Lubec’s lighthouse views. Photo courtesy of Jayson Maker.
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| Downtown Lubec |
The houses, harbor views and shopfronts of Lubec have always been beautiful but now when you visit downtown Lubec in the summer months you can enjoy gift shops, ice cream stands, art galleries, museums and a variety of restaurants. Speaking of restaurants, one of the best dining views in Maine can be found at the corner table of Cohill’s Inn. The restaurant (which also offers overnight accommodation) sits on the tip of Main Street, with large windows offering panoramic views of the bay. The restaurant serves a limited but delicious menu, including great steaks and a good selection of beers, wines and mixed drinks.
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| Water Street Tavern Restaurant in Lubec |
From Cohills, you can continue on a mini pub crawl through downtown Lubec. There are two other alcohol-serving establishments within walking (or stumbling) distance, which is a rarity in Downeast Maine. One of these establishments is Water Street Tavern, another restaurant and inn with views of the ocean and an alcohol licence. The menu at Water Street Tavern features a healthy variety of seafood dishes, from black and blue haddock to crab cakes, scallops and lobster mac and cheese. Water Street even serve several good quality champagnes. Beyond Cohills and Water Street there is Annabell’s, a local watering hole which hosts live music on various occasions. One final food option on Main Street (BYOB) is Frankie’s, which serves excellent Italian food. All of the above listed establishments have outdoor decks for alfresco drinking and dining on sunny summer days.
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| Northern Tides Gift Shop and Annabell’s Pub in Downtown Lubec. |
In the summer, Lubec’s Main Street is overflowing with flower-filled window boxes and fresh produce is sold each Saturday at a farmers market in one of the parking lots. Beyond visiting the Main Street shops (one of my favorite is Northern Tides), you can go down to the shore and watch seals playing in the tidal current or spend a quiet moment of reflection at the Lost Fisherman’s Memorial, erected to honor those lost at sea in the pursuit of their livelihood.
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| Flower boxes on Main Street, Lubec. Photo courtesy of Jayson Maker. |
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| Downtown Lubec |
Lubec is a great jumping off point for a trip to Quaddy Head State Park, with its iconic red and white stripped light house, where you can take in the first sunrise in America. On the millennium, I gathered here with friends, family and host of others to witness the first sunrise of 2000. If you bring your passport with you when you visit Lubec, you can also cross the boarder to the Canadian Island of Campobello, which has beautiful sandy beaches and a great campground.
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| Lubec waterfront. Photo courtesy of Jayson Maker. |
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| Lubec waterfront. Photo courtesy of Jayson Maker. |
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| West Quoddy Head Light |
In the summer months, a ferry can transport you from Lubec to Easport and back. The ride takes about 30 minutes in each direction, and it’s a fantastic way to get out on the water and visit another beautiful Maine lobster fishing village. I also highly recommend a stop at Monica’s Chocolates, which is on Route 189, the road leading into Lubec.
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| View of Lubec from the Lubec-Eastport Ferry |
If you want to stay the night or weekend, Lubec has some good options for accommodation. If I were to stay in Lubec, I’d probably choose to stay at the Blue Heaven Cottage, The Inn on the Wharf (which is also a restaurant) or The Home Port Inn (a B and B). All the above have ocean views.
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| Lubec Waterfront |
Lubec is also home to some wonderful cultural events. In the summer months, the town hosts one of the most significant summer music programs in Maine, teaching music to adults and holding a series of free concerts each Wednesday at the Congregational Church. In September, there is a fantastic Pirate Festival and an international matathon in June.
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| Lubec Harbor. Photo courtesy of Jayson Maker |
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