DESTINATION St. John Valley

The Inn of Acadia is located in Madawaska, Maine, as the northeasternmost point of the United States, next to our Canadian neighbors in New Brunswick and Québec. Fondly called “the Valley,” the region is home to 14,000 people, mostly of French heritage (Acadian and French-Canadian).

One of the historic “four corners of the United States”, Madawaska is located on the St. John River – which constitutes much of the border between Maine and Canada. The region is rich with a history that includes 17th century fur trappers, a long tradition of logging and farming and an interesting role during Prohibition in the early 20th century.

The Inn is centrally located in the St. John Valley, with a rich variety of cultural and outdoor adventures on both sides of the border. From championship golf courses to whale watching, to international jazz festivals, to guided history and foliage tours, let our front desk staff help you plan your visit.

Remember to bring your passport when traveling to and from Canada.

©Inn of Acadia 2014 384 St. Thomas Street, Madawaska, ME 04756 USA 207.728.3402 www.innofacadia.com

DESTINATION St. John Valley Explore our International Region

Sports and Outdoor Adventure The St. John Valley is renowned for its beautiful landscape, pristine waterways, and endless forest. On the periphery of the great North Maine Woods, the Valley is a paradise for wildlife lovers. It’s a top destination for snowmobiling, four-wheeling, fishing, hunting, and skiing. There are endless possibilities for recreationists and nature lovers during any time of the year. Here’s a selection:

Trails, fishing, hunting, guides – discovernorthernmaine.com, visitaroostook.com; visitmaine.com Snowmobile Report – crownofmaine.com/snowmobile-trail-report

Parks NB Botanical Gardens – St.Jacques, NB 506-737-4444, jardinnbgarden.com/en Grand Falls and Gorge – 90-ft falls, Grand Falls, NB and zipline, 888-494-7924 zipzag.ca Aroostook State Park – 900 acres, Presque Isle, ME, 207-768-8341 Four Corners Park – Main Street, Madawaska, ME, 207-728-6328, madawaskafourcorners.org

Golfing Fraser Country Club – 18-hole, Edmundston, NB 506-739-6190, golfedmundston.com Fort Kent Golf Club – 9-hole, Fort Kent, ME, fortkentgolfclub.org Long Lake Country Club – 9-hole, Ste-Agathe, ME 207-895-6957, longlakecountryclubme.com Aroostook Valley Country Club – 18-hole (in US and Canada), Fort Fairfield, ME 800-980-8747

Hiking, Skiing Four Seasons Trail – National trails, 425 Spring St., Madawaska, ME fourseasonstrail.org 10th Mountain Center – Olympic trails, 33 Paradis Loop, Fort Kent, ME 10thmtskiclub.org Lonesome Pine Alpine Center – Fort Kent, ME 207-834-5202, lonesomepines.org Mont Farlagne Alpine Center – Edmundston, NB 506-739-7669, montfarlagne.com

Cycling Velo Edmundston – 40 k, single/double track, Edmundston, NB, veloedmundston.ca Petit Témis Interprovincial Bike Path – 134 km, Edmundston, NB, petit-temis.com Fresh Trails Adventures Bike Tours – May-October, 207-551-8387, freshtrails.com

Canoeing Allagash Wilderness Waterway – 92 miles, Allagash, ME visitmaine.com Northern Forest Canoe Trail – 740 miles, Fort Kent, ME to NY, northernforestcanoetrail.org

Plus … Only an hour away you can watch the whales on the St. Lawrence River (croisieresaml.com). Go outdoor skating in Edmundston; see the stunning fall foliage from late September into October throughout the region; indulge at maple syrup camps (sucreries) in March and April, and fiddleheads in May. Go on a dog sled adventure; take a swim at Birch Point Beach in Ste-Agathe or the indoor pool in Edmundston; and birdwatch in Eagle Lake. Rent an ATV or kayak and fish for landlocked salmon or muskie.

©Inn of Acadia 2014 384 St. Thomas Street, Madawaska, ME 04756 USA 207.728.3402 www.innofacadia.com

DESTINATION St. John Valley Explore our International Region

Arts and Culture With more than 100 museums, galleries, and historic sites, you’ll enjoy the culture and heritage of our international region, including communities south of us. Delight in local foods and music at our restaurants and nighclubs. Most museums are volunteer-operated, open June to October at varying hours. Here’s a selection:

Tours St. John Valley Cultural Byway – Maine State byway from Allagash to Hamlin, ME Voici the Valley Cultureway – International cultural route, CD and guidebook, voicithevalley.org Acadie des Terres et Fôrets – international audio tour and map, tourismedmundston.com

