Photo courtesy of Heart of Ellsworth
Outdoors & On the Water
Hike one of the seven trails that meet on Blue Hill Mountain for wide coastal views. Pick wild blueberries in August at Caterpillar Hill. Explore Reach Beach and Causeway Beach with the whole family! Head out across Castine Harbor for a guided night paddle featuring glowing bioluminescent organisms. Cruise the Bagaduce River, explore many local coves on a Castine Harbor Tour. Take the ferry from Stonington out to Isle au Haut, camp, and experience the most remote area of Acadia National Park.
Top Spots for Culture & History
Opera House Arts, Stonington Originally built in 1886, the restored historic theater hosts professional theater, film, music, dance, local events, and artist residencies.
Alamo Theatre, Bucksport One of New England’ s oldest cinema structures, the Alamo hosts quality films, live theater, and the International Maritime Film Festival.
New Surry Theatre, Blue Hill Founded as a theater school in 1972, New Surry Theatre now offers lucky audiences plays and staged readings year round.
Deer Isle Bridge
The Blue Hill Peninsula is well known for highly skilled craftspeople, artisans, writers, and musicians who all draw from the land’ s inspiring natural beauty.
Wilson Museum, Castine The museum’ s collections, exhibits, and programs provide immersive learning experiences across place, time, and cultures.
Nellieville, Deer Isle Discover a unique found-object sculpture gallery set amongst several acres of meadow and woods, plus a variety of jams, made daily on-site.
Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Deer Isle Founded in 1950, this oceanside school offers one and two-week studio workshops to participants of all skill levels.
Featured Events
Bastille Day, Castine, July
Shakespeare Under The Stars, Prospect, August
Deer Isle Jazz Festival, July
Stonington Birding Festival: Wings, Waves, and Woods, May
Puffin Festival, June
Blue Hill Fair, September,( inspired E. B. White’ s, Charlotte’ s Web) see all events on page 29
With the Kids
Get hands-on at Discovery Wharf at the Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries in Stonington or get in on the action with their 360 ° virtual reality experience. Grab a gelato or ice cream cone at Pugnuts in Surry or take a guided tour of Fort Knox, one of the bestpreserved forts on the New England coast, then pop into Bucksport for lunch.
Visitor Resources
Blue Hill Heritage Trust BlueHillHeritageTrust. org Penobscot Narrows Bridge / Observatory & Fort Knox Historic Site: FortKnoxMaine. com Blue Hill Peninsula Chamber of Commerce BlueHillPeninsula. org Main Street Bucksport MainStreetBucksport. org Castine Visitor Center Castine. me. us / welcome / Deer Isle-Stonington Chamber of Commerce DeerIsle. com
BLUE HILL PENINSULA
Pumpkin Island Lighthouse Courtesy of Heart of Ellsworth
Opera House Arts, Stonington
For more on what to do when visiting the Blue Hill Peninsula scan here.
2026 DOWNEAST ACADIA GUIDE | 5