Discover Downeast Maine
Welcome to the legendary Downeast coast of Maine. From the moment you arrive, the beauty of our rocky shores and salt-licked breezes will capture your heart just as it did many years ago to when ship's captains and adventurers of all sorts sailed these fabled waters ‘Downeast from Boston".
Heading east beyond Acadia's Schoodic Peninsula, you'll discover a thriving community of quaint coastal villages all surrounded by a breathtaking backdrop of forests, heaths and pristine waters. Picturesque harbors cradle colorful fishing fleets and every summer, fields for miles around are burst forth with the color of wild blueberries ripening in the sun.
Just halfway between Ellsworth and Machias, lie the Downeast gateway communities of Steuben, Milbridge, Cherryfield, Harrington, Addison, Columbia and Columbia Falls. This once thriving timber and shipbuilding center is now home to a diverse population who derive their living from many sources including retail, professional and trade services, fishing, farming, manufacturing and food processing.
Nature's bounty - a delight for the senses
The area's natural beauty and abundant wildlife makes Downeast Maine an attractive destination for all. The area supports a wide range of activities and destinations like McClellan Park and the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge are perfect for visitors and locals alike to hike, camp and enjoy some of the most spectacular views of offshore islands and seascapes rich and abundant with life.
Other visitors come to to enjoy local fishing and boating on our many rivers, bays and estuaries that permeate the area. You'll find many locations to launch your boat in both fresh and tidal waters including the Narraguagus and Pleasant Rivers, Eastern Harbor in Addison and Ripley Cove in Harrington.
Even if you don't have a boat, you can take advantage of our many guide services and tour operators who will help you to experience the area from a local perspective. Winter sports enthusiasts will also find plenty to do. Here you'll find many miles of trails for snowshoeing, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing.
Open for business - every day of the year
While visiting Downeast Maine you can find everything you need to make stay comfortable and enjoyable. The area is home to a variety of year-round retail services including full-service grocery stores, a pharmacy and a variety of specialty shops including florists, gift shops, hardware stores and gas stations.
During the summer, you'll also find many seasonal businesses and a weekly farmers' market offering the freshest of local produce grown right here in Downeast Maine. And of course, fishing licenses and bait are easy to find throughout the year.
After a busy day of exploring, you can relax and catch a first-run movie or try some of our local seafood specialties at one of many dining establishments. Overnight guests will find plenty of lodging options including B&Bs, guest houses and a motel.
And if it's a professional service you need, we can help you there too. In addition to automotive, home repair and construction services, you'll also find a choice of medical and dental services as well as full-service banking, real estate, insurance and legal services.
You'll also find a variety of creative and business services including marketing and communications professionals, Web designers, and photographers.
Quality of life - our most important resource
Here in Downeast Maine, we take great pride in the preservation of our unique heritage and culture and seek to educate people young and old not only about our past, but also of our future.
There are several small libraries throughout including Milbridge which has a full-service public library and a health resource library. Visitors are welcome to catch up with their reading and to stay in touch with family and friends via email. Both facilities are free and offer Wi-Fi internet access.
The area is also home to the Milbridge Historical Society and Museum. Here you can learn about the area's shipbuilding past and attend one of the museum's monthly speaker presentations. The Cherryfield Historical Society and Museum features a collection of tools, household items and photographs as well as a large genealogical collection of local families. And the Ruggles House in Columbia Falls is a historic Federal-style mansion furnished with period antiques and open to the public.
Downeast Maine - Well worth the drive
This Web site is sponsored by the Milbridge Area Merchants Association. We'd like to thank you for taking the time to look at just some of the wonderful things you'll find in here in Downeast Maine. We hope you've enjoyed learning about this beautiful area and we look forward to seeing you here soon.