in the heart of Blue Hill is a favorite stop for locals including novelists Jonathan Lethem and Beth Gutcheon.
A beloved institution, with a café in the back for reading with coffee in hand.
The noted jewelry designer’s first brick-and-mortar shop features not only his work but also that of many other talented artisans.
Pushcart Press | Sedgwick
If you catch Pushcart Press founder Bill Henderson at his hobbit hole of a bookshop, prepare to discuss all things reading and writing.
Have you ever visited Blue Hill, Maine, or Deer Isle, Maine? What are your favorite spots in the Blue Hill region? Let us know in the comments below.