Acadia National Park
hiker on the cliffs in acadia national park image by Jorge Moro from
Fotolia.com
Whether you decide to rough it in the park campgrounds or stay nearby in a bed and breakfast, Acadia National Park is where you'll encounter breathtaking natural beauty. The park welcomes nearly 2 million visitors every year, and they typically stay about three or four days in the area. It's no wonder: Tourists can explore more than 100 miles of trails or go up Cadillac Mountain, a 1,530-foot peak known as the tallest mountain on the East Coast. Channel your inner photographer by capturing photos of wildlife and mountains along the historic Park Loop Road, a 27-mile road system. And be sure to check out the park's Sieur de Monts Spring area, where you will find the Wild Gardens of Acadia and a nature center.
Acadia National Park
Route 233 McFarland Hill
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
207-288-3338
nps.gov/acad/index.htm
Bar Harbor Inn and Spa
sunset over bar at bar harbor image by Earl Robbins from
Fotolia.com
Staying at the Bar Harbor Inn and Spa provides a luxurious home base for discovering this waterfront town nestled on Mount Desert Island. Bar Harbor, once a haven for wealthy industrialists, still boasts an air of affluence, with expensive yachts mooring in its marinas and well-heeled customers shopping in its charming downtown. After a day of shopping and sightseeing, visitors can retreat to this historic inn on Frenchman Bay. Dine on lobster tail at the inn's oceanfront Reading Room Restaurant or indulge in an $85 vitamin C facial at the spa.
The Bar Harbor Inn and Spa
Newport Drive
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
800-248-3351
barharborinn.com/
Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co.
whale hitting the water image by Xavier MARCHANT from
Fotolia.com
Whales are to Acadia what alligators are to the Everglades. That said, a whale-watching tour should certainly be on your list of things to do when vacationing in Maine. The Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co. offers up close and personal views of humpback and finback whales. Spend the afternoon on a company vessel to catch a glimpse of everything from dolphins and porpoises to puffins and smaller Minke whales. The company offers sunset whale-watching tours and lobster fishing excursions as well. Bar Harbor Whale Watch provides guests with tours on its four vessels: the 140-foot Atlanticat catamaran, the Bay King III catamaran, the Miss Samantha lobster fishing boat and the Acadian, a two-deck boat equipped with a heated cabin and radar system.
Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co.
1 West St.
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
207-288-2386
barharborwhales.com
Article Written By Katie Arcieri
Katie Arcieri has been writing news stories for a decade. She started out as an intern with "The Baltimore Sun" and later cut her teeth as a daily reporter at "The Capital," a 50,000 circulation newspaper in Annapolis, Md. Her stories are regularly picked up by the Associated Press.
