Blue Hill Peninsula - Family Weekend

Your first stop on the way into Blue Peninsula should definitely be Tinder Hearth, known for their delectable wood fired pizzas and bakery. They also serve craft beer and wine in the afternoons and evenings.

If you visit for brunch, coffee and breakfast items will be served in their quaint barn on site.

Make sure to check their website for seasonal hours and offerings!

Check into one of the comfortable cottages at the historic Pilgrim’s Inn. The main inn building was built in 1793 as a private residence and in 1890 it first welcomed guests as an inn. The owners are incredibly gracious and the surrounding natural beauty makes this the perfect homebase for a weekend exploring the Blue Hill Peninsula.

Take a family walk to stretch your legs and get some fresh air in Mariners Memorial Park.

Explore some of the local shops in Deer Isle including the iconic Nervous Nellie's Jams and Jellies, a shop for gifts and goodies made in Maine. Try one of their 14 Marmalade, jams, and jellies made by hand.

Take in the marvelous art at Summerall Gallery, which includes collage images of animals with the goal of trying to capture what one viewer called the “sweetness and dignity” of the marvelous creatures who share the planet with us.

Enjoy another nature stroll around Scott's Landing Preserve. Located on the northeast side of Deer Isle, this 24-acre property is an old farm with open meadows and wooded dells. The preserve includes 1.5 miles of trails through varied bird habitat to a shingle beach on Eggemoggin Reach.

Visit the modern Brooklin Inn Restaurant for an adult and kid-friendly dinner. They hit all the right notes with the excellent service, great food and a contemporary vibe. The burger and hand cut fries are a classic; finished with their chocolate dessert.

Begin Day 2 at 44 North Coffee for delectable pastries and coffee.

Stock up for a picnic lunch atop a nearby mountain by stopping at the Blue Hill Farmer’s Market (open Saturdays, 9:00am to 11:30am from May through October).

For your late-morning adventure, grab a picnic blanket and then plan to hike the Blue Hill Mountain Loop, which is 1.9 miles roundtrip and has 567 ft. of elevation gain. From the top, you'll enjoy views of all Blue Hill Peninsula - the perfect photo opp.

Head back into town to explore - start at Blue Hill Books, a community-based independent bookstore open year-round and offering a curated selection of books, magazines, and stationery.

Stop by Bucklyn Coffee for a warm beverage and a rest.

Take a quick stroll around Horton Emerson Park.

If hungry for a snack, stop by Blue Hill Co-op, a cooperatively-owned grocery store that specializes in selling local & organic foods.

For lunch, stop by the Brooklin General Store, which serves curated local foods and goods in a pleasant atmosphere. The pizza and soft-serve ice cream are both to die for.

Next door, Leaf & Anna is a small shop stocked full with gifts, toys, puzzles and more.

No visit to Brooklin would be complete without stopping at Brooklin Candy Co.. This curated candy shop is “nostalgia to the nth degree,” featuring throwback candies and something for every taste. It’s so good; you have to stop whether you’ve brought kids with you or not.

Walk off your lunch at the Hundred Acre Wood Trail. This property hosts a nearly .5 mile inner accessible loop trail made of packed crushed gravel as well as a longer outer 1.7 mile loop trail which takes visitors along a more traditional wooded path.

Stop by Strong's Public House & Patio for a glorious outdoor beverage post-walk. Dog-friendly patio too!

Enjoy dinner down in Stonington at Fin and Fern. Ask for a seat upstairs which gives you a private setting with panoramic views of downtown Stonington and the coast. This intimate restaurant feels both high-end while also being welcoming to children. Order any of their fresh seafood!

After breakfast and checkout at your accommodation, head to Barred Island Preserve for an otherworldly hike that's easy for the entire family. You’ll walk amidst lush green moss, a vibrant and fresh fragrance fills the air, accompanied by the sweet scent of beech trees. The path leads to granite mounds that give way to crystal clear water; at low tide you can walk out to Barred Island itself. For help identifying the flora, check out a virtual guided nature walk by the Island Heritage Trust.

If you're up for another wilderness adventure, head to Stanwood Wildlife Sanctuary, which contains both a historic house museum and wildlife sanctuary.

The Downeast Scenic Railroad offers a wonderful 12-mile round-trip train ride from Hancock, Maine, through Ellsworth Falls, and across the Union River Bridge on the former Maine Central Railroad. The beautifully restored passenger train, with vintage locomotives and coaches, staffed by our all-volunteer crew, is the first passenger train to run on these tracks since 1960.

Stop into Helen's Restaurant of Ellsworth for a late lunch before heading home. They serve classic American comfort foods & house-baked pies in a comfy space with antiques on the walls.