St. John Valley Winter Highlights Itinerary (3 Day)


Itinerary Note

Note – we put some scheduled times in here just to give you some ideas. You can pick and choose what you want to do. Be sure to look at when they 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.

St. John Valley - Van Buren
Paul CyrSt. John Valley – Van Buren

Day 1 - Fort Kent

9:00 AM – Breakfast at Doris’ Cafe

345 Market St, Fort Kent, ME 04744

Begin your journey at Doris’ Cafe, where they serve up hot coffee, and tasty breakfast surrounded by great decor and Aroostook County charm! Doris’ is very popular with the locals, many of whom eat there every week or more. This is the first of many opportunities to try ployes, a unique Acadian dish common in the St. John Valley.

Fort Kent Sign

5 min drive to Fort Kent Outdoor Center

10:00 AM – Fort Kent Outdoor Center

33 Paradis Circle, Fort Kent, ME 04743

Head over to the Fort Kent Outdoor Center, a world-class Nordic skiing and biathlon venue that has hosted international championship events including the Biathlon World Cup. In addition to hosting competitions, they also promote exercise and healthy lifestyles in the local community. Facilities include a public lodge and an affordable rental center. Spend the morning enjoying their extensive 19.5 mile trail network with Nordic and snowshoe trails at all difficulty levels.

7 min drive to Swamp Buck Restaurant

12:30 PM – Lunch at Swamp Buck Restaurant & America’s First Mile

250 West Main St, Fort Kent, ME 04743

Warm up and enjoy a delicious meal at Swamp Buck Restaurant, which serves classic, delicious American fare in a cozy setting. After lunch, take a stroll just a just few minutes down the road to visit America’s First Mile, a monument marking the very beginning point of Route 1. During March, ask locals about the Can-Am Crown Dog Sled Races, which begin in Fort Kent with great fanfare.

Fort Kent Blockhouse

7 min drive to Fort Kent Blockhouse

2:00 PM – Fort Kent Blockhouse

Blockhouse Rd, Fort Kent, ME 04743

Visit the fort blockhouse, one of the only fortifications relating to the “Bloodless” Aroostook War of 1839-1842 and the border dispute between Great Britain and the United States, an obscure and interesting moment in American history. Despite political tensions and military buildup, there was no actual fighting, and the only casualties were two Canadian militiamen injured by bears. The Blockhouse was built to enforce and protect the American border claim, and now serves as a historical museum. (Source)

10 min drive to Bouchard Family Farm

3:00 PM – Bouchard Family Farm

3 Strip Rd, Fort Kent, ME 04743

A visit to Fort Kent would not be complete without stopping by the wonderful Bouchard Family Farm, the premier destination for buying ployes and ployes flour mixes. This farm is a fabulous example of the ingenuity of Maine people working to preserve their heritage and find new ways to thrive in Aroostook County. Their farm store also has lots of other local, seasonal goodies and handicraft items.

Fort Kent

10 min drive to First Mile Brewing Company

4:00 PM – First Mile Brewing Company

28 Market St. Suite 103, Fort Kent, ME 04743

Sunset comes early in the Northern Maine winter! Relax and enjoy happy hour at the St. John Valley’s best microbrewery. They take a “something for everyone” approach to brewing and offer a great, regularly rotating selection of brews, many of which are made with locally grown ingredients.

1 min drive or 4 min walk to Mooseshack

5:00 PM – Dinner at Mooseshack

76 East Main St, Fort Kent, ME 04743

Finish off the day at the excellently-named Mooseshack, serving up delicious pizza, burgers, lots of great daily specials, and even poutine. The lovely decor, including a gorgeous wooden bar, and friendly service make for an all-around great dining experience.

Day 2 - Madawaska (Cont.)

12:30 PM – Lunch at Dolly’s Restaurant

17 Rte 1, Frenchville, ME 04745

Dolly’s is one of the best destinations for trying Acadian food, including ployes, poutine, and other specialty items, along with lots of great rotating daily specials. More often than not, other patrons can be heard speaking French more than English! Bon appétit!

2 min drive to Martin Acadian Homestead & Learning Center

1:45 PM – Martin Acadian Homestead and Learning Center

137 Saint Catherine St, Madawaska, ME 04756

Just a minute down the road, stop by the Martin Acadian Homestead and Learning Center, the first of several great museums dedicated to preserving and sharing historical information and activities of the region. This homestead/museum showcases traditional Acadian architecture and offers classes in quilting and other handicraft skills.

