Guide to Maine Cruising – Stonington

By PMY Editors

January 9, 2017

Stonington

One of the joys of cruising Maine is the chance to unplug for awhile. But when you get an itch to connect with the world again, you can come back to the surface gradually in a small town like Stonington on Deer Isle in Penobscot Bay. There are no marinas, but there are nice anchorages, plus moorings at places like Billings Diesel & Marine, which is also a good stop for repairs. There aren’t many shops, but most businesses are located on Main Street, which is short but includes the local library, where you’ll find boaters taking advantage of the free Wi-Fi access on the porch. While there, call over to Aragosta, a farm-to-table restaurant within walking distance, and reserve a table on deck for lunch, as there’s a great view of the harbor and of the Maine lobster boats moored there. Stonington is one of Maine’s highest-producing lobstering harbors with more than 300 boats. So it makes sense to follow lunch with a brisk walk over to the eastern end of town, to watch the staff at work at the Stonington Lobster Co-op. Or, you can head west along Sand Beach Road to a public beach that’s worth mentioning here because it’s one of a few in this region with sand—the Maine version, that is, with small pebbles. Finish off the afternoon with some time in the kayak or dinghy. Deer Isle Thoroughfare, with its many small islands, is a soothing place to paddle, and to pat yourself on the back for making time to get away from it all.