Features
A Summer Place
Even during the high season, Pemaquid Beach moves at its own luxuriously slow pace.
Mantled in Fire and Smoke
One hundred and fifty years ago, the United States was saved at the Battle of Gettysburg. At most of the decisive points of the battle, Maine soldiers stopped the Rebels in their tracks.
Kineo
A new guide shows you how to climb Moosehead Lake’s famed mountain in the footsteps of Thoreau.
How To Climb Kineo
John Gibson explains how to summit this Moosehead Lake mountain.
Best of Maine: Outdoors
Surf in Wells. Zip line down Sugarloaf. Have Acadia all to yourself (well, almost).
Best of Maine: Food and Drink
Snack on creton at the Canadian border. Gift a box of island chocolate. Eat a tempura-fried whoopie pie.
Best of Maine: Family
Sprint across floating lobster crates. Build a fire without matches. Rent a VIP limo for your dog.
Best of Maine: Culture
Listen to the perfect playlist. Tour Homer’s studio. Meet your L.L.Bean boyfriend.
Best of Maine: Lodging
Sleep overlooking Camden Harbor. Relax in a tree house spa. Camp the easy way in Brownfield.
Best of Maine: Home and Garden
Decorate with vintage Americana goods. Hide away in Longfellow’s Garden. Find Down East flavor in Perry.
Best of Maine: Self
Soak your feet while drinking tea. Be a senior in college. Join a sports team.
Best of Maine Readers’ Choice
Mainers are nothing if not opinionated, and Down East readers are no exception. Around 2,500 of you cast your ballots for the fourth annual Down East Readers’ Choice Awards. As you read over the list, we’re sure you will recognize your favorites among the dozens of categories. You also may find some surprises. Check out the results — and don’t forget to let us know what you think on Facebook!
Departments
Where in Maine?
Can you identify this agrarian artwork?
Editor’s Note
Best of Maine
The Mail
Letters to the editor
Your Maine
Where do you go to celebrate the Fourth of July?
What’s Up?
Maine watermen were exercising their abs long before paddleboards.
What’s in a Picture?
A Fish Story
Fighting Over Fireworks
Just two years after consumer fireworks were legalized in Maine, a move is under way to ban them again.
Aw, Shucks
Beattie Quintal remains the one to beat in the Maine State Clam Shucking Contest.
Stylish Steel
A contemporary angular home in Falmouth is the perfect — albeit unusual — meld of industrial and natural.
Tour des Fleurs
Get inspiration for your patch of green by touring some of the prettiest gardens in Maine.
The Small, Slimy Slug
Upon close inspection, this ubiquitous garden pest is a curious and underappreciated specimen.
The Horse Whisperer
Farrier-bard Fred Bowers waxes eloquent about horses and all they’ve taught him.
Fee Simple Absolute
After losing his son, a father questions whether there is anything we can ever truly possess.
The White Barn Inn
By Virginia M. Wright
Photographed by Douglas Merriam
An American Tale
Maria Padian draws on Lewiston’s experience to tell a twenty-first century immigrant story for teenagers.
Mainer’s Ale-manac
Talking pubs, Prohibition, and pints with Josh Christie, author of the new book Maine Beer: Brewing in Vacationland.
Sweet Sounds of Summer
For seventy-six years, young musicians have entertained audiences while honing their craft at the New England Music Camp. Now the camp has ambitious plans to become a year-round school and concert venue.
July Calendar
Go here. Do this. See that.
From Our Archives: July 2002
A Look Back at Down East Eleven Years Ago