1. The Stonington Opera House is celebrating 21 years of theater, film, music, and dance on one of the busiest working waterfronts in Maine. The Opera House, in the center of the village, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and has been fully restored. It serves its original role as a community gathering space and pe
1. The Stonington Opera House is celebrating 21 years of theater, film, music, and dance on one of the busiest working waterfronts in Maine. The Opera House, in the center of the village, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and has been fully restored. It serves its original role as a community gathering space and performing arts center. OHA's programs continue to serve Deer Isle, the Blue Hill Peninsula, and Hancock County's year-round residents and visitors of all ages. The trip to Stonington is a treat itself. Allow time to wander around one of the most charming hard-working fishing villages you will ever visit. Stonington consistently ranks as the top producer of lobster statewide.
FMI Stonington Opera House https://operahousearts.org/
1 School St Stonington, ME
1-207-367-2788
2. Nellieville is an eclectic campus covering several acres in an idyllic island setting, a one-time homestead and heirloom orchard at the edge of a spruce forest. They make about 300 jars of jam a day by hand year-round in the jelly kitchen--a tiny white Cape cottage--using mainly Maine fruits. Peter's sculpture workshop is a form
2. Nellieville is an eclectic campus covering several acres in an idyllic island setting, a one-time homestead and heirloom orchard at the edge of a spruce forest. They make about 300 jars of jam a day by hand year-round in the jelly kitchen--a tiny white Cape cottage--using mainly Maine fruits. Peter's sculpture workshop is a former general store that was moved here in several large pieces on a flatbed truck.
The tiny shop is filled with shelf goods, housewares, gifts and clever things made by Maine artisans. A cross between classy and rustic. No lighthouse, moose or lobster key chains.
The grounds: meadow and woods are filled with sculptures made by Peter from discarded metal, locally milled lumber, dump-foraged material. A Western town--jail, lawyer's office, fortune teller, hotel, saloon, Chinese laundry--sits shoulder to shoulder with a Delta-style juke joint, a Deer Isle general store, a church, a Grail castle, wizard's tower, 50's garage complete with jam session, all comprise Nellieville, a lifelong work in progress. Something for everyone here!
FMI Nervous Nellies https://www.nervousnellies.com/
598 Sunshine Rd Deer Isle, ME
1-800-777-6845
3. The gateway to Acadia, the quintessential New England town, Ellsworth has a charming downtown with varied architecture. Be sure to get off the highway to visit the main street shopping area. It is like stepping back into yesterday.
4. Whether you aspire to enjoy quiet island sunsets or surf the biggest tidal races in Maine, Downeast Maine is a great spot to learn. The options are nearly limitless, from an exciting day exploring the cliffs and waves that surround the Porcupine Islands, to a calm-water paddle among seals and eagles with time for your lunch on a rock
4. Whether you aspire to enjoy quiet island sunsets or surf the biggest tidal races in Maine, Downeast Maine is a great spot to learn. The options are nearly limitless, from an exciting day exploring the cliffs and waves that surround the Porcupine Islands, to a calm-water paddle among seals and eagles with time for your lunch on a rocky, spruce-dotted island. This team comes to you and works with individuals or small groups.
FMI Pinniped Kayak http://www.pinnipedkayak.com/
61 Toashuh Way Ellsworth, ME
(207) 669-2174
5. Twelve exciting events packed into an hour and 15-minute show. Axe throwing. Log Rolling. Underhand Chopping. Power Hot Sawing. Obstacle Pole Relay. Crosscut Sawing. Pole Climbing. Hosted by Tina Scheer, a Castaway on CBS Survivor: Panama - Exile Island
FMI The Great Maine Lumberjack Show https://mainelumberjack.com/
127 Bar Harbor Rd, Trenton, ME
207-266-5486
6. The only part of Acadia National Park on the mainland, for now this section sees very little traffic. Enjoy it before it changes! It’s the true edge of the world out here, especially on Schoodic Point. There is a good chance it will be only you and the gulls contemplating the waves.
And don’t miss Raven's Nest. This is a favorite spot
6. The only part of Acadia National Park on the mainland, for now this section sees very little traffic. Enjoy it before it changes! It’s the true edge of the world out here, especially on Schoodic Point. There is a good chance it will be only you and the gulls contemplating the waves.
And don’t miss Raven's Nest. This is a favorite spot among photographers, where the tallest cliffs of the area surround several isolated coves. Limited roadside parking is located 1.6 miles past Frazer Point; do not park in or along the road. An unofficial trail heads through the woods to the exposed cliffs. Warning: take extreme care and stay away from the cliff edges as any fall could be fatal; there are no easy ways to climb up or down to the isolated coves.
