This is a mix of the write up of the Prince Cafe and the Campobello Museum -- The food in the cafe…read morewas good though the view from the cafe's porch: WOW! The berry salad was just the right size, and the dill sauce that came with a Panini: Also WOW! Maybe we were in a tremendously good mood because the sun was shining and the people who gave the tours were very knowledgeable about the Roosevelt family and the story of Canada and the United States, but it really was a memorable location. I wouldn't hesitate to go back.

Students of International Relations may be familiar with a phenomenon called "Soft Power…read moreDiplomacy". Often this takes the form of international media programming and information distribution that may be criticized (rightly or wrongly) as propaganda, often because of its asymmetrical nature (to its intellectual critics, as a means of broadcasting the narratives of "Empire" at the exclusion of individual experiences). We might take such examples as the U.S. Agency for Global Media and its oversight of Voice of America. However, such Soft Power Diplomacy can also take more bilateral forms, in which two sovereign states emphasize their mutual contributions over the years, with the motivating principle being that a history of good relations makes for a future of good relations. Funded by the governments of the two participating countries, Campobello Island's Roosevelt Campobello International Park (located in New Brunswick, Canada) provides a fruitful and demonstrative example of positive bilateral relations that are maintained through Soft Power Diplomacy of this type. Occasionally, as with many historical museums in its genre, the more problematic aspects of history are swept under the rug (such as FDR's emergence as a rising star in the Democratic Party at a time when it was known largely as a party of southern segregationists such as Woodrow Wilson and Josephus Daniels, or - also a thorny issue - FDR's wartime persecution of Japanese-Americans). To address these matters, however, is not the point of this museum. Rather, it is to build on FDR's reputation as a wartime president who overcame great odds (both personal and political) and in so doing to emphasize goodwill between Canada and the United States. In this, the Roosevelt Campobello National Park is successful. Guided tours are provided of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's summer home, and there is a Living History presentation available by an actor portraying First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, herself elevated to legendary status as one of the most powerful and influential First Ladies of the United States in history. Both of these features are conveniently close to the park-and-museum's in-house restaurant and cafe, on the lower floor of a lovely little cottage overlooking the water. In the main lobby and gift shop are placards that discuss Canada's aid to stranded American travelers during 9/11 as well as both wartime military cooperation and peacetime agreements between Canada and the United States (such as USMCA, the renegotiated version of NAFTA developed and ratified under the prior US presidential administration). This park and museum are worth attending, though with the same critical thought that ought to be applied in any Public History setting. In this case, Public History serves as an item in both countries' diplomatic toolkit. To this purpose, the museum and park certainly achieve their intent.

A friend mailed me a flyer for Captain Riddle's Whale Watch Cruises, and as it was a girls weekend…read moreto take pictures at first light (Lubec, ME is the Eastern most point on the continental US) we decided to pack our passports, and add a Canadian fishing/whale watching trip to the agenda (Campobello Island is just over the bridge from Lubec. Seriously, you need a passport to drive five minutes away). I don't think that we had ever been on a commercial Whale Watch, and Holly wanted to fish, so it was win/win. My sister Holly (shh... don't tell her I'm adopted) and I grew up on Maine's amazing Penobscot Bay - we take the sea and all of it's beauty for granted sometimes. Our trip with Brandon on the Captain Riddle's Whale Watch Cruise was amazing. All we could talk about on the drive home was planning to bring the whole family for a cruise. We could imagine them on the boat, laughing, watching the porpoises surface and dive, the eagles (both Bald and Brown) literally soaring overhead, the seals sunning themselves on the rocks, with the light houses in the distance bearing witness. I can't help but gush, it really was THAT amazing. Did I mention that we were on the sunset cruise? It was a small intimate trip, we had six adults and four children with us. This was the trip of a lifetime for the kids. They were so excited that all they could do was grab and point whenever they saw some new sea creature. Did I mention that the trip was even more delightful because excitement is infectious. We were so close to a minke whale that all one woman could do was squeal and say, "I am so excited I think I am going to pee myself" (don't worry, she didn't have an accident. there is a head (bathroom) right there on the boat - she made it in time!), She was so excited that she forgot to push start when she was trying to video the whale. As the sun set, and the lights of Eastport, Maine twinkled on the horizon, Brandon piloted the boat to the perfect spot, and we dropped our fishing lines in the water. Within 10 minutes, one of the boys caught 3 mackerel. What a thrill for an 11 year old boy from Alberta, Canada who, before that afternoon, had never even seen the ocean. (this is the stuff of childhood memories) Holly caught a mackerel and three herring. I caught a herring, and immediately called to Brandon in typical girly girl fashion and asked him to take it off the hook and throw it back in the water. (Holly was horrified, and I will catch grief about this for years to come) It seems that I have no problem gutting and cooking fish, but catching them is a bit much for me. Captain Brandon was my knight in shining armor, and saved the day. (he even filleted the fish at the end of the trip for the people who were going to take their catch home). We are already planning our trip back. Next time, we'll bring the whole extended family (siblings, kids, spouses, grandmother) and I'll take more pictures to scrapbook memories of an amazing 2 1/2 hours so we can reminisce and fondly remember it for the rest of our lives. I've added some of my pictures, so you can see what I am writing about. Let the pictures justify my flowery prose. I promise, my next Yelp review will be written as a cynical NYC Girl - but thanks to Captain Riddle, this cynical NYC girl who takes notes from Dorothy Parker took a vacation and found her inner Judith McNaught.

