Originally Posted By TiggerPooh1973 Anyone been to this area of Maine? Looks like we will be making a family trip in June. My mother rented a 4 bedroom house in Blue Hill, Maine. Sounds really nice. We will have it for 2 weeks. I think it will be at least 8 of us, maybe 11. So has anyone been there? Any tips on what to do? Since we will be there for two weeks, we don't mind driving to other areas as well.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost I'm afraid that you have gone up near the furthest point east that you can go in the continental US. (Rockport) Except for the ocean there is not a lot to do. Acadia National park is there and if you are a nature buff that is the place to go. Within that is Cadillac Mountain that affords some really nice views of Bar Harbor and the surrounding areas. It is just a short trip to Campabella. That is the summer home of FDR and the place where he, reportedly, first became afflicted with polio. It is a very interesting place with a lot of artifacts all around. It is in Canada, btw! It is a great place for good seafood and relaxation but not a lot of high powered thrills unless you happen to have a face to face with the many bears at the park. Overall, a nice quiet place.
Originally Posted By TiggerPooh1973 That is what we are expecting......a nice quiet vacation. A chance to relax for a change. I saw that you can take the ferry to Nova Scotia too, just not sure if it is worth the trip. Is Campabella anyone around there? Some nice seafood dinners and relaxation sounds good though. Any restaurants suggestions anyone?
Originally Posted By DVC_dad Well... it just so happends that my DW and I (DVC_mom) took our honeymoon right in Bar Harbor. We stayed at the then Maple Inn which was a wonderful B&B. That was 12 years ago, but I doubt a WHOLE LOT has changed since. ***** must do's in "Bah Habah", Maine. One "MUST SEE" is a place called Jordon Pond. It is the singlemost beautiful place I have ever seen in the entire 38 year journey I have had on God's Earth as a Christian. Second, Cadillac Mountain, (inside Acadia National Park) is neat in that he one who stands upon its summit, (you can walk up fairly easily) will be the first person to see the sunrise in the entire United States on that day. I was one of these being that I am 6 inches taller than DVC_mom. I saw the sunrise about 6 seconds before she did! Third the whale watch cruise was totally worth it. We saw spectactular views, and very much up close and personal, of humpback whales. I was in awe and remember it as if it was Yest-a-day. Fourth, the lobster lobster lobster lobster and also before I forget to mention... the lobster. I had lobster at almost every single meal FOR CHEAP! Even the McDonald's had a lobster sandwich no kidding as I live and breathe. My favorite place to eat, and I have no idea if it's still there was called West Street Cafe. They actually took the time to TEACH me the PROPER way to eat Maine Lobster. Fifth was a place called Schoodic Point. It is the perverbial place to see the waves and surf crash into the coast and watch that "Jigsaw Puzzle Photo" type action of rock coast and angry ocean go head to head. Yes don't miss out on that one, but don't fall in or you may be there a lot longer than you want to be. Sixth was the lighthouses, I can't really remember the ones we saw, it was sooo long ago but I am sure the place you stay will be able to help you there. I will ask DVC_mom (also knows as the human encyclopedia to her siblings) what lights we saw and where. Seventh, well hehehe... let's not discuss that one here, it was our honeymoon afterall and, *cough* ahem let's just say number 7 is better left unmentioned. Have fun, Bar Harbor is awesome, you will love it.
Originally Posted By DVC_dad Oh and one last mention, and I am sure they still do it, was a lobster fishing cruise. That was fun and we got to pick which lobster we wanted for dinner when we got back to port.
Originally Posted By JazzCat We haven't been that far north, but we have been to Maine. I totally agree with DVC_dad.....lobster, lobster, lobster!!! We ate at, well, basically a shack that had a cooking station. But OH! I'll never again eat lobster unless I'm on the Maine coast. We were there the first week of September in 1997. While the temps were fine in the rest of New England, Maine was sooooo cold! Make sure you take at least a few warm items just in case.
Originally Posted By disneynafrica oooh! Bar Harbor, Maine - now that's a place that brings back memories. I used to live there as a little girl. There is a great resort there called Samoset that we used to live down the street from. A wonderful place to relax if you wanted that type of high end luxery while you were there. I remember swimming in their indoor pool and going horseback riding there when I was young. Its a neat place to visit. Yes, I also agree about the lobster. Noone can do lobster better than a "down maina"! MMMMMMMM! Bar Harbor is also the place that ANDRE the seal used to do shows. I remember going to see him perform in his pen in the harbor there each summer, then in the winter they would let him out so he could swim to Boston Aquarium. I don't know what they do there now. Yep...Bar Harbor - lots of good mememories and is a place that I wouldn't mind re-visiting now either.
Originally Posted By TiggerPooh1973 Thanks DVC_dad! I wrote all your suggestions down. Lobster at McD's?? That's funny. I want to do the whale watching. I am worried about getting seasick though. Did you sit around rolling on the waves waiting to see the whales or are you moving most of the time? So one lobster for Kala.....anyone else? I have no problem having a lobster for anyone of you! I'll have one for you to disneynafrica. JazzCat, yeah I figured a sweater would be a good idea. You would think it would be hot in the summer, but from what I read it's about 77 in the day, 55 at night. My husband actually went to Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, but that was 13 years ago and he pretty much stuck to the area around the school or left Maine with friends any chance they got, lol. But it will be cool to go tour the academy and their ship.
Originally Posted By DVC_dad Whale watching went like this... We went in August and it was actually cold out on the ocean. We rode about an hour out to sea, not sure at all how far that was, maybe 25 miles? The ocean was actually very calm and we were moving almost the whole time. Once we got out to the area where the whales were supposed to be, we slowed down quit a bit and in a few minutes we saw the first whale. The skipper pulled in closed and slow and shut the engines down. It still was not very choppy or anything, and the whale seemed to be more amused at having an audience than we were to BE his audience. He didn't do any of that huge leaping out of the water and crashing back down business, but he did come up, roll over the surface and dive back down. At one point I was close enough to the whale that I could have easily jumped in and swam right over to him. The neatest thing about it tho, was when he would dive, he would go down with his tail coming up into the air, and those were really beautiful photos later. In no time at all there were three other whales, seemingly appearing out of nowhere. All the while, we were totally amazed and in awe. I found it very hard to continue limiting my mind toward my personal tust in evolution, at that moment I thought surely there must be some form of Providence that has created such beauty in this massive leviathan package. I never felt in any danger, and I never felt seasick, none whatsoever on both counts. Take Dramamine before you go, it really does help, but it has to be on board in your body before you are exposed to that which could cause you motion sickness. You are going to have an awesome and wonderful time. I am envious of it.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost Lobster rolls at McDonalds are available all along the coast of main. Just a little local flavor I guess.
