Oakland House Bed and Breakfast - Brooksville, Maine

1-207-359-8521
relax@oaklandhouse.com

[Captain Bill Baker catches lobsters for kids to see.]

[Bucks Harbor Marine, Brooksville, Maine.]

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Oakland House
Cottages
by the Side
of the Sea
435 Herrick Road
Herricks Landing
Brooksville
Maine 04617

Innkeepers:
Sally Littlefield and Family

Email:
relax@oaklandhouse.com

1-207-359-8521

Local Attractions and Things to Do on the Blue Hill Peninsula

Great Activities During the Spring, Summer, and Fall.

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Concerts:

The Kneisel Hall Music Series in Blue Hill, "Flash-in-the-Pans" steel band street concerts, Bagaduce Chorale which gives several performances each season, The Grand Theatre in Ellsworth, The Stonington Opera House, and more. Steve Orlofsky plays with two bands; one with the students at George Steven's Academy. This is a very musically oriented community.

Eco-Tours, Learning Adventures, Programs for Children & the Young at Heart:

[The islands of East Penobscot Bay are magical.]

MERI-Marine Environmental Research Institute's summer program for children/adult lectures in Blue Hill, Whale watching, Puffin Sighting trips, Sea kayaking trips guided by Registered Maine Guides, Blue Hill Public Library children's and adult activities, Brooksville Public Library Story Hour for Children, Seamark Workshops for Children, George Stevens Academy Summer programs for High School age children, Nichols Day Camp, Camp Robin Hood for boys and girls. The Nearing Homestead Monday evening lecture series.

Scenic Cruises, Ferry Services to the islands:

Aboard Bill Brown's Pinky Schooner "Summertime" or Captain Bill's Lobster Boat "Nighduck", the Mailboat to Isle Au Haut, and the sightseeing boat Miss Lizzy out of Stonington (one-hour trips), LeCain Smith's Sailboat from Bucks Harbor.

Sailboats for Rent:

Rent at nearby Bucks Harbor bareboat if you can show that you are knowledgable in your seamanship and ability.

Kayaking:

Our oceanfront is a delightful place to put in. Bring your own or rent one and have it delivered here. While we do not suggest novice kayakers start on Eggemoggin Reach, guided tours are also available locally. Exploring the offshore islands can be a real adventure. We can arrange for you to rent kayaks to be deliverd to our own beach or you may sign up for a kayak tour from either Castine or nearby in Brooklin on Eggemoggin Reach.

Canoeing:

The lake is a quiet place to put in. Bring your own or rent one locally and have it delivered here.

Golf:

Island Country Club (11 miles away in Sunset, Maine on Deer Isle) or Castine Country Club courses are open to the public. White Birches in Ellsworth has 18 holes. Kebo Country Club in Bar Harbor is upscale and quite lovely, available by reservation.

Nature Preserves/Bird Sanctuaries/Public Parks/Off Shore Islands:

[Lilly pads at Holbrook Island Sanctuary's Fresh Pond.]

In Brooksville is Holbrook Island Sanctuary. On Deer Isle/Stonington are: Edgar M. Tennis Preserve, The Settlement Quarry Preserve, Shore Acres Preserve, and others.

For those who are keenly interested in Maine's off shore islands, members of Maine Island Trail Association receive the annual guidebook to the islands. The guidebook provides use information for the current season. It is extremely informative.

Blue Hill has a children's climbing equipment park. It is in a beautiful spot overlooking the water. Take a picnic. The Blue Hill Heritage Trust has a large land conservation program providing extensive conserved tracts which give the area much of its unspoiled charm. Blue Hill Mountain's Osgood Trail leads to the top of Blue Hill with spectacular vistas over the entire peninsula. There are several easy to moderate trails within the private confines of the Oakland House property.

Classes and Workshops:

WoodenBoat School: Great classes in woodworking and wooden boat building...in nearby Brooklin.
Haystack Mountain School of Crafts: Nationally recognized artists/teachers holding classes through the summer months.

Shopping:

[Blue Hill has galleries and shops in which to browse.]