We spent an excellent morning out on the bay. It ended up being just our family on the boat for the…read more10 AM departure. The close dock meant we didnt have to travel far to see the wildlife. The captain was friendly and informative. We were able to see seals, porpoises, eagles, cormorants and a minke whale.

I'm from Maine. I recreate in the outdoors all year round. I have seen and experienced a lot of the…read morebest of Maine and this is at the top of the best. Holy smokes. We had a perfect day, went ashore on the island, birds EVERYWHERE. The crew was great especially Abby. She was knowledgeable, knew all the bird species, knew the local history. Just great info source. She and the crew were pleasant, friendly, and safety conscious. Is it pricey? Yup. But it's a 5 hour excursion to a wild place jammed with amazing wildlife. Just get up there and do it. But sells out fast so plan ahead!

We went to the Village of Cutler today in hopes of signing up for tomorrow…read more Unable to locate them I called from Machias this evening. They are closed for the year. Please contact next season.

Booked this company for a whale watching tour. We went out for almost three hours and ended up…read moreseeing the endangered Right whale. They were pretty far away so it was hard to see but I enjoyed being out on the boat. The cruise had about 13 people and the tour guides were informative. I wish they had given more of an actual tour and more information about the islands. They went around and spoke to people individually maybe they could have a speaker system. The tour cost about $50 and was well worth the money.

I recently took another whalewatching trip aboard the Mister Matthew boat with Mackie and Robert at…read morethe helm. It was late August and sadly, this year, there haven't been many finbacks in the Fundy waters, but we were game to go out and search for whatever we could find. It was a perfect "Campobello" day - mid 70s, sunny and a cool ocean breeze. The boat was packed to the gills - but even with the 20 or so patrons, everyone had a place to sit and a great view of the ocean. We managed to spot two minke whales, a ton (probably 50+) of porpoise, a bald eagle which we even saw dive and catch a fish out of the sea, plenty of seals and other marine birds. Robert was chipper as ever, talking about all the wildlife and animals surrounding the boat, and Mackie was intent on finding us some whales. We ended up going up the channel between Eastport, ME and Deer Island in order to find them which meant going through Old Sow (the largest tidal whirlpool in the western hemisphere) and finding two! I highly recommend going on a whale watch with Island Cruises. For 2.5 hours of pure enjoyment and ocean views, even if you aren't lucky enough to see a ton of whales there is so much to enjoy. Plus, Mackie and Robert are part of the Campobello Whale Rescue team - helping to save over 20 whales (and likely countless other marine mammals) entangled in fisherman nets or otherwise injured. Why not support a team who is so committed to helping preserve and protect their surrounding waters?

Decent food. I thought the lobster stew was a little watery, but there was a lot of lobster chunks…read morein it. The spinach salad was really good and the blueberry dressing was to die for. They allow dogs on the back deck. Only 5 tables out there so can be rough tough to get a table.

Stayed at the hotel that shares the space with this restaurant, so it was the natural choice for…read moredinner. We were seated within about 15 minutes of arriving around 6:50pm -- so far so good. But then it took 20 minutes just to be brought menus, another 15 minutes before anyone came back to take our drink order, and a further 20 minutes after that before our food order was finally taken. The food itself didn't arrive for another 30 minutes after that. By the time we'd eaten and left, it was 9pm -- over two hours for a fairly simple dinner. And after all that, the food was mediocre -- we paid around $50 for it. The one genuine positive was the view of the water, which was stunning. Lubec is a long way out of the way for most people -- the appeal is being the easternmost point in the US, with genuinely lovely scenery. But that's exactly what makes this frustrating: this restaurant knows most visitors are here once, won't be back, and have limited other options nearby. It's hard not to feel like that's being taken advantage of rather than earning the visit. Wouldn't rush back, and if I were traveling through again, I'd look elsewhere.

