aggiegirl

Unable to resist $108 RT, nonstop airfare from Houston to Boston, I've booked myself a flight in September. I'll be traveling with a friend and we'll be driving up the Maine coast. We are going to be staying in Belfast.

We don't have much time, just a long weekend, but one day we'll drive to Acadia National Park. Does anyone have any recommendations for "don't miss" sights between Belfast and Acadia?

I'm really hoping to see live moose on this trip, what are the odds of seeing some in this part of Maine? Last time I was in Maine, the only moose I got to see was a stuffed one in Freeport I've done some googling and I have not seen any mention of moose really being around this area, but I hope that's wrong. I love seeing wildlife in natural habitats. One of my favorite trip memories was seeing mountain goats in South Dakota and prairie dogs in Wyoming.

RoamsAround

i can't offer any suggestions but thought I tell you this anecdote: When we visited our friends who lived on MooseHead Lake in Maine a couple of years ago they had moose sightings the day before we arrived and the day after we left! The only moose we saw was a stuffed moose head hanging on the wall above the fireplace in their lodge.

Whether or not you'll see a live moose will be up to Mother Nature.

Good luck, have fun!

elberko

Pretty unlikely, I'm afraid. Lots of moose crossing signs, though. I've traveled to Maine more than a dozen times--mostly to Acadia. Have never seen a moose. A park ranger a few years ago told me there were 3-4 on MDI.

~Liz

china_cat

you would have better luck with moose going inland. The only times I'veseen them was when we were staying in Bethel in the fall, and hiking in Grafton State park.

I don't think moose are very common in coastal areas.

jubilada

I 'I've been to Maine many many times and never seen a moose.
I have seen three in my backyard in Western Ma in the last 9 years. Who knew?

Ackislander

like china_cat, I have seen them in the Bethel area and over the line in NH. If you see one near the coast, it is because it is lost, though I once saw a bear in a clearing along the Maine Turnpike.

North of US 2, I bet you could find plenty, usually early in the morning or at dusk near ponds.

NorCalif

Last month we drove up the east coast from DC to Bar Harbor, Maine. Quite a few places along the road there were signs saying "Warning - Moose, next 12 miles" (or whatever.) But we saw nary a one. We then drove from Bar Harbor to Quebec. They upped the ante a little on the moose signs, as now there were many, many signs saying "Moose Crossing" complete with flashing lights.

I was totally attached to the idea of seeing a moose, as I had last seen some in the wild in the Tetons years ago. We had the highway more or less totally to ourselves (it was a rainy weekday in early June), so when we came to each "Moose Crossing" sign we slowed way down and peered off into the marshy woods. Totally ridiculous I know - but sometimes ridiculosity pays off! We finally saw a big female moose standing in the woods. She looked us over carefully for a few minutes and then decided we were a little too suspicious-looking for her taste, and she turned and trotted off deeper into the woods.

It totally made my day. I really hope you have similar success!

dfrostnh

I've never seen a moose in Maine. I have seen one, once, in my NH backyard and another time on the road a few miles from home. Agree with Ackislander that either early morning or dusk in your best time ... but maybe over in the Berlin area of NH. Maybe you'll see some seals if you take a boat trip!

nytraveler

There are a bunch of moose in Maine - but not at the beach. They live far inland - not in more heavily populated areas. If that's the real goal of your trip head into deep countryside.

bigtyke

www.northeastwhitewater.com in Greenville has moose watching tours

aggiegirl

Thanks for all the replies.