Okay, so you’ve booked a place to stay (perhaps a cozy inn or a campground?) and have booked a kayak tour at Osprey’s Echo.   What else can we do for your days on Deer Isle?

We at Osprey’s Echo see ourselves as guides, both on and off the water.   We love this place and it’s fun to tell people about all the fun things there are to do. We aim to be guides, both on and off the water.

First things first – people don’t usually come here for the nightlife.  Lobster fishermen go to bed early and get up early.  Most lights are out by 7 or 8pm and they get up around 3am to get ready to hit the water.  Good news is that you can get something at the grocery store downtown Stonington at 4am if you’d like 🙂

However – there are a few options worth knowing about for evening entertainment.  The Deer Isle Dance Hall & Barbecue is a new (last year) addition to the island.  They put on a great barbecue for dinner and have regular acts on stage – some really good music in a lovely rebuilt venue.  The owners are nice people and we recommend them highly.   

There is also the Stonington Opera House.  In a beautiful old building overlooking the harbor you can see all kinds of performances – plays, concerts, movies.  Check their website for the latest offerings.

That’s about it for nightlife!

Outdoor daytime fun presents a variety of options:

1. Nervous Nellie’s Jams & Jellies

This is a spot I recommend to everyone, but it’s hard to describe.  Yes, they are known for their outstanding home made jams and jellies.  However, there is much more to this place. Ann and Peter Beerits run this fine establishment, covering many acres on Sunshine Road.  Peter is an artist with a unique approach – he collects what many of us would call junk, and makes incredible sculptures from them.  I don’t mean just little sculptures for your living room…he has created a town in the woods.  His work includes a jail, a workshop, a general store and even a church.   This place is a must see for any visitor.  Oh, and you can stop in the store after wandering through the woods, and buy some of Anne’s wonderful jam and jelly.

2. Hiking!

Acadia is known for it’s wonderful hiking and that is well deserved, but Deer Isle has some beautiful hikes of its own, thanks to the Island Heritage Trust (IHT).  You can pick up a map of the island with all of their hikes detailed, at IHTs headquarters over on 15A.  Here are some of our favorites and most popular:

• Barred Island:  this is one of the favorite for visitors.  You take an easy hike through the woods and can cross the beach at low tide(make sure to check the tides beforehand!) to Barred Island.  It’s also a nice place for a swim.  Note: no dogs permitted on this one.
• Tennis Preserve:  this one is our favorite, for two reasons.  1 It meanders along the water, providing great views, and 2. Dogs are allowed!   Tennis Preserve (named after Edgar Tennis, no racquet sports) is located on Sunshine Road, right near Nervous Nellies, so a great opportunity for a combo afternoon,
• Churchland Preserve:  this hike is a pretty romp through the woods, ending up at the Lily Pond

These three are favorites, but there are a number of other hikes – look at IHTs website for more detail.

3. Swimming

Let’s be honest – most people don’t come to Deer Isle for the beach scene.  You can get that down south.  However, there are a few places worth visiting, with a nice opportunity for a swim:

• Sand Beach:   yes, it’s a clever name.  Technically it’s a sandy beach, and it’s popular on a warm and sunny day, located on the west side of Stonington.
• Barred Island:  as mentioned above, there’s a nice opportunity for a swim at the end of this hike, depending on the tides.
• Lily Pond:  this is your fresh water option and it’s a great place to take the kids (and the dog) for a swim.

So you see, there is a lot to do on this gorgeous island, either before or after your paddle with Osprey’s Echo. There are also a variety of very cool art galleries around the island.    Call us any time for more advice and ideas.