Acadian cross
Acadian Cross

7 min drive to the Tante Blanche Museum

3:00 PM – Tante Blanche Museum & Acadian Cross

774B Main St, Madawaska, ME 04756

Continuing down Route 1, don’t miss the next local museum dedicated to local history and Acadian culture. Just behind the museum, at the side of the St. John River, is the Acadian Cross, a monument marking the landing site of the first Acadians to settle the area. These people’s plight inspired Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s epic poem, Evangeline.

10 min drive to Marden’s

4:00 PM – Marden’s!

81 Fox St, Madawaska, ME 04756

Marden’s is truly a Maine institution, and a bargain shopper’s dream! Ask any Mainer about the old Marden’s slogan and they’ll tell you, “you should’ve bought it, when you saw it, at Marden’s.” Definitely worth a visit, especially for those who haven’t been before.

5 min drive to Chez Helen

5:00 PM – Dinner at Chez Helen

109 12th Ave, Madawaska, ME 04756

Slow down and enjoy your dinner at this French-Acadian-influenced local restaurant.

Day 3 - Van Buren & Stockholm

Downtown Madawaska
Downtown Madawaska

9:30 AM – Breakfast at Bakery on Main

317 Main St, Madawaska, ME 04756

Start your day with coffee and breakfast pastries at this popular new bakery! Serving a variety of house-made baked goods, many featuring locally grown ingredients, and coffee roasted in Fort Kent, and even amazing custom cakes for special occasions. Their muffins and danishes are highly recommended!

20 min drive to Musée Culturel du Mont-Carmel

10:50 AM – Musée Culturel du Mont-Carmel

993 Main St, Grand Isle, ME 04746

Continue down the St. John Valley Cultural Byway up to the Musée culturel du Mont-Carmel. Although the museum inside is closed in the winter, the building itself, a gorgeously restored French classical cathedral, is worth seeing.

15 min drive to Van Buren Tasty Food

11:30 AM – Lunch at Van Buren Tasty Food

232 Main St, Van Buren, ME 04785

The name says it all! This Van Buren dining destination serves delicious and cheap American fare in a friendly environment, with regularly updated specials.

Calais Alternative Activities

10 min drive to Split Cedar Trails

12:45 PM – Split Cedar Trails

Saint Mary’s Rd, Van Buren, ME 04785

Enjoy a final round of outdoor adventure at Split Cedar Trails, with a network of 11.3 miles of trails around a beautiful lake and several trailside warming huts.

30 min drive to Stockholm Historical Society

4:00 PM – Stockholm Historical Society

280 South Main St, Stockholm, ME 04783

Visit this impressive museum that showcases the remarkable history of the once-booming Stockholm, Maine, where the lumber industry was king. Visiting is free to the public and provides an interesting window into the lives of the Swedish settlers who were the first Europeans to settle in this area.

1 min drive or 5 min walk to Eureka Hall Restaurant

5:00 PM – Dinner at Eureka Hall Restaurant

5 School St, Stockholm, ME 04783

Eureka Hall Tavern is a hidden gem, with many amazing options on a long, eclectic menu to choose from. They also offer a great drinks menu and regularly host live music events. Enjoy! From here you can find lodging in nearby Caribou or continue onward to
Points South.

Day 2 - Madawaska

9:00 AM – Breakfast at Rock’s Family Diner

378 West Main St, Fort Kent, ME 04743

Treat yourself to another great breakfast at this lovely local diner. Plates including their homemade bread/toast come highly recommended!

35 min drive to Four Seasons Trail Association

10:30 AM – Four Seasons Trail Association

425 Spring St, Madawaska, ME 04756

After a scenic drive to Madawaska along the St. John Valley Cultural Byway, hit the trails again for another morning of Nordic and/or snowshoe fun! Four Seasons offers a 7.5 mile Nordic trail network, as well as snowshoe trails and a nice, modern lodge facility, all available free-of-cost, along with affordable ski and snowshoe rentals. If you happen to go before or after snow season, the trails are maintained year-round for hiking and mountain biking.

8 min drive to Dolly’s Restaurant


Packing Checklist

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 Facts

Did you know…

  • The annual CAN-AM dogsled race begins and ends in Fort Kent? There are three different race lengths, 250 miles, 100 miles, and 30 miles!
  • Fort Kent is where US Route 1 begins! There is even a monument for it!
  • Roughly 83% of residents in Madawaska can speak French!
  • Madawaska is located right next to the St. John River.