DownEast Maine Attractions
Explore Blue Hill, Maine
The Blue Hill, Maine area offers a bit of everything for every type of traveler whether by land, sea or air – you’ll find a partial listing here. You may find the local chamber and the local newspaper informative as well.
After you enjoy your home made breakfast at Blue Hill Inn, set out discover exciting DownEast Maine attractions, then return to the comfort of your luxurious guest room or suite to relax after your memorable day.
So Much to See & Do
Eco-cruises & Tours
Art & Music
Historic Sites & Museums
Eco-Cruises & Tours
Eco-Cruises
Experience the Beauty of Nature & Sea Life
Eco-cruises are offered by Acadian Boat Tours out of Bar Harbor. For a biking-island adventure, plan to catch a cruise from Stonington to Isle Au Haut where cars are few, the scenery is spectacular, and half of the island is owned by Acadia National Park. We can help you with the details. Or you can take the mailboat to Isle au Haut. Puffins, lighthouses, and lobster sightseeing trips are all available from Bar Harbor, which has cruises each day of the week, June to September.
About the Animals
Puffins, Harbor Porpoises & Whales
Especially appealing are the Puffin Watch and Lighthouse cruises conducted on Sundays. Puffins look like the clowns of the sea and you only get to see them if you cruise to one of the two nesting islands in local waters. Maine lighthouses are mostly located offshore. The lighthouse cruise offers views of 5 to 7 lighthouses with narration by the Captain. Five species of whales may be spotted at sea: Humpbacks, Finbacks, Minkes, Harbor Porpoise, and, very rarely, Right whales.
Art & Music
World-Class Performances
Experience the Rhythm
Our area hosts several music festivals and concerts throughout the season including the Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival, the Blue Hill Bach Festival, and the Bagaduce Music Concert Series. A unique claim to fame is that Blue Hill has a concentration more steel drum players anywhere outside of Trinidad and Tobago! Flash in the Pans offers a concert every Monday night during the summer season, many of them at the Blue Hill Town Park, a short walk from the inn. The New Surry Theatre puts on several performances a year on the stage at Blue Hill’s Town Hall. There is something for everyone!
Stunning Vistas
A Tradition of Visual Art
Blue Hill and the surrounding area is well-known for its artistic heritage and inspiration. We have several galleries in town that display artwork and handmade items from many talented and exceptional Maine artists and artisans. The Cynthia Winings Gallery, the Blue Hill Bay Gallery, the Handworks Gallery, and the Jud Hartmann Gallery can all be found within walking distance from the Inn. Both the Wooden Boat School in Brooklin and the Haystack Mountain School of Arts and Crafts on Deer Isle are just a short drive away. Several independent potters also have their studios or workshops tucked away in close proximity to Blue Hill. There is something here to satisfy anyone’s artistic palate!
Historic Sites & Museums
Blue Hill History
Tour Historic Homes
The Blue Hill, Maine area is rich in history and has many preserved homes of early, distinguished colonists. Volunteers generally staff museums and homes from June to September 15th, and the times they are open varies. As the volunteers are typically very enthusiastic about the local history, the inn can sometimes arrange for private showings with advanced notice. In Blue Hill take a tour of Jonathan Fisher’s Home (the first minister of Blue Hill, inventor, eccentric, learned man from Harvard) and the Holt House, home to the Blue Hill Historical Society and a well-restored 18th-century homestead.
Historic Homes
18th-Century Life
In Castine tour the Wilson Museum, with its John Perkins House, Blacksmith Shop and Hearse House, or the Historical Society at the Abbot School. In Ellsworth visit the Woodlawn Museum, home of Colonial Black. Hike the paths, tour the home, attend the farmers market, or reserve for an afternoon of croquet. Venture to the Cornelia Stanwood Museum and Birdsacre Wildlife Sanctuary to explore the 100 acres, the noted ornithologist’s homestead, and the bird sanctuary. The least opened museum, but a fascinating one, is the Granite Museum in Stonington. It is generally open in July and August.