|
|
 Special Events |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Each year we search for activities and experiences that offer guests a special touch of the Maine experience. Blue Hill is convenient for exploring the small coastal villages and coastline of the secluded and beautiful peninsula or for day-tripping to Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Camden, or Downeast Maine. Hiking, biking, boating, sightseeing, concerts, galleries, antiquing, lighthouses, and island exploring are all area activities. Help with planning fabulous vacations is a specialty of the inn and available to all guests before and during their stay. Below is just a selection of special events. Specific dates are listed for some events, while others are available throughout the season. Most of the calendar events require advance reservations.
Off-season availability of the Cape House suite, November-May 21 Habitat for Humanity Benefit Lodging Stay in May and help us raise money for Habitat for Humanity. This program is designed to save our guests money and raise funds for Habitat for Humanity. Reserve the Cape House between May 1 and May 23 for just $88—that’s half price. At check-in, we’ll ask for a check made payable to Habitat for Humanity (for at least $35). Funds will be distributed throughout participating local chapters of Habitat for Humanity. Reservations must be made in advance and the contribution must be in the form of a check. Tax and gratuity are not included. For more information about this special offer, contact the inn.
Birding in the Blue Hill Peninsula
Saturday, May 24 (raindate Sunday, May 25). Start with the fabulous inn breakfast at 8 a.m. By 9, we’ll be on the road heading for Old Quarry Ocean Adventures, with our fleece pullovers in hand. From 10 a.m.-1 p.m., we’ll be in Capt. Bill’s capable hands as he shares his knowledge about the natural history of the area as we cruise through the archipelago. We might see seals, seabirds, porpoises, eagles, osprey, an active granite quarry, Stonington Harbor, Mark Island Lighthouse (and hear its fabulous foghorn), the schooner fleet, and much of the 60 islands of the Stonington archipelago. Capt. Bill will discuss natural history topics including the geology of the area, the history of the granite industry, other local history, lobster and fin fish fishing, and the local wildlife. We’ll even get to haul a couple of Capt. Bill's lobster traps on our way in. I’ll bring the snacks and the picnic lunch. We’ll be back on land early afternoon, leaving you time to explore Deer Isle’s great hiking trails and shops.
Foliage, Food, and Wine Weekend - October 16-19 Celebrate fall at its best with fine foods and wines. The inn is proud to team with the Arborvine and the Wescott Forge restaurants for this weekend. Events will be a wine dinner at the Arborvine Thursday evening, a wine tasting with hors d'oeuvres at the Blue Hill Inn Friday, and a sparkling wine luncheon at the Wescott Forge on Saturday. Blue Hill art galleries and museums will host open houses and local producers will host a farmer's market. The event culminates Sunday with a festival of live music and tastings from local purveyors. Of course, all the local hiking trails will beckon--October in Blue Hill is stunning. Inn packages vary depending upon events and rooms selected.
KNEISEL SCHOOL OF CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERTS June - August- Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons from the last weekend of June through middle of August Kneisel School of Chamber Music is internationally known with students from around the world. The faculty, all accomplished musicians from across the United States, performs twice weekly concerts in a small concert hall nestled in an idyllic wooded setting. Concerts are usually sold out and pre-season reservations are recommended. We will purchase tickets for you upon request. Tickets are $35 per person. BIKING, KAYAKING, SAILING, ask the Inn to make reservations for you. June through September. Kayaking is available from several providers in the area for guided day trips or kayak rental. Advance reservation is suggested since the companies are small, limited to one tour at a time and have just a few rental kayaks on hand. Rental kayaks can be delivered to some places of put-in. The waters of the area are great for kayaking with access in Blue Hill, Naskeag Point, Castine, and Deer Isle. Blue Hill's reversing falls are perfect for the kayaker wanting to experience "white water" at a controlled pace.
Sailing opportunities vary each year. The Summertime, a replica of an 1800 Pinky Schooner, offers day sails for several weeks in June and late September. The Perelandra, a 44-ft cruising ketch, sails out of Buck's Harbor for trips ranging from 2 hours to full day all season. Trimaran Cruises on Eggemoggin Reach can be scheduled for July and August.
PUFFINS, WHALES, LIGHTHOUSES AND MORE - June through September Old Quarry Adventures have specialty cruises each day of the week. 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 conservationists have been diligent in encouraging the birds to nest. Visitors cannot land, but sightings from the boat are wonderful. Maine Lighthouses are mostly located off-shore. The Lighthouse cruise offers views of 5 lighthouses with narration by the Captain.
Five whales may be spotted out at sea, Humpbacks, Finbacks, Minkes, Harbor Porpoise, and, very rarely, Right whales. The companies making daily trips from Bar Harbor are larger boats, most accommodating over a hundred people. Old Quarry Adventures takes a smaller boat from Stonington on Wednesdays (days subject to change.) Daily whale watching cruises are also available from Bar Harbor. Bar Harbor boats accommodate larger numbers of passengers (100-250).
ECO-CRUISES AND ISLAND EXCURSION CRUISES - SUMMER Marine Environmental Reserch Institue (MERI) offers small boat excursions accompanied by a MERI naturalist. Trips offer learning about Maine's coastal habitats including a pristine island, sealife, and lobstering. Trips are aboard the MERI research boat. Space is limited. Weekly schedules include trips just for children.
HISTORIC HOUSE MUSEUMS - Open various times June - September 15th.
The Blue Hill area is rich in history. Take some time to tour the homes of early distinguished colonists. Since the museums are staffed by volunteers the times they are opened vary.
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 Historic Society and a well restored 18th C homestead (three afternoons a week from June to September 15th.)
In Castine tour The Wilson Museum complex (May 27th to September 30th) and its special events and The John Perkins House, Blacksmith Shop & Hearse House (Sundays and Wednesdays July and August.)
In Ellsworth, visit the Woodlawn Estate, home of Colonial Black. Hike the paths, tour the home, or reserve for an afternoon tea (May to October.) Venture to the Cornelia Stanwood Museum and Birdsacre Wildlife Sanctuary 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. Better check the times open before making a special trip.
BLUE HILL FAIR - Labor Day Weekend. This old-time county fair was the origin of Charlotte's Web written by the frequent inn guest E. B. White. Sheep dog trials, oxen and horse pulls are just a few of the many events. The fair is held at the Blue Hill Fairgrounds about five miles from the inn. |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
