This Unknown East Coast Island Feels Like Iceland

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Forget what concerning the East Coast for a second. Leave behind the clusters of city sprawl and Florida’s vibrant seashore cities.

There’s a map-dot island hardly anybody appears to speak about that offers off severe Iceland vibes, with otherworldly landscapes, edge-of-the-world vibes, and, in fact, puffin excursions — yep, proper right here within the U.S.

It’s true; you don’t should enterprise off to certainly one of Europe’s costliest nations to see nature’s cutest flock of birds, nor do you must cowl your eyes strolling previous the world’s solely museum devoted to male anatomy.

While this island hideaway could not have borderline addictive sizzling canine topped with pylsusinnep, its seafood choice is unmatched, providing much better choices than fermented shark (sorry, Vikings — it’s simply not good).

Is it a precise reproduction of Iceland, just like the Faroe Islands?

No, but it surely’s the closest factor the U.S. has, with open skies for stargazing, rugged shoreline, quirky cottages, and extra — harking back to the Iceland I visited in 2015 earlier than it felt found by the plenty.

We at Travel Off Path are sure that should you give this unheard-of island in Maine a good shake, you received’t come residence wishing you’d spent a fortune to go all the way in which to Reykjavik.

Puffin Season Kicks Off In May 🐧

If there’s one factor topping bucket lists around the globe, it is seeing puffins up shut and private of their pure habitat.

But the misnomer appears to be that the majority Americans assume they should fly ‘throughout the pond’ to do exactly that.

That’s merely not the case. There are literally a number of locations throughout North America the place puffins flock ashore every year — coastal Maine being one of many high spots for seasonal excursions.

In truth, one of many greatest attracts of visiting Monhegan Island this time of yr is its entry to close by Eastern Egg Rock, the place it is stated as much as 150 nesting pairs of puffins will be noticed every season.

Maine’s hidden island, even locals could not know, could not have been in your 2026 Bingo card, but it surely’s not too late to pencil it in.

This blissful island, away from any sliver of metropolis chaos, gives a number of puffin tour operators — the earliest of which is about to kick off in May:

Pack Your Camera For Monhegan’s ‘Interstellar’ Landscapes

The excellent news is that this island feels so untouched past the welcome of the shared namesake city of Monhegan that you will really feel like you have got all of it to your self (and the estimated 65 folks that reside right here).

The unhealthy information is leisure drone use is heavily restricted, which can clarify why TikTokers have not flooded this place making epic movies certainly to invade your algorithm.

Whether you are old skool with a Polaroid or mastered iPhone digicam wizardry, Monhegan Island’s dramatic cliffs and moody seascapes will depart you doing a double take as should you’re on Interstellar’s movie set.

One unmissable place to scope out is The Headlands, situated on the rear aspect of the island, boasting among the highest ocean cliffs of Maine and simply akin to Iceland’s Dyrhólaey and Reynisfjara (minus the black sand).

Getting Here & Where To Stay

As you may’ve imagined, being so small, Monhegan Island is barely accessible by boat.

Unfortunately, you may’t merely fly into Portland and hop aboard a ferry. It’s a bit extra of an journey.

Getting right here requires departing from Port Clyde or New Harbor aboard one of many aforementioned tour operators, additionally providing puffin excursions.

Once you arrive, you may discover related quirky, colourful cottages such as you see dotted round Iceland.

Our high decide for a memorable keep is The Cracked Mug. I imply, what sounds homier than that?

You Won’t Find Anywhere Stateside That Feels Safer

Earlier this yr, we reported that Maine was ranked as America’s safest state, irrespective of should you’re vacationing in certainly one of many charming coastal cities like Kennebunkport or the most important metropolis, Portland.

For instance, most crime tends to occur in bigger populations, however Portland is at the moment scoring as 85/100 on our real-time security index — one of many highest scores for any U.S. vacation spot.

If you actually give it some thought, if Portland is that secure, an under-the-radar island with lower than 70 year-round residents is a kind of traditional locations you hear about on old-timey sitcoms, “where everybody leaves their doors unlocked”.

Not to proceed on this Iceland practice, however the comparisons preserve chuggin’ alongside for this unicorn vacation spot.

Maine is the most secure state, and Iceland is broadly thought to be the world’s safest countries yr in and yr out.

So whereas Monhegan will not be a carbon copy, it faucets into that very same sense of calm with equally placing, offbeat attractions — from astounding coastal surroundings to the seen stays of the D.T. Sheridan shipwreck, likened to Iceland’s Sólheimasandur airplane wreck, one of many nation’s most sought-after photo-ops.

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