2 Best Places to Shop in Hancock Area, Acadia National Park and Mount Desert Island

It’s worth the trip down the long dirt drive to Gull Rock Pottery. Sculpture dots serene grounds with a knockout view of Cadillac Mountain across Frenchman Bay. The shop sells the owner's dishware and lamps, with either hand-painted blue and white depictions of local wildlife, flowers, and water scenes, or a rust-color or celadon glaze. The etchings, prints, and jewelry are made by the potter's husband, who also created most of the sculpture outside. Open year-round, but it's by chance or appointment in the off-season.

Heron-patterned dinnerware is one of the specialties at Hog Bay Pottery, which also sells knitted items and handspun and naturally died yarns. A husband and wife run this year-round homestead shop: he's the potter, she's the knitter and spinner.