Guidebook for Bear Beach Maine
Food Scene
Great place for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Located in Machias just past the causeway. Seasonal outdoor seating. Awesome fish chowder and pies!
35 locals recommend
Helen's Restaurant
111 Main StGreat place for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Located in Machias just past the causeway. Seasonal outdoor seating. Awesome fish chowder and pies!
Thirsty Moose Cafe
32 Main StRivers Edge Drive In
95 Main StGreat place for fast-type food and ice cream
Jo's World Famous Schnitzel Wagon
Dublin StreetGreat place for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Not fancy but good food.
8 locals recommend
Bluebird Ranch Restaurant
78 Main StGreat place for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Not fancy but good food.
Pat's Pizza Machias
168 Main StVery good pizza! Order in or take out
Hing Garden
46 Main StFamily owned. Very good Chinese food
Whole Life Natural Market
4 Colonial WayOrganic food store and cafe
Open for dinner Thursday thru Saturday. Reservations required. Fine dining, closest to Bear Beach Maine
Riverside Inn & Restaurant
622 Main StOpen for dinner Thursday thru Saturday. Reservations required. Fine dining, closest to Bear Beach Maine
Buy lobsters right from the docks! You will find a black bucket in the shed. Take this with you to the lobster docks for the lobsters. Keep the lobsters in a cool, dry place until ready to cook. They will last for a number of hours if they are kept in the shade and out of fresh water (Do not let them get rained on!)
Little River Lobster Co
Maine 191Buy lobsters right from the docks! You will find a black bucket in the shed. Take this with you to the lobster docks for the lobsters. Keep the lobsters in a cool, dry place until ready to cook. They will last for a number of hours if they are kept in the shade and out of fresh water (Do not let them get rained on!)
Drinks & Nightlife
Skywalker's Bar and Grille
86 Main StBrew Pub type food
Essentials
Buy Fishing License
https://ww3.truevalue.com/pineos/Home.aspx
Hannaford Supermarket
149 Dublin StThis is the closest full grocery store to Bear Beach
Parks & Nature
Awesome all-rock beach. The way the tide comes into this area it almost acts as a rock polisher. Its best to go at lower tide for a better selection of rocks of all sizes and colors. Very unique beach!
26 locals recommend
Jasper Beach
Awesome all-rock beach. The way the tide comes into this area it almost acts as a rock polisher. Its best to go at lower tide for a better selection of rocks of all sizes and colors. Very unique beach!
Roque Bluffs State Park
145 Schoppee Point RdBeautiful beach!
Acadia National Park Pond
http://find.mapmuse.com/details/boat-ramps-maine/347462227/gardner-lake-public-boat-ramp
Directions to the public boat launch. Beautiful lake!
Gardner Lake
http://find.mapmuse.com/details/boat-ramps-maine/347462227/gardner-lake-public-boat-ramp
Directions to the public boat launch. Beautiful lake!
Beautiful hiking trail, takes you along the rugged shoreline with rocky cliffs and crashing surf. Takes about 3 hours
Western Head Preserve Cutler Maine
Destiny Bay RoadBeautiful hiking trail, takes you along the rugged shoreline with rocky cliffs and crashing surf. Takes about 3 hours
Amazing hiking trail that rivals anything found in Acadia. Possibly the most scenic trail along the east coast. Takes about 6 hours but you can take an abbreviated hike also. About half the hike is through the forest and half along the rugged shoreline with crashing surf.
12 locals recommend
Trailhead: Cutler Bold Coast Trail
425 ME-191Amazing hiking trail that rivals anything found in Acadia. Possibly the most scenic trail along the east coast. Takes about 6 hours but you can take an abbreviated hike also. About half the hike is through the forest and half along the rugged shoreline with crashing surf.
Sightseeing
Puffin Tours to Machias Seal Island May-mid August. Captain Andy Patterson is the only charter captain licensed to take people ON the island to view the puffin nesting grounds. He also does fishing charters. Located on Cutler Harbor
Bold Coast Charter Co.
