Let’s Go for a Drive
To Brooklin...
My first Sunday Drive through Brooklin and Sedgwick was an unforgettable experience for me. The height of Indian summer; wispy clouds floating in a brilliant blue sky, the sun warm, but not as hot as August, and the air holding the promise of a cool night. The more I drove, the more I felt like I had escaped the present. I expected to hear 40s Swing on the radio, or to see some perfectly preserved Ford Roadster puttering along in the other direction. I wouldn’t have been surprised if I looked down and saw that I was driving my Dad’s ’53 Chevy …
I saw places and views I had never seen before. I experienced that wonderful sense of time stretching on forever – with no particular place to go and nothing to do but drive.
Whaddya say? Let’s hit the road. From Blue Hill, head out South Street (Routes 172 & 175) and watch for the turnoff for Route 175 to Brooklin about 2-1/2 miles south of town.
Turning left, follow the road past a beautiful cove with a red boathouse on your left to the Blue Hill Falls bridge over the reversing falls.
As you approach Brooklin village, watch for Web of the Quill gallery on your right. Lauren Allen makes exquisite shawls and also features work by other artists.
Not far beyond, turn onto Flye Point Road on your left and drive down to the Lookout Inn for another fabulous location with a killer view. It’s been an Inn for more than 200 years.
New this summer, the Flye Point Sculpture and Art Gallery will be showing sculptures in and larger pottery pieces appropriate for garden and outside display, as well as an indoor gallery showing paintings, and raku and sagger pottery.
As you enter the village, the Brooklin General Store is another fun place to visit. You can even get breakfast and lunch right there.
And, don’t miss the beautiful town library, just across the street.
Next door to the general store, Betsy’s Sunflower offers a variety of beautiful homegoods (candles, beautiful linens, and more), books, and gifts in a warm, inviting space. This year, Betsy says there will be even more locally made items –from vintage aprons to baby bibs, Maine-made dog treats and catnip mice, to float rope door mats and everything in between.
Just around the corner, on the right is Mountain Ash Lane – where you can visit Brooklin Pottery Co-op. Five local potters show their diverse work at the Co-op which is open Friday to Sunday all summer, and right up until Christmas.
Make sure to visit Tilia Gallery, also on Mountain Ash Lane. Located at #10, and bringing beautiful fine craft and art to Brooklin. Stop in and see what’s new!
If you want to spend the night, the Brooklin Inn has five guest rooms, but you might need to book ahead in season. Their dining room and pub are open to the public for dinner seven nights a week. The lovely Victorian inn is within walking distance of the center of town, and a lively spot for dinner or a pub fling.
Diagonally across the street, the old Brooklin elementary school houses the studios of at least a half dozen fine artists. Make sure to stop in and see who’s open. Their art is varied, and worth a stop.
And not far from there, on the right hand side of the road is Gigi Sarsfield’s Handmade Papers. Gigi makes beautiful handmade papers, and turns them into lampshades, blank books, and one-of-a-kind lamps. At night, some of her lamps glow in the windows.
Okay, time to head for Sedgwick and Brooksville…
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