You have all heard it at some point: Downeast Maine.  But where is Downeast Maine?  

“Downeast” originated in the days of the schooners sailing up and down the East Coast.   Sailing schooners going from Boston or New York to the coast of eastern Maine would sail downwind and east, sailing Downeast.  

Most Mainers view Downeast as parts of Hancock and all of Washington counties.  Despite what some people may think, Bar Harbor isn’t part of Downeast Maine.  Some use the term Downeast to refer to any place in Maine; I don’t subscribe to that view.  

Downeast is a lifestyle too, slow living, nature, community, and self-reliance.  

Where is Downeast Maine, in your opinion? Where do you enter Downeast Maine?