What to do on a hot day on route 1?! Polar Treat all the way! This is an easy stop to make, plenty…read moreof parking and seating available. Large variety on the menu from food to ice cream. I just wanted a sweet treat today and cannot turn down the chance for some real Maine maple so the maple twist it was! It the spot! Quick friendly service in a cozy atmosphere!

We are in Robbinston ME and went looking for ice cream. Polar Treat sells Hood, Giffords, and…read moreShaker Pond brand hard ice cream. The majority of their hard flavors are Giffords. The servings are massive! A hard serve kiddie, described on their menu as 1 scoop, is definitely at least two scoops, each serving size is larger than the last with pricing increasing accordingly. A kiddie is $3.50 and so on. The staff are friendly, fast, and efficient. The place is strictly take out for both good and ice cream however they do have a food hall with screened in windows you can sit inside to eat your order. Everything is clean, and nicely decorated! We ordered four ice creams in cups and a shake. The smalls were at least three scoops. Giffords Ice cream is ok. Hood ice cream is meh. None of us ordered Shaker Pond flavors. They are cash only and there is an ATM on site. The business has been serving up treats for 70 years! They serve food as well; we only ordered ice cream. They are right on historic route one, which you can follow along the coast of Maine for a gorgeous drive!

Always a good time when you swing into Raye's to grab some of your favorite mustard! There are…read moreplenty of options to choose from here for whatever your flavor desire may be! I always like to grab one of the mix packs and some of the originals as well, but there are some amazing specialty options too! Always an adventure. Was able to play the plinko board this year during Black Friday as well for some added fun! Don't pass this option up when in town!

Who knew that when I spent several days up in Eastport this summer, I'd end up getting a bunch of…read moremy Christmas shopping done? Thanks to Raye's Mustard--a storefront right downtown featuring allll of their mustards and more. It's amazing that Raye's makes their mustards RIGHT THERE, in Eastport--and not only that, the same family has done so for over 100 years. Everything is handcrafted with a stone-ground mustard mill and made in small batches. If you're a mustard aficionado you'll find everything from plain yellow mustards to various kinds of stone-ground; mustards made with beer, and others with wine; spicy mustards, sweet mustards, peppery mustards; seasonal blends including things like (of course) Maine blueberries and cranberries. What's great is that you can buy regular-sized jars and also little ones, and there are various sets and gift baskets to choose from too. And of course, you can sample anything you want! The staff are all super friendly and knowledgeable, and just ask for a cracker or pretzel with whatever you want to try, and they'll oblige. One thing I should augment here is the use of the term "plain yellow mustard," above: Rayes' versions of the classic yellow (for all of you who, like me, grew up on French's) include the Down East Schooner as well as the Aroostock Gold, and WOW. It's like imagine all the best addictive qualities of French's and punch up and freshen up the tanginess! So basically I came away with big box of mustards that will be shared out for the holidays--I'm delighted to have been able to pick them up right there at the source, but the good news is that you can order online, too!

I absolutely adore this place! The country setting down a side road, far from traffic makes the…read moreexperience so quiet and rustic. The owners are both sweet and what you would expect from down east Maine couple. For blueberry picking it is bet to call ahead to ensure that someone is home. I forgot to call the day before so when no one answered the phone in my way over I was chancing whether they would be around. What luck! They were home, working tirelessly on the conveyor belt that is in their old garage. When I parked my car I was greeted by an old black lab ( I have a huge soft spot for black labs). I greeted him with head pats and ear scratches. The wife approached me and I asked if I could rake some blueberries. She said I could and went to get her husband to have him bring me to a good spot. I was given an overview of how to rake since it had been a year since I last visited their farm. When left to my own devices, I took in the quiet surroundings, the smell of blueberries, and the soft breeze coming over the large field of berries. What tranquility! I began my raking with first novice representation and soon starting to feel like an old pro. It doesn't take a lot to get the hang of it. In about 40 minutes or less I had picked two flats worth. I pulled my wagon over to the garage where the fun part began. The husband lugged the flats to the top of the conveyor belt. My instructions were to stand at the lower part and pick out the stems and gross stuff closer to me. After one round we took the ones on the far end and did it again. I enjoyed being a big part of all the processes which also helped the price(big fan of that). I had brought my own containers, so I didn't have pint boxes or too many ziplock bags bumping around in my car, which was a huge help and I recommend. Everyone must go here! Such a wonderful experience that I have made into an annual event.