2687-2699 Cutler RdPuffin Tours to Machias Seal Island May-mid August. Captain Andy Patterson is the only charter captain licensed to take people ON the island to view the puffin nesting grounds. He also does fishing charters. Located on Cutler Harbor
The best free tour you will ever take! (You do need a passport to cross over the bridge) tour President Roosevelts summer cottage. Be sure to ask about "Tea With Eleanor" before you go for times. (The first morning tour is free with tea, cookies and stories about Eleanor Roosevelt) Note that NB is in the Atlantic time zone (one hour later than EST)
26 locals recommend
Roosevelt Campobello International Park
459 Route 774The best free tour you will ever take! (You do need a passport to cross over the bridge) tour President Roosevelts summer cottage. Be sure to ask about "Tea With Eleanor" before you go for times. (The first morning tour is free with tea, cookies and stories about Eleanor Roosevelt) Note that NB is in the Atlantic time zone (one hour later than EST)
West Quoddy Head Light
973 South Lubec RoadThe eastern-most lighthouse in the US
Raye's Mustard Mill Museum
83 Washington StThe last stone-ground mustard mill in the US.
Shopping
Authentic old-time hardware store! Hardware, bulk spices, pottery, etc. On Thursdays they host a farmer's market in their basement. This store is certainly worth a visit!
Machias Hardware Co
25 Main StAuthentic old-time hardware store! Hardware, bulk spices, pottery, etc. On Thursdays they host a farmer's market in their basement. This store is certainly worth a visit!
Very cute gift shop and florist. Features locally-made items
Berry Vines Garden Blooms & Unique Finds
247 Main StVery cute gift shop and florist. Features locally-made items
An unexpected find in this small town. Extensive and amazing selection of wine and beer from all over the world. They also carry local food, cheese and craft items. Once a month they host a wine-tasting event.
14 locals recommend
The French Cellar
4 Colonial WayAn unexpected find in this small town. Extensive and amazing selection of wine and beer from all over the world. They also carry local food, cheese and craft items. Once a month they host a wine-tasting event.
This is where the locals shop. With 14 locations all throughout Maine, Mardens is one of the country's largest liquidators (but only located in Maine). Go to their website to find a location that might fit in with your travel plans. I have personally been to every location in the state (a lofty goal, but someone had to do it!) You have to be a bit of a scavenger to appreciate it; you may find nothing or a lot depending on the liquidation; anything from golf clubs to a hammer to a silk dress or toilet paper. The Scarborough location (closest to Portland) seems to get the higher-end clothing liquidations. It can be a fun thing to do on a rainy day! mardens.com
11 locals recommend
Marden's
564 Wilson StThis is where the locals shop. With 14 locations all throughout Maine, Mardens is one of the country's largest liquidators (but only located in Maine). Go to their website to find a location that might fit in with your travel plans. I have personally been to every location in the state (a lofty goal, but someone had to do it!) You have to be a bit of a scavenger to appreciate it; you may find nothing or a lot depending on the liquidation; anything from golf clubs to a hammer to a silk dress or toilet paper. The Scarborough location (closest to Portland) seems to get the higher-end clothing liquidations. It can be a fun thing to do on a rainy day! mardens.com
The locals shop here also. If you want a decent "Maine" sweatshirt at a good price, this is your place. They have locations throughout the state.
36 locals recommend
Reny's Department Store
175 High StThe locals shop here also. If you want a decent "Maine" sweatshirt at a good price, this is your place. They have locations throughout the state.
While the flagship/main store is in Freeport (a day trip), this outlet store in Ellsworth is pretty good and has a better selection of outlet items than the outlet store in Freeport. If you are driving through Ellsworth, its worth the stop.
49 locals recommend
L.L.Bean Ellsworth
150 High StWhile the flagship/main store is in Freeport (a day trip), this outlet store in Ellsworth is pretty good and has a better selection of outlet items than the outlet store in Freeport. If you are driving through Ellsworth, its worth the stop.
Wonderful hand-made chocolates from a little Peruvian lady. She also sells locally-made items and clothing and jewelry that she brings back from her trips to her homeland Peru. If she knows that you have not been there before, she will bring you samples of her delicious chocolates.
14 locals recommend
Monica's Chocolates
100 County RdWonderful hand-made chocolates from a little Peruvian lady. She also sells locally-made items and clothing and jewelry that she brings back from her trips to her homeland Peru. If she knows that you have not been there before, she will bring you samples of her delicious chocolates.
For years we drove by this huge, ugly, blue, round building. Finally our curiosity got the better of us and we discovered the home of the best blueberry pies ever! These are hand made wild blueberry pies (I generally buy the strousel topped frozen blueberry pie and bake it at the house) They also carry other various Maine items.
12 locals recommend
Wild Blueberry Land
1067 US-1For years we drove by this huge, ugly, blue, round building. Finally our curiosity got the better of us and we discovered the home of the best blueberry pies ever! These are hand made wild blueberry pies (I generally buy the strousel topped frozen blueberry pie and bake it at the house) They also carry other various Maine items.
Getting Around
Bangor International Airport
287 Godfrey BlvdClosest airport, 2 hours from Bear Beach Maine