Ultimately , Downeast Maine National Heritage Area was chosen for the following reasons :
• The name is closely associated with the area and recognizable by both visitors and locals .
• Downeast often connotes a vision of the hardy and adaptable people and the authentic , enduring fishing villages of Washington and Hancock Counties .
• Assuming the name for the National Heritage Area reinforces the region ’ s “ claim ” to the term as part of their geographic and cultural identity .
Winds of Change
Downeast Maine is poised to explode in popularity as a destination for travelers seeking untrammeled rural living and accessible outdoor activities . Visitation trends captured by the Maine Office of Tourism and regional visitor centers have shown for years that visitors are moving away from crowded Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park in search of more
Biking the Bold Coast National Scenic Byway - The Bold Coast National Scenic Byway skirts the easternmost edge of the United States along the Gulf of Maine and Bay of Fundy . The Byway connects travelers with the nation ’ s last vestige of a natural resource-based maritime culture , where turning tides and changing seasons dictate daily survival and people have influenced the nation ’ s formation since glaciers receded . The Byway connects a network of public conservation lands abundant with natural resources , coastal and riverine villages with well-preserved historic districts and working waterfronts , and the people that inhabit , value , and depend upon these landscapes . Photo courtesy of BikeBoldCoast . com
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