Machias Hardware is a mom-and-pop operation sitting in the middle of Machias's little stretch of…read moredowntown. It carries a modest selection of hardware store essentials, but is superb for pantry goods and supplies. They have a great selection of herbs, grains, teas, some health foods, local goods, and all at a great price. They also carry a decent selection of cookware for both indoors and out, making this a great one-stop for your kitchen needs, and the best place to go in Machias. I go here whenever I run out of a spice, and always find a few extra things while I am at it. Its a good thing Machias is too small for a Trader Joe's. This is one of those great local stores that larger chains kill.

This is no ordinary hardware store. It's a great place to peek in to a few local food items like…read moreRays mustards and local soda pops like blueberry and burdock and dandelion flavors. There's a lot of stoneware, pots and baskets too along with the regular hardware stuff. I could have easily spent a long leisurely spell there.

This cafe is just off Main Street in downtown Milbridge (in the former River Lily building)…read more Reasonably priced menu items for breakfast & lunch. A great addition to downtown! * This is a personal review & doesn't necessarily reflect the views of Commercial Forest Products, the Upland, California based hardwood lumber company

Fantastic find! Wonderful ambiance and great food and coffee. Got breakfast sandwiches, cortado,…read morecappuccinos. A labor of love. Really charming. Spoke to the owner who told us the history of the old building. Gear stop on the way to see campo bello.

Cute little shop filled with all kinds of souvenirs ! The owner is super nice and friendly ! I…read morepurchased some post cards and she even had stamps available for purchase so I could just drop them at the Lubec post office ! Just passing through Lubec from the Oxford Hills in western Maine ! Highly recommend !

We went to see the West Quoddy Lighthouse a couple of months ago and it was monumental for us…read morebecause it is located at the easternmost part of the US. We just had a cross-country drive from WA this summer and just couldn't believe we actually made it! :D Wanted to get some t-shirts at the lighthouse gift shop but they were already out of my son's size and getting ready to close up for the season. Was delighted to see this cute gift shop on our way back to the highway! Stopped by and was greeted warmly by the shop's owner, Junia. Ended up buying a lot of nice things including fleece vests for the three of us with the lighthouse logo, delicious chocolate covered blue berries, magnets and a dish towel. Junia told us we could also order online. We'll be browsing the gift shop website for gift ideas this Christmas!

Stopped here for a coffee and hoped I would find a decent pastry. Well I ordered the blueberry…read morescone and a couple of plain croissants to go plus a cappuccino. Coffee was good as was the croissant but I the scone was heavy and did not taste of blueberry so I would not reorder that. Plain croissants were ok Views of the river and hayfields are quite beautiful. There is one table outside and plenty inside in addition to the counter inside which also has some nice views. Service was polite and helpful but indoors is not wheelchair accessible as there is a step to get inside and the parking area is gravel.

The loveliest spot, most delicious, local/organic ingredients (down to the butter & sea salt…read moreharvested right from the nearby ocean), yummy pastries and ployes, and sweetest people. They are passionate about bringing people together, and have curated the most beautiful spot. Do yourself a favor and come here, you will not regret it!

Like many places in downeast Maine, they offer multiple services in one location. Expressions is…read moresuch a place and shares the florist shop with a tech place plus they sell some baked goods and coffee and gifts for the traveler. For the most part, they are not selling crap, so you can get something to bring back that won't just collect dust. They also offer locally roasted coffee and locally produced salt.

I received the most glorious floral arrangement today from Expressions Flowers & Gifts. The…read moreflowers and greenery were super fresh and exquisitely positioned in a basket. This was a bereavement order and its beauty has brought smiles to an otherwise sad occasion.