5 Islands Off the Coast of Maine You Can’t Miss

Join the editors of Yankee magazine as we visit with the residents of five of Maine’s Magical Islands.

Locals and visitors alike can agree that Maine always offers something new and exciting to discover. Head offshore however, and an unexpected experience awaits. Dozens of islands dot the seascape, but only 15 of them host year-round communities, each with a unique personality. Board a boat and you will find summer cottages tucked behind lush gardens, bike paths, meadows, rugged hiking trails, secret swimming holes, plenty of fresh seafood, and different way of life. Once you leave the mainland, you “just need to relax and let go.” If you only have time for a short day trip to “let go,” Peak’s Island is just three miles away from Portland, but it’s the perfect destination for rest and relaxation. Most everything is within walking distance, including three museums, an eclectic restaurant with an outdoor deck and skyline views of Portland, and one of the best food trucks you’ll ever come across. And during the summer, you don’t even have to worry much about the ferry schedule, since it runs more than a dozen times throughout the day. Discover five of Maine’s Magical Islands. Then find out from the locals where to eat, where to sleep, and what you can’t miss.

Getting to Monhegan might be a bit tougher. You’ll spend about an hour travelling to or from the island, and if you miss the mid-afternoon ferry, you’re on the island for the night. That might not be so bad, though. You could stay in an 1870s-era inn with ocean views or at a guest room lit only by oil lamps. And, naturally, there’s a seafood shack with seating on the beach, as well as island-crafted beer. If you need to disconnect, this is the place to do it. Just be warned, you might not want to leave. In the words of one resident, “You may never have really planned on spending your life here, and then you realize you couldn’t live anywhere else.” Art lovers can enjoy Monhegan, thanks to a very special museum, and you don’t want to miss a spectacular view that not many people know about, but you’ll have to read Maine’s Magical Islands to find out more. Your Yankee All-Access Charter Membership gives you immediate access to all five of the exciting destinations in Maine’s Magical Islands. You’ll discover which island to go to if you want to leave your cell phone behind, where you can get made-from-scratch lobster rolls and whoopie pies, and where to go for a hike that’s not on any national park map, but offers a view like no other. Go on a kayak adventure where you might have company from baby seals. Get a 360-degree view of the bay at sunset, and find out where you can walk from one island to another at low tide. Take a hike through 200 acres of conservation land, and don’t forget to sample some of the homemade ice cream. Maine’s Magical Islands have something for everyone to enjoy. Discover all the details, including how to get to each island, as part of the Yankee Dynamic Collection: Maine. Discover your new favorite day trips, weekend getaways, hidden treasures, and more in Vacationland. This is the New England we love. Find out more in our Yankee Dynamic Collection: Maine! Discover the best restaurants, best shopping, best getaways, and best views in our Yankee Dynamic Collection: Maine. With your Yankee All-Access Charter Membership, you have full access to everything in the Yankee Dynamic Collection: Maine, including:

• A tour of America’s first large-scale photo workshop, in A Sense of Place: Maine Media Workshops
• One secret to eating well in Maine, and how you can enjoy the fantastic cuisine no matter where you live, in Boat Magic: Recipes from the J&E Riggin
• The Preserve, where you can discover a 23-acre plot of land on the coast of Maine, and meet the neighbors who saved it from developers
• Stunning scenery, unforgettable events, a five good reasons to take a ferry ride, in 5 More Islands to Hop: Maine’s Magical Islands

[preview_boilerplate] PRINT