I have the good fortune to be able to stay with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law on the coast of northern Maine near Gouldsboro for a week each summer. This year I decided to take two separate day trips into Canada.
The first trip was to St. Andrews in New Brunswick. It was about a three hour easy drive up Route 1, crossing the border in St. Stephen (near Calais, ME), and back down the peninsula on the other side of the St. Croix River via Route 127 to St. Andrews. The primary attraction for the day in St. Andrews was the Kingsbrae Garden, which is a 27-acre public garden. Some of the areas include a sculpture garden where sculptures are surrounded by a coordinating garden, perennial gardens, rose gardens, formal gardens, scents and sensitivity gardens, sustainability gardens, peace gardens, and much more. Kingsbrae also has animals and children’s activities, plus a nice place onsite for a picnic lunch. There is a café with a terrace if you prefer more formal dining.
In addition to the Kingsbrae Garden, St. Andrews has a downtown area with shops, restaurants, and places to stay. Surrounded on three sides by water, area businesses offer whale watching, fishing, kayaking and other water adventures. St. Andrews is a great way to do a day trip into Canada from Maine. Make sure you have your passport or passport card with you.
A shorter day trip (about 2 hours) is to Campobello Island, also in New Brunswick. You may recall from the history books that Campobello was the summer home for President Roosevelt and you can tour the house and grounds in what is now Roosevelt Campobello International Park. To get there, take Route 1 past Machias, to Route 189 to Lubec, and then over the FDR International Bridge to the Border Crossing for Campobello Island (again, bring your passport or passport card). Route 774 runs the length of the island and is well marked for the attractions. The views throughout the island are beautiful.
My favorite part of Campobello Island is the Head Harbour Lightstation, which is at the far point of the island in Wilson’s Beach. This is the oldest surviving lighthouse in New Brunswick and is also known as the East Quoddy Light. The grounds are the classic rugged rocks and low trees for the area, and to get to the lighthouse itself you go up and down a series of metal ladders imbedded in the rocks and cross a beach that’s only accessible at low tide. Bring a picnic lunch to eat out at the lighthouse and enjoy the beautiful view. But, watch the tide, or you’ll be stuck out there until the next low tide.
On the way back, be sure to stop in Lubec, ME (the easternmost point in the U.S.) to see the West Quoddy Lighthouse. Also, stop at Monica’s Chocolates on Rt. 189 in Lubec for a special treat and Wild Blueberry Land on Route 1 in Columbia, ME to pick up a box of Maine blueberries and some of the best blueberry pie around.
Even when you are away from home, keep your eye open for interesting day trips from where you are staying. Often these side trips are inexpensive and a great way to explore new places.