Off the beaten path to do/see in ME - Acadia

[klm]

Spending the season in the Bar Harbor/Acadia area, very excited about it. We have been in the area for short vacation type visits. Now that we have several months, not just a few days, we want to explore all the nooks and crannies. Can you help us find those gems? We like to hike (short, day hikes), bike (out of shape flatlanders), historical sites, museums - and oh - we love to eat!!!!

Thanks for sharing your Maine "to do's"
Kathy

[loggenrock]

Hi Kathy! In Bar Harbor, hike out on the namesake gravel bar at low tide to Bar Island! You get about 1 1/2 hrs that the gravel is exposed before the tide returns and covers it again - very cool! Drive farther north - head to Eastport area. If you overnight up there, the Cobscook SP is very nice. Bring your passports - visit Campobello Island (http://www.nps.gov/roca/index.htm). Head up to Bangor, Orono, and Old Town - check out the Paul Bunyon statue, visit the Old Town Canoe factory, eat at Govenor's! LOTS to do around there! Hope this helps! ST

[kevden]

Finelli's pizza in Ellsworth is excellent. Ny style thin crust. I second the schoodic penninsula. Grindstone neck rd/west oval in winter harbor have many grand old mansions that are beautiful even just to drive by.

[mgh122]

Try this if you like old cars http://www.sealcoveautomuseum.org.
If you are traveling with a dog try the dog park at Little Long Pond in Seal Harbor

[pistolpeter55]

Hike all the trails. The Western MT trails; Bernard MT, Great Notch, Manseli Mt. and Beech Mt are very nice and often overlooked. Check out the ranger lead hikes. Have long leisurely lunches/dinners along the rocks at Seawall as well as many other places. Explore all the pullouts, some have little used trails leading to great rocky beach areas or cliff views. Take some kayak trips or rent your own. Bike the carriage roads, you can park your bike where hiking trails cross the roads and hike from there. Look for wild blueberries sometimes in August. Walk to Indian point. Spent the afternoon on the beach on the North side of Seal Cove by the boat ramp. Lots more to do just take your time and explore.
Enjoy your selves.

[Mike__Rose]

We would hit all the usually places like Thunder Hole, Jordan Pond, Sandy beach, Whale and puffin watch, kayak tours of the harbor and the shops downtown. During low tide you can walk over to the island across the harbor (just watch the tide charts or you may have to swim back!). We would avoid the downtown when the cruise ships came into port so we would avoid the crowds.
We traveled on all eight bus routes and would hop off at different sites of interest along the way. We would chose a bus route for the day and explore. We would hop off at Seal Harbor on hot days to swim. Acadia water is freezing, but this particular beach has water temps that don't turn you purple! Check for times because some are long trips. Visit the Atlantic Brewing Company Brewery which is near the KOA Campground.

[Tiger4x4RV]

Visit the Schoodic Peninsula.

In main part of park, hike one way along the coastal road and take the shuttle back. Hike up Beech Mountain. Ride your bikes on the carriage roads.

Take as many boat trips as you can. Ones I've especially enjoyed: nature tours from Northeast Harbor and Southwest Harbor and taking the boat to Duck Harbor on Isle au Haut and then hiking back to the main island harbor to catch the late day boat back to the mainland. BTW: I'm the kind of person who gets seasick, but these are sheltered waters and I had no trouble.

Further afield: Cutler Coast has some pretty wild hiking. There are hiking trails on Monhegan Island.

On the Acadia National Park website, there are many downloadable brochures which will help you to plan. There's even a 206-page "Guide's Guide to Acadia."

Enjoy!