Absolutely the best way to get out on the water from Eastport! I was lucky enough to go out on a…read moreperfect summer day--sunny, with a nice summery breeze--and there were enough of us to need two boats for the 1:30pm tour. You can pack in a good-sized crowd, but it's not a gigantic boat and you'll be making friends with nearby seatmates and chatting up the crew in no time. Once you're out of the harbor area you'll cruise out toward Campobello Island, as well as a lot of smaller ones dotting the bay--and you're pretty much in Canadian waterways the whole time. We saw minke whales, porpoises, seals, and bald eagles. The lighthouse view of the East Quoddy Head Light is gorgeous, and once you round that tip of the island the much cooler air from the Bay of Fundy wafts in and drops the temperature. Be sure to bring a jacket or sweatshirt along with your sunscreen and water! Our crew also pulled up a lobster trap on the return part of the trip and it was fun getting a look at harvesting in action. And the crew members have lots of info and stories about the area, so just ask! Great way to spend the afternoon.

We saw pretty much all the animals, landmarks and sea phenomenons the captains said we would. They…read morewere informative and it was a cool experience. Wouldn't recommend it for young kids (like our 5 year old) since it's a 2-2.5 hour voyage.

Fabulous day out on the water... Although we took the whale watching tour a little bit early in…read morethe season, there was plenty to see. I imagine this ride would have been amazing for a birder - but I just found it really cool to see puffins floating on the water, and different birds soaring above - with the first mate naming each as they passed. For the whales... well, it took a little bit of time to find them, but once the captain and mate did - the experience was breathtaking. I've been on whale watches before - out of Boston, Gloucester, and P-town - but I don't remember feeling this close to the majestic creatures. A humpback calf entertained us (it really seemed to want to show off!!) with breaches and jumps and swimming under the boat. I'm no marine biologist, but this outfit really seemed to respect the whales' space too. Engines off when we were close... instructions to softly cross the boat when needed as stomping will scare them... and if there were other boats coming in to the space (rare) - this boat kept a distance, and/or departed for another spot. First mate Durlan (? sorry, bad with names) was very knowledgeable about the whales and the birds and took great pics. Had nothing but respect for the captain - he seemed perfect for the job. I happened to be able to spend some time with another employee of the outfit - just along for the ride and to take some camera shots. Jenn works part time in the office, but was a great ambassador for the tours. I learned tons about the birds and whales... and Grand Manan. Whether in awe (and yes, crying) at the actions of these noble creatures, or listening intently to the birding banter between other passengers.... to say that it was an enjoyable outing would certainly be an understatement.

Peter and Durlan are super professional and awesome tour guides. You won't be disappointed. I…read morehighly recommend their services when visiting Grand Manan Island

We happened into St. Andrews on a whim with a recommendation from BPS. Cute little town. As we…read moreexplored we happened upon Jolly Breeze whale watching tall ship cruise. They had openings, we had time so what the heck?!? The vessel was exceptionally well kept and clean. The crew was not only knowledgeable, but also fun and engaging. We saw a couple types of whales and two breaches! It definitely was a full moon as that almost never happens. I wish I would have gotten a pic of at least one of the breaches. It happened so fast though. If you're here and you have time, make it a point to sail with the Jolly Breeze team!

We had a great time whale watching on what was luckily a really gorgeous day. The sun was beating…read moreon my back, but I was glad to have worn layers after maybe an hour on the water. Bring your windbreakers. As a guest on this trip, I don't know if the snacks and beers were provided by our hosts or Jolly Breeze, but it surely added to the overall experience. We had some pretty awesome sightings of whales, seals, etc. We all hoped for a whale breach; however, we were not that lucky. There was still a lot to see since the whales had to come up for air eventually, and it was just nice to be completely surrounded by water and in the company of good people for a few hours. Highly recommend.

We had an awesome trip with Captain Jon today seeing a few Minke whales and even a Humpback to top…read moreoff the trip! We also saw Grey and Harbour seals, Harbour porpoises and a couple Bald Eagles. Highly recommend Fundy Tide Runners! The zodiac boat is very stable and a fun ride out to see the whales. The staff are very friendly, well organized and put in a lot of effort to make sure everyone has a great experience.

My husband and I had an amazing day on the water with Fundy Tide Runners! We saw 2 humpback whales,…read moreSeals, even got lucky and saw a dolphin and bald eagle! Everyone was fantastic! Great customer service too. We will definitely be back again when in the area!!