Campobello Island

Franklin Roosevelt summered here from childhood, and it was at Campobello in August 1921 that he fell ill with the paralytic illness that ended his ability to walk; he called it his beloved island and returned only a few times as president. The thirty-four room cottage is preserved with the family's furnishings. Roosevelt Campobello International Park, created in 1964, is the only park in the world administered jointly by two national governments, with a commission of Canadians and Americans. The island is Canadian but the only year-round road access is a bridge from Maine, so reaching it means crossing the border twice.

What you actually see

• The Roosevelt cottage - thirty-four rooms with the family's own furnishings.
• The joint park - the only one in the world run by two national governments.
• The lighthouses - East Quoddy at the northern tip, accessible at low tide.
• The 1921 story - the summer his illness began, told at the cottage.

When to go

June to September; the cottage and visitor centre close for winter. East Quoddy lighthouse is reachable only around low tide. Ferries to Deer Island run in summer only.

Honest expectations

Reaching a Canadian island means entering and leaving the United States, so passports are needed both ways. The East Quoddy crossing has stranded people who misread the tide. Winter access is by Maine only.

Nearby

Grand Manan lies south; St. Andrews is north.