Im4Wine

We are staying at the Bar Harbor Inn. We plan on hiking and would love some trail suggestions--anything from 1-6 miles would be great.

We would also like to explore Nova Scotia one of the days (or part of a day). Any suggestions on how best to get there and what to see?

Finally, we need some restaurant suggestions. My husband loves all types of seafood and really wants that "Maine" lobster experience.

Any other suggestions for attractions, things not to miss is appreciated.

Thanks!

elberko

First, there is no way to get to NS as a daytrip, the CAT ferry is no more, and even when it WAS running, a day-trip was a bad idea.

There is trail information on the official Acadia site:
http://www.nps.gov/acad/planyourvisit/hiking.htm
but I would suggest getting a map/book for more complete info.

The Maine lobster experience is best at a lobster pound picnic table. Our favorite is Trenton Bridge lobster pound:
http://www.trentonbridgelobster.com/

Enjoy your trip! We'll be there in September for our 7 or 8th time!

~Liz

dcd

We were there the last week of Sept in 2009 for 4 nights and had a great time.

We were hoping for some spectacular fall colors but it was about 10 days early for peak. I knew there was peak color in certain parts of northern Maine so I cold-called some B&Bs in various towns (laptops are great for finding out that kind of stuff) and got the straight scoop both with respect to the colors and weather.

I found positive reports in Jackman which is NW of Bangor along Rt. 201 not far from the Canadian border and off we went. Just south of Jackman, we were rewarded for our efforts when around the bend we were suddenly met with trees bursting with color. We then had a good lunch in Jackman at the Four Seasons Restaurant and drove about 10 minutes north to the border. Just beautiful. Although it was a long day (6 hours round trip, I think), the scenery was worthwhile as the leaves had begun to change throughout the drive.

We loved Lulu's Lobster Boat.

We ate lobster every day and didn't get tired of it! On Desert Island, there's a lobster shack with cheaper carry-out a bit north of Bar Harbor on Rt 3 called Bar Harbor Lobster Shack. We had them cook the lobsters and brought them to our rental house. Excellent! http://tinyurl.com/2fkmo3e

Drive around the island and plan for lunch at one of the lobster pounds along the way such as Thurston's which has very nice views of the water and great food! http://www.thurstonslobster.com/

Go to Jordan Pond for a hike around the lake and have lunch at the Jordan Pond House Restaurant at a table on the lawn overlooking the Pond, which is really a nice lake. A little pricy but worth it. Popovers to die for! Just beautiful on a nice day but those tables are limited and are VERY popular. Plus parking there around lunch time is a bear. So either plan to get to the Restaurant 30 minutes before it opens (the hiking trail starts there) and get in line for a table or arrive earlier in the morning and do the hike first, arriving back at the restaurant 15-30 minutes before the restaurant opens so you can get in line for an outside table.

Wish we were going back this fall!

Here are some links to my Maine research folder:

http://tinyurl.com/2f2kwys
http://www.lululobsterboat.com/
http://tinyurl.com/29axq8d
http://tinyurl.com/mw76tj
http://www.maine.gov/doc/foliage/
http://www.primroseinn.com/activities.php
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...bor_Maine.html
http://www.acadiamagic.com/acadia_national_park.html

Kwoo

I recommend Thurston's Lobster Pound, too. Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound is good, too, but I prefer Thurston's location.

Gwendolyn53

I have been spending summers for the last six years on MDI and ended up buying a house there. I love it so much! I recommend Thurston's, along with everyone else, but also Town Hill Bistro and Red Sky on the "quietside" and Mache Bistro and Havana in Bar Harbor. These reviews may be helpful:

http://www.ouracadia.com/restaurants.php?pg_id=4

Here too is a list of recommended hikes more on the moderate to challenging scale:

http://ouracadia.com/blog/?p=23

Im4Wine

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions.

Gwendolyn53~love the blog! Will definitely read through the posts.

DCD--thanks for access to all your research!