Down East Maine and into New Brunswick

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Papa Bear

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My wife and I hope to take some vacation time this September in the Down East region of Maine. I expect to explore the sites of Passamaquoddy Bay, West Quoddy Head, Eastport, maybe stop in Machias.

Question 1) where are nice places to stay and what sites should I seek out (being an outdoorsy person). Someone said Machias in a nicer spot to stay in (say at a B&B) than East Port.

Question2) I would like to venture into Canada, Certainly Campobello, and perhaps up to Saint John or beyond. How far would a days journey and an overnight stay get me? Any nice places to head for? Parks? Bay of Fundy specialties? Is Fundy National Park too far?

Thanks
Rg
 
Mont Carleton is a nice hike if you get up that far

Don't buy gas in Calais, it is more like Cdn price than US
 
Cobscook Bay State Park is a pretty cool place--you can see the huge Bay of Fundy-type tides there. But that's only if you want to be in a state park kind of place. Info here.

In Machias make sure you eat at Helen's, and save room for pie!!!

Eastport is changing, from what I hear. All I know is it used to be a town of boarded-up storefronts. You get to Campobello (which is a pretty nice island) from Eastport/Lubec.

St. John is reachable. Not sure what you'd find there, I remember it as a quiet, gray kind of town. The Irving :mad: refinery is around there somewhere--but I'm pretty sure that's not the kind of thing you're looking for. Too bad you don't have more time, I'd say go to Nova Scotia.

Best advice I can give you is, "Find a way to get on the water!" It's a beautiful, fascinating and very different perspective.
 
think you may want to check out Quoddy Lighthouse and nice, easy hike down the cliffs/coast to a bay ( Carrying Place Cove )and then back through a fairly new path in the woods with a short side trip to a very nice bog---am thinking it's called the Lighthouse/Coastal Trail going out and the Thompson Trail back through the woods--perhaps < 4 miles round trip-(even doing 1/2 mile and back is worthwhile)-not tuff stuff, great coastal views---path is pretty obvious-have found that fog prevalent in Quoddy when nowhere else--there's also a great 5 or 10 mile (your call) loop called the Bold Coast near Cutler(parking lot is on right on Rt 191 north of Cutler)- perhaps the best Maine Coast view i know when you hit the ocean after a 3/4? mile easy hike from parking lot--the 5 mile loop is nice--the 10 mile loop past the 3 camp sites is really nice-you will see pretty much nobody on this hike--eat at Helen's in Machias for good homecooked stuff, the cream pies are to die for-Lubec is still a "dead" boarded up little town-have fun-jim
 
Last edited:
RoySwkr said:
Mont Carleton is a nice hike if you get up that far

Don't buy gas in Calais, it is more like Cdn price than US


Good point. Gas in NB is averaging about $1.10/ltr or almost $4.50/gallon. That converts to about $4.25 USD. The government taxes the hell out of gas up there. And the dollar exchange rate is almost a push right now.


bob
 
You're going to miss the blueberry festival, papabear! noooooooooooooo!
http://www.machiasblueberry.com/

My family grew up in Calais, and my grandmother still lives there. There's honestly not much in that town. Moosehorn Wildlife Refuge can be pretty nice though. Some small hikes and pretty good animal presence. they have a couple occupied aeries at all times.

Campobello and Quoddy should definitely be at the top of your list.

Hey mr peakbagger! snag mt pleasant while you're up there!
 
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