Mount Desert Island
The Acadia region of Maine
stretches from Penobscot Harbor to
Goldsborough Bay, with hundreds of islands,
small harbors, and headlands, with rolling
hills in the interior. As you drive south
from Bangor, toward this scenic coastline,
you'll come to Ellsworth, the
commercial center of the region. You leave
Ellsworth, continuing south toward the ocean,
and cross to Mount Desert Island.
Here, glaciers have carved lakes and
valleys out of the underlying granite.
Evergreens are scattered across the island,
set on small sections of land surrounded by
rocky outcroppings, with small lakes dotting
the landscape. This is a summer and winter
destination, excellent for summer camping and
exploring the coastline, and also for
cross-country skiing and snowmobiling in
wintertime.
There are a dozen communities on the
island. Southwest Harbor offers a
collection of cozy B and B inns and homes. Bar Harbor is the main
recreation-oriented town, located on Maine
Highway 3. You'll find modern shopping places
here, along with cultural activities and a
range of motels and bed and breakfast homes.
Ten miles north of Bar Harbor is the campus
of the University of Maine, in Orono.
For more information on Bar Harbor and
vicinity, write the Bar Harbor Chamber of
Commerce, P.O. Box 158, Bar Harbor ME 04609,
or call (207) 288-5103.
Acadia National Park
Thundering surf, granite ridges meeting
the sea, the highest east-coast mountain,
woods, little lakes ringed with wildflowers,
and the wonder of seeing the magical sun as
it approaches the shores of America. This is
Acadia, a national park made up of more than
a dozen sites, all in a region with small,
picturesque seaside villages and offshore
islands.
From the peak of Cadillac Mountain,
you'll have the perfect New England vista,
the coastline, as far as you can see, lovely
little islands scattered across Frenchman
Bay. that thrilling sunrise, blueberries, and
wildflowers.
For just about the most unusual park tour
available anywhere, take a local mail boat to Isle au Haut or, better still, a tour
boat to Baker Island. On the outbound
cruise you'll see ospreys and seals. And, on
the island, you'll walk through an eerie
birch forest, and spot many song and water
birds. Spring and fall are the ideal months
for exploring the Maine coast.
Walk, cycle, or ride a horse on the old carriage paths built by John D.
Rockefeller after he had decided that the new
automobile would ruin the area's ecology. The
paths offer wonderful access to a waterfall,
and a pond -- with loons. The park also has
120 miles of walking and hiking trails,
including trails leading to Cadillac and Dorr
mountains. Less traveled is Schoodic
Peninsula, where granite laced with
volcanic magma is splashed with surf. Walk
from the peninsula (at low tide) to nearby Little Moose Island, and an intertidal
zone, with myriad sea creatures in rocky
pools.
Park Facilities
The park's main visitor center is located
near Bar Harbor, on Maine Highway 3, just
south of Hull's Cove. Two campgrounds are
available, with a 14-day limit. For park information, go here.
Other Online Information:
Ellsworth, Maine and area
