Beyond Bar Harbor Maine-Winter Harbor
 

I've enjoyed reading the Maine topics but wonder why so few venture beyond Bar Harbor to see some of the most gorgeous part of the Maine coast. The Schoodic section of Acadia National Park is considered by many to be the most beautiful, and it remains relatively undiscovered, heightening the pleasure because you aren't fighting traffic or crowds.

Winter Harbor is just a ferry ride away from Bar Harbor, or drive up (or, DOWNEAST) from Bar Harbor, enjoying the scenery along the way.

The town of Winter Harbor is a real treat. There are good restaurants, a vintage 5 & 10, a nice upscale deli, galleries, in a QUIET, untouristy setting. The entire Schoodic Peninsula is worth a visit. We stumbled upon it after hearing others rave, and now we make it our destination every summer. We get a picnic lunch in Winter Harbor at JM Gerrish deli (turn right at the cove), then head for Schoodic Point to sit on the huge expanse of rock jutting out into the open ocean, sunning, reading, climbing about on the rock shelves.

I recommend the Schoodic Peninsula and that section of Acadia National Park for some of the most beautiful and dramatic Maine coastal scenery.

Thanks KAC,

We've been meaning to get there: mostly like staying out of the car once we get to Bar Harbor, but maybe we'll give it a try next month- it's sounds great.

~Liz

How far of a drive is it from Bar Harbor?

I was just looking into it.

Mapquest says:
Total Est. Time: 1 hour, 19 minutes Total Est. Distance: 42.77 miles

Ferry option ( which sounds expensive)
http://www.barharborferry.com/BarHarborFerry/

Bar Harbor to Winter Harbor shouldn't take you more than an hour, and it's a scenic drive so it doesn't seem that long. It's well worth the drive, and the Schoodic section of Acadia is often referred to as the most beautiful. And it's not crowded. That's what we heard and it lured us there, and we go back every year. We're even buying a vacation home/rental property there in Winter Harbor because it captivated us, and it's still within reach of Bar Harbor when we need that "fix." The ferry between Bar Harbor and Winter Harbor is $24 roundtrip for adults. That would be an outting in itself. Once at the Winter Harbor end there is a free Island Explorer bus that travels the Schoodic Peninsula section of Acadia National Park so you don't need your car. And Winter Harbor restaurants are within walking distance.

Another nice way to visit the real "Downeast Maine" is to take a trip, north of Bar Harbor/Ellsworth and go North on Route 1. Hit the little Maine towns of Jonesport, Machias, Lubec, Eastport or Calais. It is rural, but there are plenty of campgrounds, hotels and cottages to stay at. Check it out, beautiful little seacoast towns.

Since we just returned yesterday from a week's stay at Winter Harbor, I couldn't agree more. The area is beautiful, peaceful and uncrowded. Just wanted to mention that if you take the ferry to Bar Harbor, the Island Explorer bus can take you all around Mt. Desert Island too. We also drove to Bar Harbor (1 hour) so we could bike and hike Acadia and had no problems with traffic as we had anticipated. It's definitely a place we will return to.

OK. Everyboby just shush up and Winter Harbor will stay the way you like it a little longer.

The (free) Island Explorer bus has a route from Winter Harbor (at the Bar Harbor-Winter Harbor ferry landing) through the Schoodic section of Acadia National Park, and through part of the Schoodic Peninsula. If ever they add an Island Explorer bus from Bar Harbor to Winter Harbor and Schoodic Point, many more people will discover the best kept secret of the Winter Harbor-Schoodic section beauty, without additional traffic.
The Island Explorer bus system is one of the best ideas ever! I wish it ran year round.

we will be in Winter Harbor in a couple of weeks. do you have suggestions as to where to stay? we are thinking of Main Stay cottages...do you know the place? thnx

We stayed in the Ledgelawn cottage at Main Stay last July and thought it was perfect for a couple plus another adult traveling together. Very clean, well equipped, nice views. Make sure you visit the beach at the end of the bay if you like collecting sea glass. Wish I had picked up more.

"Down East" is lovely.

We've driven all the way up Route 1, through Calais, and over into New Brunswick, Canada a few times.

Note: If you love REAL lobster stew, watch for a small white restaurant (wish I could remember its name!), right next to the road, on the left as you go north, in Pembroke, Maine! Their lobster stew is just that -- plenty of lobster meat (enough so it was sticking up out of the bowl), butter and cream -- period. No potatoes or anything else!

Winter Harbor is wonderful - small, quaint, scenic. We've rented 2 years in a row now and have fallen in love with the area. We like the Bunker Wharf restaurant in Birch Harbor, just a few miles up the road.

I visited Winter Harbor about 32 years ago and fell in love with its charm. I am glad to hear it is still the same.

I believe the restaurant you are referring to in Pembroke is the Crossroads.

We just returned from a great trip to DownEast Maine.

ttt

Not sure the name of that Pembroke, Maine place, but you could be right!

All we remember is a nice clean little white restaurant, right on Rouyte 1, that had fabulous lobster stew!