Share the article
Forget what you know about the East Coast for a moment. Leave the urban sprawl and vibrant beach towns of Florida behind.
There is an island with map points that hardly anyone seems to talk about and that has a serious appearance Icelandic atmospherewith otherworldly landscapes, edge-of-the-world vibes and of course puffin tours – yes, here in the US
It’s true; you don’t have to travel to one of Europe’s most expensive countries to see nature’s cutest flock of birds, nor do you have to cover your eyes as you walk past the world’s only museum dedicated to male anatomy.
Although this island hideaway may not have addictive hot dogs pylsusinnepthe seafood selection is second to none and offers much better options than fermented shark (sorry, Vikings – it’s just not good).
Is it an exact replica of Iceland, like the Faroe Islands?
No, but it’s the closest thing to the US, with open skies for stargazing, a rugged coastline, quirky cottages and more – reminiscent of the Iceland I visited in 2015 before it felt discovered by the masses.
We at Travel Off Path are confident that if you give this unheard of island in Maine a good shake, you won’t come home wishing you had spent a fortune to go all the way to Reykjavik.
The puffin season starts in May 🐧
If there’s one thing that tops bucket lists around the world, it’s seeing puffins up close and personal in their natural habitat.
But the misnomer seems to be that most Americans think they have to fly “across the pond” to do so.
That is simply not the case. There are actually several destinations in North America where puffins land en masse every year; the coast of Maine is one of the best places for seasonal excursions.
In fact one of the biggest draws of a visit Monhegan Island this time of year it is the gateway to the nearby Eastern Egg Rock, where it is said that up to 150 breeding pairs of puffins can be spotted each season.
Maine is hidden Even the locals may not know it, the island may not be on your bingo card for 2026, but it’s not too late to fill it out.
This blissful island, far from all the city chaos, offers several puffin tour operators – the first of which launches in May:
Pack your camera for the ‘interstellar’ landscapes of Monhegan
The good news is that outside the welcome of the namesake town of Monhegan, this island feels so untouched that you’ll feel like you have it all to yourself (and the estimated 65 people who live here).
The bad news is that recreational drone use is severely limitedwhich perhaps explains why TikTokers haven’t flooded this place creating epic videos that are sure to invade your algorithm.
Whether you’re old school with a Polaroid or if you’ve mastered the wizardry of the iPhone camera, the dramatic cliffs and moody seascapes of Monhegan Island will have you doing a double take as if you were on a trip Interstellar’s movie set.
An unmissable place to explore The headlandslocated on the back side of the island, with some of Maine’s highest ocean cliffs and easily comparable to Iceland’s Dyrhólaey and Reynisfjara (minus the black sand).
How to get here and where to stay
As you might have imagined, because Monhegan Island is so small, it is only accessible by boat.
Unfortunately, you can’t just fly to Portland and board a ferry. It’s a little more adventure.
To get here, you have to leave from Harbor Clyde or New Haven on board one of the tour operators mentioned above, who also offer puffin tours.
Once you arrive you will find similar quirky, colorful houses as you see all over Iceland.
Our top pick for an unforgettable stay is The cracked mug. I mean, what sounds more homely than that?
You won’t find a safer feeling anywhere in the United States
Earlier this year we reported that Maine was ranked as the safest state in America, regardless of whether you’re vacationing in one of the many charming coastal towns like Kennebunkport or the largest city, Portland.
For example, most crime happens in larger populations, but Portland currently scores 85/100 in our real-time numbers. safety index – one of the highest scores for any US destination.
When you really think about it, if Portland is this safe, an under-the-radar island with fewer than seventy year-round residents is one of those classic places you hear about in old-school sitcoms, “where everyone leaves the door open.”
Not to continue with this Iceland train, but the comparisons continue for this unicorn destination.
Maine is the safest state and Iceland is widely regarded as the safest country in the world year after year.
So while Monhegan may not be a copy, it taps into that same sense of tranquility with similarly striking, unusual attractions – from astonishing coastal landscapes to the visible remains of the DT Sheridan shipwreck, compared to Iceland’s Sólheimasandur plane wreck, one of the country’s most sought-after photo ops.
Sold yet?
