Lubec & Campobello Island

Lubec, Maine is the easternmost town in the U.S. and sits right across the bay from Canada, where over the bridge is Campobello Island where President Franklin Delano Roosevelt once had his summer home. Part of Maine’s Bold Coast, this region is rich with jaw-dropping vistas and iconic lighthouses. Lubec is home to West Quoddy Head Light – famous for its candy cane stripes and the Quoddy Head State Park.

Things to Do in Lubec

West Quoddy Head is in good company. You can also view the Lubec Channel Lighthouse, the East Quoddy and Mulholland Point Lighthouses on Campobello Island in New Brunswick, Canada, (bring your passport if you’d like to visit); and the Little River Lighthouse in Cutler.

Lubec is also home to one of the 34 outdoor sculptures on the Maine Sculpture Trail. SummerKeys offers free concerts all summer in the Congregational Christian Church.

Many artists and craftspeople live and work in Lubec making it a wonderful place to browse studios and galleries throughout town.

Mowry Beach Preserve has a pebbly beach and views of Campobello Island and local clamdiggers. Not far from Lubec is a unique beach experience on the smooth stones of Jasper Beach.

There is incredible hiking through blueberry barrens and along dramatic cliffs in this region. The Bold Coast is easily accessed from the Bold Coast Scenic Byway – 125 miles along the coast from Gouldsboro to Calais. There are numerous hiking trails like the popular Bold Coast Trail in nearby Cutler. Cyclists enjoy the 211 miles of the Bold Coast Scenic Bikeway, too. Paddling is popular – especially for nature watching. Whales frolic offshore with seals, and puffins nest on the rocky islands. DownEast Charter Boat Tours offers a unique experience of whale watching and riding Old Sow, the biggest whirlpool in the western hemisphere. Puffin watching tours are available but plan ahead – they sell out months in advance.

Things to Do on Campobello

Campobello Island is home to the Roosevelt Campobello International Park – managed by both Canada and the United States. The Roosevelt’s summer home is open 20 weeks out of the year, allowing visitors to see what life was like for the president and his family in 1920. Admission is free. The park also has numerous walking trails and scenic drives. You can camp in the park or find cozy accommodations on the island or in town in Lubec. The drive to Lubec from Bar Harbor is scenic and brings you through many other worthwhile stops.

Where to Stay in Lubec

Lubec has lodging that matches its character. There are fabulous bed and breakfasts, like The Peacock House, a former captain’s home built in 1860, or the Inn on the Wharf in a renovated sardine factory, with suites and apartments. You can also camp at the Sunset Point RV Park, at one of 30 RV sites or 6 tent sites, right by Johnson Bay.

Restaurants in Lubec

In a fishing village, you find the best seafood. Don’t miss The Fisherman’s Wharf Restaurant, the Water Street Tavern and Inn and be sure to treat yourself to Monica’s Chocolates or a frozen treat from Love at First Light’s seasonal ice cream shop. Or simply bring your own food and grab a pint at the Lubec Brewing Company to enjoy the spectacular sunsets.