Island Attractions and Activities
This page should give you an idea of some of the things there are to do out on the island and what accomodations you might want to consider when traveling to it. Additionally, here is our informal calendar of activities in the area that may be of interest in determining the timing of a visit.
Dining and Shopping
These two staples of vacationing are in scarce supply on Swan’s Island. There are no restaurants on Swan’s Island to speak of, although TIMS can be counted on to provide breakfast, lunch and dinner with a limited menu. The pizza there is remarkably good though and worth ordering on days it is available. If the urge for a more varied lunch or dinner off island is strong though, we can run out on the boat to many options less than a 30 minute ride away.
If dining is restricted then souvenir shopping is similarly limited. You won’t see streets full of merchants like in Bar Harbor. Your shopping will be pretty much limited to the gift shop at the lighthouse (pretty good selection), Iver Studio (antiques) and a selection of TIMS baseball hats at their store. The Swan's Island Fisherman's Co-op can be a good source of local swag in the form of co-op branded apparel as well.
Food and grocery shopping does present a more accommodating solution. TIMS has pretty much all you could want for when shopping for food. It is very limited in brand variety but it covers a decent range and is good stuff. The docks are also a place to score very fresh lobster and scallops.
Hiking Trails
Swan's Island has many trails to hike. In some ways they are are a microcosm of the trails of Acadia with you being able to find woodland trails, bold waterfront vistas and hilltop views all in a compact space. They cross a mix of public and private land so please be considerate on your hikes. Many trails are mapped here but some some are not. Notably, the Noah's Ballast hike , the Blue Rock trail and the shortcut down the power lines to the ferry terminal are not. The Quarry has a few short trails around it that access some remarkable views of the harbor and islands to the west and south.
On Island Attractions
There are several noted attractions such as the light house, lobster museum and library detailed on swansisland.org
Surrounding Island Destinations
The waters around Swan's Island are reputed to be the best boating on the east coast. Some of the islands in this region are within reach by a "mail boat" or via a ferry. Many do not have this access though and getting to them requires a private boat. We have a boat moored in Mackerel Cove, so we may be able to provide access for island visitors to these islands for some local sightseeing. Our summary of some of the area islands is described in the following link. A very comprehensive list of island preserves is also available on the Maine Coast Heritage Trust preserves page. In addition to the islands, there are a variety of wooden schooners that ply the waters around Swan's Island and provide a unique viewing opportunity from the harbor or out in the bay.
Acadia
Acadia National Park is just a ferry ride over to Bass Harbor and a few miles of driving, or shuttle bus, away. It is a spectacular place to explore and well worth a day or two of your time. Over the past 20 years we have hiked all the peaks, and most of the trails, and can provide suggestions depending on what you are interested in doing there. Additionally our bookshelves cover a range of topics about Acadia including trail maps and reviews, history and geology.
Stargazing
"With the tranquility of the night and the majesty of the stellar array, stargazing becomes an almost hypnotic experience, like watching dancing flames in a fireplace." -Terrence Dickinson, Nightwatch.
Maine's coast line is home to some of the last pristine night sky east of the Mississippi River. Swan's Island is a particularly good spot for stargazing, even better than typical on the coastline, without any real light from coastal towns and villages. Plan on going out in the evening, before the moon rises or after it sets, and seeing the Milky Way and a density of stars in the sky that can be disorienting to some and awe inspiring to most all.