FMI from the village of Winter Harbor. Turn left at the downtown intersection and in .5 miles, turn right onto the Schoodic Loop Road to enter the Schoodic district of Acadia National Park
7. This resort town on Frenchman’s Bay, star of most of America’s top ten lists, lives up to its hype. It has appeared on Top Ten Most Beautiful, Top Ten Best to See Foliage, and Top Ten Prettiest Coastal Town, just to name a few. Walk down West Street, a designated historic district, to see the shingled-style mansions that survived the 1947 fire.
8. We are in the homeland of the Abenaki, the People of the Dawn. The Abbe Museum shares the history and culture of Maine’s Native people, collectively known as the Wabanaki (Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, Micmac, and Maliseet), and operates from two locations -- in downtown Bar Harbor and in Acadia National Park. The Abbe is a museum of
8. We are in the homeland of the Abenaki, the People of the Dawn. The Abbe Museum shares the history and culture of Maine’s Native people, collectively known as the Wabanaki (Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, Micmac, and Maliseet), and operates from two locations -- in downtown Bar Harbor and in Acadia National Park. The Abbe is a museum of the Abenaki, art, history, and culture.
FMI Abbe Museum abbemuseum.org
26 Mt Desert St Bar Harbor, ME and
Sieur de Monts Spring Acadia National Park
49 Sweetwater Circle Bar Harbor, ME
207-288-3519
9. Roll the windows down and let in that warm sea breeze as you head out to tour Acadia’s Park Loop Road. Turn on your favorite playlist and enjoy the ride!
The 27-mile road that loops around Acadia National Park is the best scenic drive in the area, taking visitors from the ocean to the mountains and everywhere in between. Set aside at le
9. Roll the windows down and let in that warm sea breeze as you head out to tour Acadia’s Park Loop Road. Turn on your favorite playlist and enjoy the ride!
The 27-mile road that loops around Acadia National Park is the best scenic drive in the area, taking visitors from the ocean to the mountains and everywhere in between. Set aside at least 4 hours for the drive, but it could easily take a full day. There are lots of places to stop along the way, but here are some of the best sights:
Thunder Hole is appropriately named after the booming sound the ocean waves make as they slam against the rocky shore while pushing air and settled water to the surface.
Less than a mile past Thunder Hole, there will be a parking area for Otter Point. This rocky shoreline is named after Acadia National Park’s spunky river otters. The most impressive feature at this stop is Otter Cliff, which stands an impressive 110 ft high! This is a great spot to hang out in the sun and watch the ocean waves crash over the rocks.
Take part in the tradition. The Jordan Pond House in Acadia National Park has a famous tradition of serving tea & popovers outside on the lawn overlooking Jordan Pond and the Bubble Mountains that began in the late 1800's and continues to this day on Mount Desert Island, Maine.
Stretch Your Legs The Jordan Pond Loop is the perfect spot to take a hike. This 3.5 mile loop will take you along the shores of Jordan Pond. Most of the terrain is level or a boardwalk trail, but there are a couple of rocky spots.
10. Cycle over the 45 miles of well-maintained carriage road that winds through Acadia. You can pedal over 17 stone-faced bridges, past a dozen ponds and lakes, and up gentle hills and check out breathtaking coastal Maine scenery. You’ll have plenty of room and a smooth ride on the 16-foot-wide roads studded with coping stones - large
10. Cycle over the 45 miles of well-maintained carriage road that winds through Acadia. You can pedal over 17 stone-faced bridges, past a dozen ponds and lakes, and up gentle hills and check out breathtaking coastal Maine scenery. You’ll have plenty of room and a smooth ride on the 16-foot-wide roads studded with coping stones - large blocks of granite that serve as guardrails. And there’s no need to watch out for cars – the roads are motor vehicle-free. The beautiful carriage roads of Mount Desert Island fit so perfectly into the land it seems as though they have always been there. Actually, they are the result of decades of planning and painstaking effort on the part of philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, Jr. and were built by local islanders over a 27-year period.
Location/Directions
The carriage roads are accessible from numerous different points in the park. The Bicycle Express, which runs at half-hour intervals from June 23 through September 30, shuttles bikers from Bar Harbor Village Green to Eagle Lake where they can pick up the carriage road system.
FMI Acadia Bike Rentals acadiabike.com
40 Cottage St
Bar Harbor, ME
207-288-9605
Bar Harbor Bicycle Shop http://barharborbike.com/
141 Cottage St
Bar Harbor, ME
207-288-3886
For an old-fashioned adventure, enjoy the roads from a horse drawn carriage. A charming glimpse into how they were experienced when first created.
FMI Wildwood Stables https://acadiamagic.com/wildwood-stables.html
21 Dane Farm Rd Seal Harbor
207-276-5721
Copyright © 2023 Coastal Maine Vacations - All Rights Reserved.
Powered by Vacations
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.