Museums and galleries Acadian Village – US Rte 1, Van Buren, ME 207-894-3339, connectmaine.com/acadianvillage Musée culturel du Mont-Carmel – US Rte 1, Lille, ME 207-895-3339, museeculturel.org Tante Blanche Museum – US Rte 1, Madawaska, ME 207-728-3333, http://acim.umfk.maine.edu/landing.html Centre Français de la Vallée St-Jean – 101-12th Avenue, Madawaska, ME 207-728-4649 Ste-Agathe Museum – 433 Main Street, Ste-Agathe, ME 207-543-6911, www.facebook.com/staghs77 Fort Kent Block House – Fort Kent, ME 207-834-3866, nps.gov/maac/planyourvisit/blockhouse.htm Allagash Logging Museum – 456 Dickey Road, Allagash, ME 207-398-3148 Fortin Petit Sault – 10, St-Jean Street, Edmundston, NB 506-735-8559 Centre des arts Edmundston – 82, chemin Canada, Edmundston, NB 506-739-2127 Musée Robert Connors Museum – 3614, Route 205, Connors, NB 506-992-9200 Maison Cyr and Chapel Museum – Chapelle Street, Saint-Basile, NB 506-735-8559 Musée historique du Madawaska and Galerie Colline – 195, boulevard Hébert, Edmundston, NB 506-737-5282 Fort Ingall – 81 Rue Caldwell, Temiscouata sur-la-lac, QC 418-854-2375, fortingall.ca Musée du Témiscouata – 3, rue de L’Hotel-de-Ville, Témiscouata-Sur-le-Lac, QC 418-854-5568 Aster Museum and Planetarium – 59, chemin Bellevue, St. Louis-du-Ha-Ha, QC 1-877-775-2172, asterbsl.ca

Plus … Visit the region’s historic churches and cemeteries; the St. Bruno Metal Cross on U.S. Route 1 in Van Buren; America’s First Mile marking the beginning of U.S. Route 1 in Fort Kent to Key West, Florida; and the Maine Solar System Model, the world’s largest model from Houlton to Lille. For history and geneology enthusiasts, visit local libraries, museums, and the Acadian Archives at the University of Maine at Fort Kent. We’re just across the border from the vibrant city of Edmundston, NB and a few hours from Québec City, a World UNESCO site.

DESTINATION St. John Valley Explore our International Region

FESTIVALS AND EVENTS There are hundreds of family-friendly festivals and events during all seasons of the year that celebrate everything from the French heritage, potato harvest, fishing, and cycling. Here’s a selection:

January Irving Sled Dog Race – Eagle Lake ME, 207-898-3038, eaglelakesleddograces.com Long Lake Ice Fishing Derby – Ste-Agathe, ME stagatha.com/derby February Biathlon – Takes place on rotation, Fort Kent, ME 10thmtskiclub.org Winter Fun Day – Aroostook State Park, Presque Isle, ME Québec Winter Carnival – Québec City, QC carnaval.qc.ca March Can-Am Sled Dog Race – Fort Kent, ME, 207-543-7515, canamcrown.net Acadia FCU Ski Marathon – Madawaska, ME, http://www.fourseasonstrail.org April Top O’Maine Trade Show – 7th Avenue, Madawaska, ME May ATV and Mountain Biking – Trails open in Maine June Blues and Jazz Festival – Edmundston, NB 506-737-8188, jazzbluesedmundston.com Festival Les Cartonfolies – Témiscouata-sur-le-lac, QC 418-854-8461, cartonfolies.com Whale Watching – Riviére-du-Loup, QC 888-825-1981, croisieresaml.com (June to September) Festival de la Grande Rivière – international celebration, Van Buren, ME and St-Leonard, NB July Acadian Festival – Madawaska, ME 207-728-7000, acadianfestival.com Rock the Valley – Madawaska, ME Potato Blossom Festival – Fort Fairfield, ME facebook.com/MainePotatoBlossomFestival Foire Brayonne – Edmundston, NB 506-739-6608, foirebrayonne.com Northern Maine Agricultural Fair – Presque Isle, ME northernmainefairgrounds.com August Music in the Park – Bicentennial Park, Madawaska, ME (starts in July until September) Festival Chautauqua – Frenchville, ME [email protected] Ploye Festival and Muskie Derby – Fort Kent, ME ployes.com, fortkent-muskie.com Crown of ME Balloon Festival – Presque Isle, ME 207-764-6561, crownofmaineballoonfest.org Tour de la Vallée Bike Race – Throughout St. John Valley, ME 834-1931 September Scarecrow Festival – Fort Kent, ME 207-834-5354 Potato Harvest – Throughout the Valley, ME October Pumpkin Festival – St. Jacques, NB November Wine Fest – 223 rue Principale, Saint-Jacques, NB 506-739-5665 Skiing and Snowmobiling – Hit the trails once the snow flies December Christmas Craft Fair – Fort Kent, ME 207-834-5354, fortkentchamber.com

Plus … Catch a film at the Fox Theater and Skylight Drive-in in Madawaska, the Center Theater in Fort Kent, and Cinema V in Edmundston. Buy local foods and crafts at the Farmers Market in Edmundston. Visit a family farm, tour the Twin Rivers Paper Mill in Madawaska, or try to catch a big one at fishing competitions in the region.