If you want to see the real Maine, flee tourist attractions and national chains and drive the Schoodic Scenic Byway. Discover a region and lifestyle that residents strive to preserve and visitors love to experience. Spend your day in a landscape of lighthouses, lobstering, clamming, blueberry fields, and timberland. Stop and peruse the small shops and yard sales where local artisans and craftspeople sell their wares. Afterwards, relax and have a good night's sleep at a historic bed-and-breakfast.
Lighthouses contribute to the quaint, peaceful feeling that this area embodies. Egg Rock Light is often nicknamed Maine's ugliest lighthouse, and provides an amusing contrast to its neighbor, the Winter Harbor Light, which is the byway's most photogenic lighthouse. Petit Manan Light, at 123 feet, stands as Maine's second tallest lighthouse.
This region contains a variety of wildlife and recreation. Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge shelters a number of birds, including ducks, eagles, and osprey. Take a boat tour to see some of the sea bird nesting colonies. Acadia National Park covers more than 47,000 acres. Hike or bike through the park, exploring its flora and fauna.
Turnouts add relaxation and great sights to the byway. While you visit Acadia National Park, take a picnic at Blueberry Hill. Afterward, capture some photos from the shore. Frazer Point also provides opportunities for beautiful photos. Schoodic Head showcases Frenchman Bay and its nearby islands.
Nature and scenery on the byway match its cultural heritage for richness and beauty. As you travel this route, look for a variety of birds that are plentiful near the many lakes, rivers, and coastlines along the byway. View gorgeous mountains, islands, and fields of blueberries and wildflowers, historic buildings, and lighthouses. Discover one of the last frontiers of the eastern seaboard on the Schoodic Scenic Byway.
Schoodic Scenic Byway History: Lighthouses and Fishing Villages
Puffins and Songbirds on Schoodic Scenic Byway