Forget what you know about the East Coast for a moment. Leave behind the clusters of urban sprawl and Florida’s vibrant beach towns.
There’s a map-dot island hardly anyone seems to talk about that gives off serious Iceland vibes, with otherworldly landscapes, edge-of-the-world vibes, and, of course, puffin tours — yep, right here in the U.S.
It’s true; you don’t have to venture off to one of Europe’s most expensive countries to see nature’s cutest flock of birds, nor do you have to cover your eyes walking past the world’s only museum dedicated to male anatomy.
While this island hideaway may not have borderline addictive hot dogs topped with pylsusinnep, its seafood selection is unmatched, offering far 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 the U.S. has, with open skies for stargazing, 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 certain that if you give this unheard-of island in Maine a fair shake, you won’t come home wishing you’d spent a fortune to go all the way to Reykjavik.
Puffin Season Kicks Off In May 🐧
If there’s one thing topping 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 just that.
That’s simply not the case. There are actually multiple destinations across North America where puffins flock ashore each year — coastal Maine being one of the top spots for seasonal excursions.
In fact, one of the biggest draws of visiting Monhegan Island this time of year is its access to nearby Eastern Egg Rock, where it’s said up to 150 nesting pairs of puffins can be spotted each season.
Maine’s hidden island, even locals may not know, may not have been on your 2026 Bingo card, but it’s not too late to pencil it in.
This blissful island, away from any sliver of city chaos, offers multiple puffin tour operators — the earliest of which is set to kick off in May:
Pack Your Camera For Monhegan’s ‘Interstellar’ Landscapes
The good news is this island feels so untouched beyond the welcome of the shared namesake town of Monhegan that you’ll feel like you have it all to yourself (and the estimated 65 people that live here).
The bad news is recreational drone use is heavily restricted, which may explain why TikTokers haven’t flooded this place making epic videos surely to invade your algorithm.
Whether you’re old school with a Polaroid or mastered iPhone camera wizardry, Monhegan Island’s dramatic cliffs and moody seascapes will leave you doing a double take as if you’re on Interstellar’s film set.
One unmissable place to scope out is The Headlands, located on the rear side of the island, boasting some of the highest ocean cliffs of Maine and easily comparable to Iceland’s Dyrhólaey and Reynisfjara (minus the black sand).
Getting Here & Where To Stay
As you might’ve imagined, being so small, Monhegan Island is only accessible by boat.
Unfortunately, you can’t simply fly into Portland and hop aboard a ferry. It’s a bit more of an adventure.
Getting here requires departing from Port Clyde or New Harbor aboard one of the aforementioned tour operators, also offering puffin tours.
Once you arrive, you’ll find similar quirky, colorful cottages like you see dotted around Iceland.
Our top pick for a memorable stay is The Cracked Mug. I mean, what sounds homier than that?
You Won’t Find Anywhere Stateside That Feels Safer
Earlier this year, we reported that Maine was ranked as America’s safest state, no matter if you’re vacationing in one of many charming coastal towns like Kennebunkport or the biggest city, Portland.
For example, most crime tends to happen in larger populations, but Portland is currently scoring as 85/100 on our real-time safety index — one of the highest scores for any U.S. destination.
If you really think about it, if Portland is that safe, an under-the-radar island with less than 70 year-round residents is one of those classic places you hear about on old-timey sitcoms, “where everybody leaves their doors unlocked”.
Not to continue on this Iceland train, but the comparisons keep chuggin’ along for this unicorn destination.
Maine is the safest state, and Iceland is widely regarded as the world’s safest countries year in and year out.
So while Monhegan may not be a carbon copy, it taps into that same sense of calm with similarly striking, offbeat attractions — from astounding coastal scenery to the visible remains of the D.T. Sheridan shipwreck, likened to Iceland’s Sólheimasandur plane wreck, one of the country’s most sought-after photo-ops.
Sold yet?
Stacie Harris is a local resident and reporter of the Maple Grove area. Stacie reports on medicine and science for the Maple Grove Report.
