This is Monhegan Island Part 1 of 2
Introduction
Monhegan Island is located in the Gulf of Maine, about 12 miles off the coast of Maine. Although the island is small (about 1.75 miles long by 0.75 miles wide) it packs quite a variety of things to do and see. The village of Monhegan huddles around the harbor on the west side of the island and stretches toward the south, too. Most of the rest of the island is uninhabited so there is a lot to explore. If you don’t feel like exploring, then relaxing and watching life pass by is also something Monhegan has plenty of.
Some Background
Monhegan was first explored by Europeans in the early 1600s and quickly became known for its fishing grounds. With the Grand Banks being close, fishing is still the biggest industry on Monhegan. Lobster is also harvested from October through June.
In the mid-1800s artists discovered its natural richness and an art colony was begun. Two of the more well known artists who have painted on Monhegan are William Henry Singer and Jamie Wyeth.
Getting There and Back Again
At the time I went, there were just two ways to get to the island: the ferry out of Boothbay Harbor or the mail boat out of Port Clyde. Since I’m not a big fan of touristy crowds, I decided to take the Port Clyde mail boat, the Laura B. Port Clyde is farther up the coast than Boothbay so the drive for me was longer. But Port Clyde is also a little closer to the island than Boothbay so the boat ride was that much shorter. I think the extra drive was worth the absence of a crowd on the boat. The Laura B is still running today and it took the her about an hour to make the 12 mile trip back then.
Currently, you have a choice of three ports to leave from to get to/from Monhegan. Balmy Days Cruises leaves from Boothbay Harbor; Hardy Boat Cruises from New Harbor; and the Mohegan Boat Line (with the Laura B) leaves from Port Clyde. All of these have schedules that allow for day trips, but staying overnight is also something to consider if you have the time.
Staying There
I’m pretty sure that whoever recommended a trip to Monhegan also recommended the Island Inn. Since it has the most rooms I figured it would most likely have a room. And they offered a meal plan of sorts, so that was a bonus, too. At that time, breakfast and dinner were included with the room. Now only breakfast is included but you can still get dinner at the Inn, too. Since I planned to be trekking around the island during the day, I opted for the bag lunch provided by the Inn.
The room itself was nice; nothing too extravagant, but not spare, either, but cozy. It didn’t have a TV, but I wasn’t there to watch TV, so that was just fine. After all, I was there more for the remoteness and what nature had to offer than anything else. Monhegan certainly doesn’t disappoint when it comes to either of those things.
There are other options for staying overnight on the island. According to the Monhegan website, you have a good selection including B & Bs, The Mohegan House (another inn), and several places that offer rooms, cabins, cottages, apartments, and/or efficiencies. And you don’t have to worry about going hungry since there are several places to get something to eat. There is even the Monhegan Brewing company for those who may want an “adult beverage.”
If you want to take a break from the natural splendor of the island, then the Monhegan Museum of Art and History is a great place to see more of what the island has to offer. I also found some photographic opportunities in and around the museum, so keep your eyes open there, too. Additionally, there are galleries and shops to visit, should those strike your fancy.
Some of the High Points
Photographically, there is a lot to see on Monhegan. Most of the island is covered in forest, including Cathedral Woods. While in the Cathedral Woods be sure to look for the “fairy houses” built by visitors from found materials. The 17 miles of hiking trails on the island make it easy to get around the woods and out to some of the headlands on the east side of the island. Also, be sure to check out the southern end of the island. Both the headlands and the southern end of the island get some serious waves crashing on the shore line, so be prepared to take some “fast” pictures if you want to stop the waves.
That’s the end of Monhegan Island Part 1. Please check out part 2 for more about Monhegan.