Spending a 4-day weekend in Bar Harbor this coming weekend. Any recommendations for day trips from Bar Harbor -- towns/fishing villages with ambiance for strolling and lunch. Really don't want to drive more than an hour or so.

Southwest Harbor

Belfast

Thanks, Tracy. We will definitely take in Southwest Harbor while exploring the island.

Is Belfast like a lobster/fishing town/village? Where would be the best place to go and enjoy a picnic lunch?

No help? I'm just going to have to "wing it"? No Maine-iacs out there?

I believe you can take the ferry over to Nova Scotia. Haven't been there in many years, but I don't recall it being a terribly long ride.

Hi Budman,

I'm not sure that you need anything more for a 4-day weekend, just exploring the island should be plenty.

I highly DON'T recommend taking the ferry to NS! NS is wonderful, but in a day-trip you would mostly see Yarmouth, which just isn't worth the trouble and cost.

elberko, thanks. I've never been to that part of the country before. I usually wait until I get there and start questioning the locals.

Topping for more recommendations.

Have you looked at what is available in Acadia National Park? There are definitely strolling opportunities on the carriage roads in the park as well as at Jordan Pond. Try http://www.nps.gov/acad/ and http://www.acadia.national-park.com/

You can take a carriage ride, eat lunch at Jordan Pond or just ride the loop in the park stopping at the different sights.

Not sure what you most enjoy doing, but your screen name suggests an appreciation for a fine brew. In Bar Harbor, there is a micro brewery on a side street, off Cottage St. I thnk the place is called Lompoc. There is bocci ball. Across the street is a good Mexican place --Miguel's. Best pizza is at Rosalie's. I know you didn't ask about restaurants, but once I thought of Lompoc, I started to think of the places nearby.

Be sure to visit the visitor center for Acadia. There is a scale model of Mount Desert Island--MDI, good for orienting yourself and fun to see. Get a map of MDI.

In Acadia, there are many hikes, mostly easy. South Bubble is a great hike, overlooking Jordan Pond. There is a rock hovering on the edge. Try to push it off! Jordan Pond House is a nice restaurant with wonderful popovers and decent food, outdoor dining on the lawn. Leashed dogs allowed for Tea on the lawn. We used to joke that only pedigreed dogs with LLBean leashes were allowed. My dog was a Kinardly--you could 'ardly tell what kind she was!

There are carriage paths for bike riding, bike rentals in Bar Harbor. Kayaking tours around the island.
At low tide, there is a sand bar to Bar Island, off Bar Harbor. You can walk across, but watch the time of the turning tide. It comes in fast.

Southwest Harbor is my favorite town. I used to live there when it was much less built up. Drive from there out to Manset (you will need that map!) and go to Wonderland. A very easy walk out to a bit of beautiful rocky shoreline. Take a picnic to eat on the rocks. You can pick up sandwiches at Little Notch Bakery in Southwest. There is a tourist info place in front of the school where I used to teach, right on Main St. They have a nice free map of the "quiet side" of MDI.

Take a boat ride around MDI and the area. Lots of boat tours from Bar Harbor.

I have spent summers near MDI for over 40 years and am never bored. There are still hikes I haven't taken. If you really need to leave the Island, try a ferry out to Swan's Island. It leaves from Bass Harbor. Across from the ferry is good lobster place, not fancy, eat on the deck.

Ok, I've probably overloaded you! Clearly, I am looking forward to my time there in July. Please let me know if I can answer more questions.

Enjoy your trip!

elisabet, WOW!!! Great information. Thanks for taking your time and sharing that with me.

elisabet has just about covered it for you. For a 4 day trip don't bother leaving the island....way too much there to bother trying to drive anywhere far. We rented one of the little motorboats in Ba Haba and cruised the islands and had dolphins leaping alongside the boat...pure magic!
For a picnic, I'd suggest driving up Cadillac Mtn. and then wander away from the parking area and find a secluded spot overlooking Bar Harbor. Spread out the blanket and have a picnic while you watch the sailboats cruise among all the pine covered islands. I'll be there in July...I can hardly wait!

peterboy, thanks for your tips. I'm leaving Friday and really looking forward to this trip.

That's great. Now the last thing you'll need to know is this:

http://wwwa.accuweather.com/adcbin/p...er=accuweather

It looks good so far but cooler than you might expect. Bring a warm jacket for the evenings. That ocean air can cool things off in a hurry.

Peterboy, thanks for the link. It's our anniversary weekend and my wife has no idea where we're going. It's a surprise. She did asked me how she is to pack for this trip -- I told her to pack as if she were going back to Ireland. (We just got back last month)

The weather looks like it's going to be pretty similar.

There are a couple of great places to go canoeing, if you like that. We rented at a place on Long Pond, and also there used to be a place where you could rent and canoe on Soames Sound. Both were really pretty, and calm. At least if you get good weather.

It's been a while, but I think we took a boat tour out to the Cranberry Islands. This was fun. Lots of sea birds, seals, and good scenery.

Some great stuff here -- leaving in the morning -- anybody else have any other suggestions?