Discover Ellsworth
Discover Ellsworth is a new destination marketing initiative created by Heart of Ellsworth and the City of Ellsworth to help position Ellsworth as a vibrant, year-round destination and a regional hub for Downeast and Acadia.
Supported through funding from the Maine Office of Tourism and the U.S. Economic Development Administration, the project includes a new website, professional photography and video, seasonal guides, trip-planning tools, itineraries, business listings and resources designed to help people experience the area more fully.
Background
For a long time, Ellsworth has been a place people pass through on their way somewhere else. We hear it from visitors heading to Acadia, Bar Harbor, the Blue Hill Peninsula, Schoodic, Deer Isle or beyond. But those of us who live, work, build and gather here know Ellsworth is not just a pass-through place. It is a city with an authentic way of life shaped by the shops, foods, arts, trails, events, public spaces, creative energy and everyday usefulness. It is a place where people can stock up, slow down, explore, reconnect and return.
Discover Ellsworth helps make that easier to see. The website invites people to discover more than the usual top ten list.
For Local Economy
When people understand what Ellsworth has to offer, they are more likely to stay longer, visit local businesses, attend events, explore downtown and use Ellsworth as a home base for the wider region. This kind of destination work supports small businesses and strengthens the connection between downtown Ellsworth and surrounding Downeast communities. It also helps distribute visitor activity in a more thoughtful way, creating opportunities beyond the busiest places and seasons.
WHo’s it for?
Discover Ellsworth is for the person planning a weekend outing, the business owner sharing recommendations with customers, the family hosting guests from out of town, and the visitor wondering whether they should make Ellsworth part of their trip. The answer, of course, is yes.
The project also reflects a larger investment in Ellsworth’s future. Heart of Ellsworth’s destination marketing work has included professional photography and video, seasonal guides and a broader strategy to increase visibility for the city while staying rooted in local character. Discover Ellsworth is one part of that work, but it is an important one because it gives the community a shared platform to point to, build from and use.
So, what happens now?
We hope people use it.
Browse the site. Share it with visiting friends and family. Send it to someone planning a trip. Let it be a reminder that this community has more to offer than many people realize, including, sometimes, those of us who are here every day.
At its best, Discover Ellsworth is not just about getting more eyes on a website. It is about helping more people experience Ellsworth with curiosity, respect and enough time to notice what is actually here.
A stronger Ellsworth, a more connected community and a more meaningful visitor experience are not separate goals. Discover Ellsworth gives us a better way to tell the story, and to invite others into it.