DownEast Farm, Wine, Parks & Ghosts
Please be sure to look up to see when these places are open and if there are any COVID restrictions. In fact, it would probably be a good idea to call any that you plan to visit just to be on the safe side.
On a beautiful fall day in October, the Undiscovered Maine team took a “trade mission” trip to visit a few undiscovered DownEast sites. We visited the amazing Mandala farm, Catherine Hill Winery, Cobscook Shores park, and Lubec, a town on the coast of Maine. Here is the itinerary so that you can enjoy a visit also!
Our first stop was Mandala Farm, 46 Youngs Farm Rd, Gouldsboro, a love story of a young couple who 20+ years ago had a dream to create a natural sustainable farm in a beautiful spot in Maine. It worked and
today Mandala Farm is a successful Certified Organic early 1900s-inspired horse-powered farm. They work with the Norwegian Fjord horse breed, which are known for their versatility. We had the pleasure of seeing the beautiful Norwegian Fjord horses, adorable mini-horses, cows and more. They farm 2 acres of land producing various vegetables, and raise a variety of animals including: sheep, cashmere goats, and pigs, ducks, dairy cows, dogs, rabbits, cats, and bantams. There is also a vacation rental on the farm. Please click here to read the full story.
We then headed up the road to visit the Catherine Hill Winery, 
661 Blacks Woods Rd, Cherryfield, ME (207) 546-3426. Named for the famous ghost who haunts that area, this lovely craft winery produces unique wines like “Black Fly”, “Bold Coast”, “Cherryfield Blues”, “Cranberry Island” and many more. They say, “Our intention is to create irresistible wines that delight each of the senses.” Not only are the wines delightful but the owners, Deb and Walt are just as wonderful. To read the full story, please click here.
From the winery, we traveled to Machias for lunch at Helen’s restaurant (111 Main St, Machias, ME 04654 (207) 255-8423 ). This iconic restaurant has been serving home-made dishes and famous pies for over 70 years! Click here to read the story.
After lunch, we drove to the new Cobscook Shores park. This is a fascinating place to visit. A wealthy family purchased land and created “Cobscook Shores: a series of fifteen extraordinary new parklands nestled along the vibrant, eco-rich shores of Cobscook Bay near the historic town of Lubec, Maine. Situated in one of the most beautiful and pristine marine ecosystems on earth, the Parklands offer free public access for walking, picnicking, hiking, biking, camping and paddling in Cobscook Bay.”
We visited the Old Farm Point Park, which is close to Lubec. It was a lovely short walk around this penninsula where we saw birds and even some people on the mudflats digging for clams. With 15 different beautiful parks, we will definitely return to explore many of them! Click here to read the full story.
From there, we drove to Lubec, a lovely quaint old fisherman’s town, formerly the sardine canning capital of the world. Today “this tranquil city is only inhabited by about 
588 residents which make for the unique, charming, and unaffected character of the town. Surrounded by picturesque coastline hikes and 97 miles of coastline views, the delightful ghost town is just over the bridge from Campobello Island in New Brunswick Canada, and a day’s drive away from Nova Scotia. ”
Our last stop of the day was to visit Mowry beach at the edge of town in Lubec. We walked along this lovely beach with great expanses. This was one of those serene uncrowded walks for reflection and appreciation of this phenomenal beach. Click here to read the story.
If you want a lovely day to experience hidden gems in DownEast Maine, give this a try!
Packing List
Aroostook/DownEast/Western:
The weather in Maine can be unpredictable. Therefore, here are some ideas to be prepared. Wear comfortable clothes and dress in layers, Maine is very casual, so you probably will not find any restaurants that require formal attire.
Spring/Summer/Fall: clothes, comfortable sneakers or hiking shoes for walking, sun hat, sunscreen, sweater or jacket, insect repellent, toiletries, and phone/camera
Winter: clothes (layers), ski pants highly recommended, winter boots, jacket, hats, scarves, gloves, warm socks, toiletries, and phone/camera. Please pack a helmet if you are participating in snowmobiling, skiing, or snowboarding.!
Fun Fact
What does the term “DownEast” mean”
“The phrase apparently derives from sailing terminology: sailors from western ports sailed downwind toward the east to reach the area. A person from this area may be called a “down-easter.” Within Maine, the phrase “down east” may refer specifically to the state’s easternmost regions, also called Down East Maine.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Down_East
