Tag: Fall

Spring, Summer & Fall: Maine’s rocky coastline draws tourist from all over with dreams of exploring all it has to offer. Instead of hitting the southern coast and following Route 1 the whole way up the coast, where you will end up missing some really great spots, head to the authentic “Downeast” Maine. If you head to the eastern most point of the US, Eastport, you will be able to be one of the first in the country to see the sun rise. Watching the sunrise over the horizon of this small coastal town is magical. Winter Harbor is another great little coastal town that is not filled with traffic and tourist. You will hear about Bar Harbor and the Acadia area and Winter Harbor although is part of the area is not as well known as some of the other towns. Winter Harbor is part of the famous Schoodic Scenic By-way and one trip along 186 will tell you why. It is absolutely breathtaking and although the town is tiny, there is a great restaurant in town, the Fisherman’s Inn, where you will find the freshest seafood around. Stonington will give you a real view of life in a working fishing community. Be sure to head down Sand Beach Road and check out the sweeping views of Penobscot Bay and Mark Island Lighthouse while you are there. Continue your way down the coast and you will end up in the Searsport and Belfast area, both which have great places to stop in and check out. Searsport has a great marine museum which visitors of all ages will enjoy learning more about Maine’s maritime history. This place has some great exhibits and a wonderful hands on section and the buildings on the grounds are all part of the National Historic Registry. There are so many places to go along the Maine coast, why not make it an authentic Maine coast tour by hitting the Downeast region.

Spring, Summer, Fall: Maine has many beautiful destinations along its coastline but, none are visited more than Acadia National Park. After one visit to Acadia National Park you’ll realize why so many visitors flock to its rugged coastline. The park was established to preserve this beautiful and popular landscape and continues to shine thanks to the hard work of the Rangers that lookafter it. With visitors numbers growing every year we must insure the longterm beauty and wellbeing of the park by teaching our youth to be good stewards of this amazing landscape. A great way to get the kids involved is through Acadia’s Junior Ranger Program. You can pick up a Junior Ranger booklet at the Visitors Center, Nature Center, or NPS campgrounds. Kids can attend Ranger Programs then fill in activities in the booklet and return the completed book to any park Center. This is a great way to get children to interact with the Rangers, learn about the local plants and animals, and have fun with other kids in a setting based on discovery. If they’ve completed their training and followed the program carefully, they will be rewarded with an official Acadia National Park Junior Ranger patch. More importantly they can teach others what they’ve learned about on of our National Treasures.

Spring, Summer, Fall: Of the thousands who visit the Bar Harbor region each year, very few get to see what’s going on below the surface of the sea…until now. A graduate of the nearby College of the Atlantic, Ed Monat runs a charter service with a bit of a twist. He operates out of a 51 foot boat named the “Seal” and delivers live video images from a handheld underwater camera. He dives with camera in hand capturing sights and sounds from the bottom of Frenchman Bay transmitted to an LCD screen on the main deck of the boat where everyone aboard can view amazing creatures without even getting wet. His assistant on deck narrarates as Ed takes you on a journey along the floor of the Atlantic Ocean, and passengers are encouraged to communicate directly with Ed as he makes his way underwater. To end this amazing experience with a bang Ed resurfaces with a bag filled with whatever sea creatures he has gathered up along the way to share with participants on deck. All creatures are then released back to the ocean after viewing. Come check out this truly unique experience out of Bar Harbor, a Dive-in Theater!

Spring, Summer, Fall: The Jordan Pond House in Acadia National Park, has a long been a landmark in this region. Initially established as a logging camp in the mid 1800’s it wasn’t until later that century that the Jordan Pond House became a restaurant, and remains one today. One thing that hasn’t changed since the 1800’s is the tradition of afternoon tea served here. Today you can enjoy this tradition of tea and popovers at your table while overlooking the pond and twin peaks of the Bubble Mountains. The place is know for its popovers, which have a strong resemblance to muffins, but with a lighter loftier profile. They are quite tasty and are typically served there with strawberry jam and tea. The folks that run the place have a full menu featuring local seafood, berries, and even homemade ice cream. After a long leisurely lunch visitors can stroll along the perimeter of the pond on nearby hiking trails. Having tea or lunch here is a great activity to incorporate into any trip to Acadia or Bar Harbor.