Monhegan Island, Maine - A Step Back in Time

Monhegan Island can be reached by ferries leaving from Boothbay Harbor, New Harbor, or Port Clyde. It's about an hour boatride.

From the boat dock, you'll walk up a big hill that brings you to the main "street" of the Island. There are not a lot of stores - only two or three. It is not a shopping outing. There are many artist studios, but they do not necessarily have regular hours, so it is at their whim to be open. They are there to paint!

There are several places to eat - the Island Inn is good, and the Monhegan Inn has a nice looking menu.

Many people like to hike the trails, which go across to the rockier side of the island. Each trail brings you to a different spot along the far side of the island, so if you are not a big hiker, and you've done one trail, that is probably enough.

In any case you will be walking - no cars allowed! The lighthouse is up a big hill too, but the view is incredible, and the lighthouse museum is very interesting. There is an old cemetary too - it is fun and interesting to read the old gravestones.

While waiting for the return ferry, sit on the porch of the Island Inn overlooking the harbor and just relax and enjoy the view.

There are a couple of small beaches - most notably Fish Beach, with the much-photographed Fish House.

Some of the ferries offer a one hour trip around the island for , so if you don't want to hike, but want to see the whole island, take this trip - it's great!

Quick Tips:

There are a couple of ways to approach your visit to Monhegan. One is a day trip - take the ferry over in the morning, walk around, take pictures, have lunch, and return on the afternoon ferry. If you are a hiker and want to hike the trails, then you may want to stay overnight. The same may apply if you are an artist or birdwatcher. But if you just want to have a nice boatride and walk around the island a bit, the day trip is enough. Otherwise, by the time the ferry arrives on day two, you will feel like you've been there longer than you needed to be.

We like the Island Inn for lunch, and to sit on the porch or out on the lawn and enjoy the harbor.

There is no bank - just an ATM at the Barnacle Cafe.

Public Restaurants are behind the Monhegan Inn.

Best Way To Get Around:

Take one of the ferries from Boothbay Harbor, New Harbor, or Port Clyde. Hardy Boat Cruises in New Harbor offers free day and overnight parking. Some of the ferries also offer seal watching trips. Make reservations ahead, as the ferries fill up quickly in good weather. If you are staying over, make a reservation! We have stayed at the Island Inn, which overlooks the harbor, and it was lovely. Walking is the only way to get around the island - wear good shoes and take your time. It's a small island, but there are lots of nooks and crannies to discover!

The inn is a classic old New England inn - large, shingled, and with a large porch with comfortable rocking chairs overlooking the harbor. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We had a double room with bath, and it was very comfortable.

The furnishings are simple - white spreads on iron beds with comfortable mattresses. We found our room to be very cozy, and though small, it was not cramped. The room prices are not inexpensive, but the demand is high since there are so few places to stay on the island - and look where you are! Anyway, there isn't much else to spend your money on while you are on the island, so spend it on your room!

The Island Inn restaurant is excellent for lunch or dinner. If you come over for the day, you won't need a reservation for lunch, but you should make one if you are staying for dinner.

The dining room is large and bright, with wood floors and round tables with captain's chairs. The menu and food are good - we've enjoyed the portabella burger, soups and salads, and the lobster roll. At dinner, there are specials in addition to lobster, clams, mussels, and of course, clam chowder. The food is good and the setting relaxed and comfortable.

The museum is located in the lightkeeper's house at the top of the hill on the island of Monhegan. The only way to get there is to walk up the hill from the village. Once you get there, the view of the harbor and the ocean is spectacular! You'll see many artists perched around the property sketching and painting the amazing views.

The buildings - consisting of the lightkeeper's house and the lighthouse tower - are photographic gems themselves. In fact, this is probably the only place where the house itself is as scenic as the tower. The house and attached buildings are white with red roofs, and there is a dory perched outside, just begging you to take a picture!

The museum itself consists of several rooms in the main house. The museum provides information about the history of the island, the lighthouse, and about the wildlife on the island. It only costs a few dollars to mosey through and look at the photographs, paintings, and historical items.

The lighthouse was built in 1824 and had to be rebuilt in 1850 due to damage from storms. The house has also been rebuilt. There was a civilian lightkeeper until 1956, when the Coast Guard took over. The light was automated in 1959, and then converted to solar power in 1995. The museum is run by the Monhegan Historical and Cultural Museum Association.

This little boat tour is a great value (what else can you get for $2!!) and a great way to see Monhegan Island from all sides without having to walk it!

The boat leaves at about 1pm from the dock (it's the only dock so I don't have to say which one!). It takes you all around the island - you head out from the harbor, past Fish Beach. Then you'll pass Lobster Cove at the southern tip, which is known for its bird-watching opportunities and for the shipwreck of the Sheridan, which protrudes from the water. Then you'll circle around the backside of the island. There isn't much on this side except gorgeous cliffs and crashing surf. It's beautiful and peaceful. Along here are White Head and Burnt Head. At the northern tip you'll pass close to rocks that probably will have seals sunning themselves. Past Gull Cove and then back to the dock.

On a day trip to Monhegan, you may want to walk around the village in the morning, up to the lighthouse, and then have a nice lunch. Then take this trip around the island to relax and cool off before taking the trip back to the mainland around 2:30.