Area Activities

Deer Isle in Penobscot Bay offers you the very best of coastal Maine. Rocky coastline, quiet coves, and beautiful views greet visitors at every turn. As a guest at Pilgrim’s Inn you can explore nearby nature trails, take kayaking excursions to surrounding islands with licensed guides, travel to Isle au Haut and Acadia National Park, visit our numerous art galleries, or take classes at the world renowned Haystack Mountain School of Crafts. We are also a perfect base for taking scenic drives along the coast and exploring the beautiful towns of the Blue Hill Peninsula.

Hiking

For many people who love the outdoors, Deer Isle is the perfect place to visit. Hiking trails and nature preserves offer visitors a great way to experience the island. Visit the Island Heritage Trust at www.islandheritagetrust.org for more information.

Kayaking, Fishing and Chartered Boat Tours

Kayaking along the coast of Deer Isle is an experience not to be missed! Over 60 islands offer unlimited opportunity to explore, making Deer Isle one of the hottest kayaking destinations along the Atlantic coast. Old Quarry Adventures offers guided kayaking trips for any level, or rent kayaks to explore the islands on your own. Their afternoon Eco-tour aboard a lobster boat is also one of our favorites. In addition, Old Quarry Adventures offers boat and bike trips to Isle au Haut, along with sailboat rentals. We also recommend taking a private, customized tour in a chartered fishing boat with licensed guide Captain Walt Reed. www.guidedislandtours.com. For freshwater inland fishing and beginning fly fishing instruction, Dave's Guide Service offers guided trips on Deer Isle and the surrounding area from May - October. www.davesguideservice.maine-web.com

Acadia National Park & Isle au Haut

A visit to Downeast Maine would not be complete without a trip to Acadia National Park. Located just over an hour from Pilgrim’s Inn, the park encompasses 47,000 acres of coastal shoreline, granite-topped mountains, wooded areas, bogs and spectacular scenery. The park offers something for everyone from rigorous hikes to scenic drives or educational tours. For official information about the park, please visit the National Park Service website at www.nps.gov/acad.

Isle au Haute, part of Acadia National Park, is reached by boat from Stonington on Deer Isle, just 6 miles from Pilgrim’s Inn. The island is a great place to explore on mountain bikes or by foot and makes for a memorable day trip. The island can be reached daily by boat from Stonington, go to www.isleauhaut.com for more information.

Stonington

Named for the granite industry that made it famous, Stonington is also home to the most productive lobster fishing port along the Maine coast. No trip to Deer Isle would be complete without visiting this picturesque port and tasting a Deer Isle lobster! Visit the Deer Isle-Stonington Chamber of Commerce for more information about local events and activities in Stonington www.deerislemaine.com

Artists, Art Galleries and Haystack

Our picturesque island has been a draw for visual artists for decades, resulting in dozens of artist galleries for you to visit. In addition, the world renowned Haystack Mountain School of Crafts is located just a few miles from the Inn. To learn more about the artists and galleries on Deer Isle, go to www.deerisleartists.com. To learn more about Haystack Mountain School of Crafts go to www.haystack-mtn.org.

Music, Film, Theater & Dance

Deer Isle is a vibrant community offering a range of cultural activities to visitors and residents alike. The Stonington Opera House now offers the community a diversity of programs from a summer jazz festival and annual radio variety show, to “Shakespeare in Stonington” to dance workshops and films. Visit www.operahousearts.org for current listings.

Just 25 minutes from Deer Isle is the famous Kneisel Hall, known for being the "cradle of chamber music teaching in America". Kneisel Hall in Blue Hill features outstanding chamber music concerts all summer long. Go to www.kneisel.org for more information.

Tennis & Golf

Deer Isle has a country club with a 9 hole golf course and three tennis courts which are open to the public. After a round of golf or a game of tennis, have lunch at the Fairway Cafe and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of this island gem. www.islandcountryclub.net

Blue Hill Peninsula

Exploring the Blue Hill peninsula and visiting the towns of Blue Hill and Castine, or taking a scenic drive through Brooklin, Brooksville, Sedgwick and Penobscot, stopping along the way at shops and old time general stores is a wonderful way to fill your day. Visit www.bluehillpeninsula.org for more information.

Blue Hill is well known for its country fair, held on Labor Day weekend each year. The fair draws thousands of people and features antique tractor pulls, well known musicians, carnival rides, and much more. Go to www.bluehillfair.com for more information.