There are wonderful boutiques in Stonington, Blue Hill, and Castine. A 5 minute drive away is Eggemoggin Country Store which sells a little of just about everything including the Wall Street Journal, gasoline and ice. For bigger stores and much more traffic guests may choose to drive (45 minutes away) to the the L.L.Bean Factory Outlet in Ellsworth. Ellsworth has well-known fast food type restaurants as well as national chain department stores.

Locally in Blue Hill is a One-Hour photo developing Center in Rite-Aid pharmacy, two grocery stores, a florist shop, a number of galleries, clothing shops, and two attractive book stores. One is Blue Hill Books . Brooksville has small shops, galleries, a post office, and Buck's Harbor Market which is open year-round.

Museums:

[The Holt House is an historic building in Blue Hill, Maine.]

Children's Discovery Museum in Bangor, Granite Museum in Stonington, the Holt House in Blue Hill, Oceanarium (lobster hatchery) in Trenton, Abbey Museum (of Native American history with a fabulous collection of artifacts) in Bar Harbor.

Art Galleries:

Numerous formal galleries, individual studios, and craft shops are sprinkled all across the Blue Hill Peninsula in the little towns of Brooksville, Brooklin, Deer Isle (The Turtle Gallery), Stonington (Jill Hoy Gallery), and Blue Hill (The Leighton Gallery). This area is reknowned for its lively artist colony and their high quality work. Online you can find original oil paintings of scenes familiar to Oakland House Cottages by the Side of the Sea guests (by artist Bryan Whitehead). Bryan's paintings are on view at his "In-Between Gallery" by appointment only and in Bar Harbor at the Argosy Gallery.

Lighthouses:

[Pumpkin Island Lighthouse is a privately owned gem in East Penobscot Bay.]

Lighthouses are tucked into craigy island outcroppings and mainland promontories throughout this peninsula. Pumpkin Island Lighthouse is visible from our shore. Innkeeper Jim Littlefield's great Uncle Charlie Babson was keeper of the light. The commission was awarded to him for his service to his country during the Civil War. Castine has a lighthouse which is owned by the town and rented as a private residence. Visitors have limited access to the grounds.

Scheduled Events:

Lobster Boat Races, 4th of July Parades, Retired Skipper's Race, Eggemoggin Reach Regatta, Blue Hill Country Fair, and The Common Ground Fair (in Unity, Maine).

Antique Shops:

Numerous! Several large groups shops. Big Chicken Barn is a huge two story converted chicken barn. There are many smaller shops with beautiful high quality antiques and collectibles. Leila Day's is in Castine. Many shops stay open year round.

Public Gardens and Gardening Stores/Nurseries:

Fabulous gardens dot the area: Woodlawn, Colonel Blacker's Estate in Ellsworth, Surry Gardens Nursery in Surry, and Thuya Garden on Mount Desert is very famous as is the Asticou Azalea Garden which has a pond and contemplative white sand zen garden.

Yacht Clubs and Boat Yards:

Bucks Harbor Yacht Club in Brooksville, Seal Cove Boat Yard on Cape Rosier in Brooksville, and Billings Marine in Stonington. Boats can be chartered at Bucks Harbor Marine.

Acadia National Park:
Hiking and biking trails, scenic overlook at Cadillac Mountain. Can be crowded during July and August. Plan to avoid rush hour traffic to and from Bar Harbor. Ask for the best route to get there when you are at Oakland House.

Public Boat Launching:

Available at the Public launching area in Bucks Harbor and Benjamin River.

Fresh water and salt water fishing:

Fishing licenses are easily available from nearby Eggemoggin Country Store. Registered guides are available to take you to the select spots.

Links:

Blue Hill Peninsula Chamber of Commerce

Or...
Do nothing in particular...just relax around Oakland House. Meander along the rocky shore, wade in tide pools, and look for starfish and baby crabs. Settle into a comfortable chair on the porch or by the fire. Hike the mossy trails or take a picnic to the beach.

[Artist paints the Rock Bound Chapel, Brooklin, Maine]

[Schooner sailing into Bucks Harbor, Brooksville, Maine.]

1-207-359-8521 relax@oaklandhouse.com