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Special Events and Attractions

May  June  July  August  September  October  Off-Season

For a biking-island adventure, plan to catch an Old Quarry Ocean Adventures cruise from Stonington to Isle Au Haut where cars are few, scenery is spectacular, and half of the island is owned by Acadia National Park. We can help you with the details. Or perhaps you’ll want to borrow the inn’s bikes and explore the area closer to your home-away-from-home. Or you can take the mailboat to Isle au Haut. While you’re there, be sure to check out Black Dinah’s café.

 

Kayaking rentals and guided tours are available from several providers, including Castine Kayaks and Old Quarry. Advance reservations are suggested since the companies are small, often 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, including the boat landing just two blocks from the inn. The pristine 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. The Activity Shop is the place, right in Blue Hill, to rent kayaks. Advanced reservations assure you have the vacation you are dreaming about now.

Sailing opportunities along the coast of Maine include Guildive, a 56-ft. ketch built in 1934, which sails out of Castine daily. The Perelandra, a 44-ft. cruising ketch, sails out of Buck's Harbor for trips ranging from 2 hours to full day all season. Or sail on the Adelaide, a 52-ft. sailing yacht, with Peter and Beth Niehoff for the morning or the full day.

Puffins, lighthouses, and lobsters sightseeing trips are all available from Old Quarry Adventures, which has specialty cruises each day of the week, June to September. 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 lighthouses are mostly located offshore. The lighthouse cruise offers views of 5 to 7 lighthouses with narration by the Captain.

 

Five whales may be spotted at sea: Humpbacks, Finbacks, Minkes, Harbor Porpoise, and, very rarely, Right whales. Old Quarry Adventures takes a small boat, the Nigh Duck, from Stonington. Daily whale watching cruises are also available from Bar Harbor. The inn can assist you with reservations.

Eco-cruises and island excursions are offered by the Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI) and lead by a MERI naturalist. Trips, aboard the MERI research boat, offer learning about Maine's coastal habitats including islands, sea life, and lobstering. Weekly schedules include trips just for children. The MERI office, two blocks from the inn, has two touch tanks and oodles of information about the marine world. Old Quarry offers eco-tours out of Stonington on the Nigh Duck.

Fishing is possible with Dave’s Guide Service. Dave Cassidy offers guided trips and beginning fly-fishing instruction, scenic canoe trips and more.

Fly with Acadia Air Tours, which offers biplane or glider rides—a great way to see the beauty of the area. What a memory to take home! Have your own plane? There are small airports in Stonington and Bar Harbor.

Hiking
The Blue Hill Heritage Trust makes available a number of beautiful and tranquil places around the Peninsula, where you can hike trails, launch your canoe or kayak, observe wildlife, or simply relax and enjoy the scenery.

Island Heritage Trust Trails provides information about trails on land on Deer Isle and surrounding islands that they have preserved, including favorites like Settlement Quarry and the Tennis Preserve.

Golf and Tennis
For golf enthusiasts, we have three public courses in Deer Isle, Castine, and Bucksport.

Tennis players can borrow our racquets and play right across the street.

Birding
The many nature preserves in the surrounding area (Holbrook Sanctuary, Birdsacre, Acadia National Park, among others) offer excellent birding year round. Staff at the inn can provide you with maps of where to go and bird lists of what you might see no matter what time of year you are here. You can see lists of what local birders have been spotting at this link. Deer Isle has a birding festival in May, Mount Desert Island in June.

Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Concerts
June-August, Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons

Kneisel Hall 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 hall nestled in an idyllic wooded setting, within walking distance of the inn. Concerts are often sold out and pre-season reservations are recommended. We will purchase tickets for you upon request.

Historic Sites and Museums
June-September 15th, various hours

The Blue Hill, Maine, area is rich in history and has preserved many homes of early, distinguished colonists. Volunteers generally staff museums and homes and the times they are open varies. As the volunteers are typically very enthusiastic about the local history, the inn can sometimes arrange for private showings with advanced notice.

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 Historical Society and a well-restored 18th century homestead.

In Castine tour the Wilson Museum, with its John Perkins House, Blacksmith Shop and Hearse House, or the Historical Society at the Abbot School.

In Ellsworth visit the Woodlawn Museum, home of Colonial Black. Hike the paths, tour the home, attend the farmers market, or reserve for an afternoon of croquet. Venture to the Cornelia Stanwood Museum and Birdsacre Wildlife Sanctuary to 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.