Monhegan Island has been a destination for artists for centuries. It’s easy to see why. The island is small, just a mile and a half long by a mile wide. Vehicles are restricted and most everyone gets around by simply walking. The harbor side of the island features a small working fishing village. The tiny main street is lined with homes from the 19th and late 18th centuries, most with beautiful, well-loved gardens and dooryards. The cliff side is wild and rugged, without a sign of human habitation. Some of the tallest cliffs on the east coast of North America can be found here, rising some 160 feet straight out of the ocean. Even in the height of summer, peace can be found in many places on the island. There are over 17 miles of hiking trails that lead through the famous Cathedral Woods, down to Lobster Cove, and to the dramatic promontories such as Whitehead, Blackhead, and Burnt Head, among many other special spots on the island. Perhaps the most beautiful place to stand is on Lighthouse Hill, where you get a panoramic overlook of the entire village, along with the rugged, impressive profile of Manana Island just offshore. The lighthouse itself is striking in its collection of interconnected wings and outbuildings, with a shapely dory parked beside it. Being 13 miles out to sea and surrounded by ocean on all sides makes the light on Monhegan a wonder. You’ll see artists out at all times of day, most of them with easels and paintbrushes, trying to put down what makes this place so special.
Port Clyde is the most common port of departure for Monhegan, and a wonder in its own right. It’s a picturesque fishing village surrounding a harbor filled with working boats and small islands. You’ll see Maine’s famous lobster industry up close here. One of Maine’s most beautiful lighthouses, Marshall Point Light, is nearby. Its western exposure offers a stunning sunset view and the grounds offer many opportunities for making interesting photographs.