Down East Magazine - Experience the Best of Maine

Nate Bacon fishing in his Grand Laker Canoe

The Lasting Legacy of the Grand Laker Canoe

The survival of the iconic boat is a matter of Maine sporting heritage — and long family history.

July 2025 Where in Maine? photo clue

Can You Name This Vast and Mucky Maine Metropolis?

Birds love it, and so do researchers, paddlers, bikers, and hikers.

2025 Down East Scavenger Hunt

The Great Maine Scavenger Hunt

Twenty-eight excursions all across the state, from classical concerts to mountain sunrises to roadside doughnuts, that add up to one fun-filled Maine summer.

Scoop of Spicy Rocky Road ice cream surrounded with nuts and marshmallows

62 Maine Ice Creams (and Other Frozen Treats) to Try This Summer

From popsicles to shaved ice to lots and lots of ice cream, dozens of frozen delights for a balmy, sun-drenched, blue-sky Maine summer.

whoopie pies on colorful plates

Celebrating 100 Years of Maine’s Beloved Whoopie Pie

The official state treat has been through a lot over the course of the past century, from interstate rivalries to political spats to corporate knock-offs.

The Magazine

Down East Magazine, July 2025

July 2025

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June 2025

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May 2025

April 2025 cover of Down East magazine: A bouquet of poppies and beets.

April 2025

The Latest

The garden behind Jane Donelon's shingled Cape in Brunswick, Maine

Exuberant Plantings Elevate a Rolling Brunswick Plot

All that remains of Jane Donelon's sloped lawn is a grassy path wending among flower beds planted in her free-spirited style.

a water-skiing team practicing their routine for the Maine Attraction, Maine’s only water-skiing show

In Sanford, Maine’s Only Water-Skiing Show Makes a Splash

By Sara Anne DonnellyPhotos by Michael D. WilsonFrom our July 2025 issue...

The University of Maine at Farmington Is a Gateway to the Future

The institution’s faculty empowers students to define their own path through personalized, interdisciplinary degree programs.

J and Clementine Cavanagh sitting outside of their renovated circe 1790 Federal in Phippsburg Maine

A Family Trades a Mobile Tiny House for a Solid Foundation in Phippsburg

The mini abode seemed a fine spot to ride out a renovation — until the no-see-ums invaded.

Sunset over Embden Pond, in Embden, Maine

Author Austin Taylor’s Favorite Maine Place

The St. Albans native enjoys writing at her family's camp on Embden Pond.

35 Things to Do in Maine This Summer

From festivals and fairs to marathons and boat races, there’s plenty to put on your calendar.

Food & Drink

sushi and chicken nanban in shoyu broth from Jin Sushi and Ramen in Saco, Maine

Ramen and Sushi Get Rolled into One at This Saco Restaurant

The small, casual spot is a standout in a food scene that doesn't want for great eats.

Pork potstickers, shrimp fresh rolls, loc lac, and chicken congee from Oun Lido's in Portland, Maine

Does Portland’s Oun Lido’s Live Up to the Hype?

The restaurant's Cambodian-inspired cooking received national acclaim after opening last year.

Maine doughnuts

Our Favorite Maine Doughnuts

From pomegranate frosted to classic chocolate, these are the doughnuts our staff loves the most.

Trending In Food & Drink

The 35 Maine-iest Foods

The 35 Maine-iest Foods

Scoop of Spicy Rocky Road ice cream surrounded with nuts and marshmallows

62 Maine Ice Creams (and Other Frozen Treats) to Try This Summer

Doughnuts from the Cookie Jar Pastry Shop.

Doughnuts in Maine: From Inception to Perfection

whoopie pies on colorful plates

Celebrating 100 Years of Maine’s Beloved Whoopie Pie

Experience Maine with Down East

Experience Maine with

Down East

Join us on a unique and authentic Maine adventure.

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Arts & Culture

The Willard Gallery, in Portland

Maine Galleries and Studios to Visit This Summer

Make the destinations on this list part of your itinerary the next time you’re looking to explore Maine’s arts scene.

a mock-up of UMaine's new $82 million Green Engineering and Materials building, slated to open late next year, will house the Factory of the Future, a 3D-printing manufacturing hub staffed with robots

A UMaine Engineer’s Vision of a Factory Staffed With Robots Will Soon Be a Reality

Habib Dagher is spearheading a first-of-its-kind 3D-printing manufacturing hub on the campus.

Cheryl Staples and her sea glass collection

Cheryl Staples Sees the World Through Rose-Colored (and Green and Blue) Glasses

Thirty years in, she says collecting beach treasures still buoys her.

Trending In Arts & Culture

Maine Novels to Add to Your Summer Reading List

6 Maine Novels to Add to Your Summer Reading List

Longfellow Books, Portland, Maine

7 Independent Bookstores That Maine Authors Love

100 Maine books

100 Books Every Lover of Maine Should Read

35 Things to Do in Maine This Summer

Staff Picks

Marin Skincare's Soothing Hydration Cream

Lotions & Moisturizers

Marin Skincare's Soothing Hydration Cream

USD 34.99

Pocket Flower Press

Art & Crafting Materials

Pocket Flower Press

USD 32.00

Acadia National Park Puzzle

Jigsaw Puzzles

Acadia National Park Puzzle

USD 32.00

Food Graters & Zesters

Garlic Grater

USD 30.00

Wild Maine Blueberry Loose Tea Gift Set

Tea & Infusions

Wild Maine Blueberry Loose Tea Gift Set

USD 29.99

Photography

Lynn Karlin posing for a photo in her Belfast Maine studio

Blooming Where She’s Planted

In her Belfast studio, still-life photographer Lynn Karlin puts vegetables on pedestals and poses flowers like fashion models, raising a humble garden haul to the realm of fine art.

Take Your Photography to the Next Level with Down East Staff Photographer Dave Waddell

Explore and photograph Maine with Down East Adventures.

Rose Barboza’s Favorite Maine Place

When she needs a breather, the founder of Black Owned Maine heads to Portland’s Eastern Prom.

Photograph Maine with

Down East

Join our photographers for exclusive workshops.

Details & Reservations

From Our Partners

Dr. Jay Knudsen of Great East Dental Associates

What’s New in Dental Technology and How Can It Improve Your Overall Health?

University of Maine at Augusta students John Robinson, Bruno Mendes De Freitas, and Sammy Thornton

Balancing Learning With Life at UMA

Bethany Tyler, assistant executive director and sales director at Avita of Brunswick

Ask the Expert: Visiting a Memory Care Community

Greenhouse-like structures protect the plants from ambient rainfall at the he Wyman’s Wild Blueberry Research and Innovation Center at the University of Maine

Planting for the Future at the University of Maine

A (Pool) Party with The Barn Yard