Plan Your Stay

Aerial view of Lubec, Maine
Photo by from video by Darrick Banda

Binge on Downeast! Though known for its hiking trails, whale watching and lighthouses, there’s so much more to do around Lubec that will keep you busy for days! Alert to photographers: Dazzling scenery ahead. You cannot take a bad picture here. So be ready to take a glorious sunrise or sunset home with you.

Take a look at this drone video to get the lay of the land, and water!

VIEW LUBEC AREA VIDEO

Things to Do, Sites to See, and Events

Here's the rundown:

SummerKeys is an all-levels music and arts instructional program that runs all summer long in Lubec and features free concerts and recitals, as well.

(Departs from Cutler, Maine)
Up-close view of Atlantic puffins and other sea birds, so close that you could almost reach out and touch them (highly ill-advised and not permitted). This is the only such experience on the East Coast. Reserve in January or February!

(Campobello Island, New Brunswick)
Bring your passport and be a part of history when you cross the bridge to Canada’s Campobello Island to visit FDR’s summer home. Tour the cottages, take in the Tea With Eleanor program, a favorite of our guests, or you can mosey along the park’s gravel carriage roads.

See the light at the four area lighthouses!

  • West Quoddy Lighthouse, located at Quoddy Head State Park, offers a gift shop and an interesting museum, as well as hiking trails and coastal lookouts.
  • Lubec Channel Lighthouse (AKA The Sparkplug) is a small lighthouse that you can see from some of our upstairs windows.
  • Head Harbour Lightstation (AKA East Quoddy Lighthouse), at the north end of Campobello, is on a dramatic coastal outcropping that can be reached by foot at low tide.
  • Mulholland Light, Campobello, is visible from Lubec’s Water Street or from a view on the island.

Get close to nature with over 30 hiking trails near Lubec, suited to various experience levels, offering rocky cliffs, deep forests, bogs and hidden beaches.

Whale watch boats leave from Lubec, Eastport, and Campobello. You can encounter up to four species of whales that frequent the area, including the endangered right whale. With any luck you’ll get splashed!

Great views and transportation combined! What could be better? Enjoy spectacular views of the "Bold Coast" as you travel to Eastport for the day. There are seasonal ferries between area Canadian islands too.

(Lubec, Maine)
In addition to the lighthouse, you’ll find a marker here designating the easternmost point of land in the continental United States. Take in stunning views of the rocky coast or hike on one of the park's glorious trails.

(Eastern Maine)
Managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services and offers hiking, birding, fishing, hunting and other outdoor adventures.

Annual June event that starts in Lubec and crosses over onto Canada’s Campobello Island.

(Cobscook Bay, Maine)
The annual Down East Spring Birding Festival in May provides a unique birding experience during spring migration and the breeding season with four days of guided activities.

Offers more birding opportunities in the Lubec area.

(Campobello Island, New Brunswick)
Island Tours will take you around Campobello Island, a place rich in history and natural sights.

(Lubec, Maine)
Over 200 years of local history are on display here depicting artifacts from the time when Lubec was the sardine capital of the world. Well worth a visit!

(Lubec, Maine)
During the peak of the fish industry in Lubec 100 years ago, there were almost 30 sardine canneries and herring smokehouses here. Visit the last smokehouse to operate in the US.

(Machias, Maine)
Guided tours and rentals available.

The longest off-road trail on the East Coast Greenway. Open to bicycles and walking.

(Lubec and DownEast, Maine)
A drive through geologic time as the Downeast glacial past is explained in fascinating detail.

(Machiasport, Maine)
This beach is filled with smoothly tumbled stones. With each rush of waves the stones give a hissing, sizzling sound, veritably singing. This may have you singing too.

(Pembroke, Maine)
Exceedingly high tides at a huge underwater ledge create the illusion that the water is boiling. The process can take about an hour or so and can be witnessed from several hiking trails.

Old Sow is the largest whirlpool in the Western hemisphere and the second largest in the world. It is located just off the southwestern shore of Deer Island, not far from Eastport, Maine.  Boat tours available.

  • St. Croix Country Club, Calais
  • Herring Cove Provincial Park, Campobello (+1 506-752-7041)
  • Barren View Golf Course, Jonesboro

(Lubec, Maine)
Retail chocolates and Peruvian crafts in the shop of a renowned chocolate maker, who had been invited to be on air with Oprah Winfrey and Rachel Raye.

(Easport, Maine)
Held annually the weekend after Labor Day, features a parade, convincing costumes, and much revelry.

Recommended:

  • Shackford Head State Park
  • Eastport Arts Center
  • Galleries
  • Raye’s Mustard featuring a mustard museum.

Recommended: Kingsbrae Garden and Ministers Island.

Recommended: Chocolate Museum, the Chocolate Fest, and Ganong Chocolate Factory

Restaurants

Now that you’ve had our breakfast, you might want to try one of the town eateries for lunch or dinner. Most are within four blocks of the inn. Remember, it’s not just seafood. There are menus to suit any palate, eat-in or take-out.

There are also restaurants in Machais, Eastport, and on Campobello Island.

Select an image below to view larger.

Hikers on the Bold Coast
Atlantic Puffins - photo by Mary Beth Hoffman
Playing a game in the library
Innkeeper Mary Beth on hiking trail - photo by Jim Hoffman
West Quoddy Head Lighthouse - photo by Jorge Moro, AdobeStock