In early July I will be joining a research programme on Isle au Haut and was planning on spending 3 to 4 days in the surrounding coastal area beforehand. I will fly into Bangor and was hoping to use the local bus service rather than hiring a car. I am from the UK and this will be my first visit to Maine and I would be very grateful for any recommendations from those who know this area well as my time will be so short. Thank you in advance for your help!

Juliet:

First, let me say that Isle au Haut is beautiful. It's a lovely place as it is a little off the beaten path but still supports a small community of fishermen. There are ample areas to bike and walk about.

Alas, the U.S. is not nearly as wise as the U.K. is when it comes to bus service. Unlike England, where you can snag a bus just about anywhere, Maine is not. You are definitely going to need a car to get around.

Bangor is inland so you'll need a car just to get out to the coast. But you'll enjoy the ride. Maine is incredibly clean and has no annoying billboards, unlike many U.S. roadways.

I would recommend a visit to Camden, as it is a good example of a Maine seacoast town. It was where poet Edna St. Vincent Millay was born and the film "Peyton Place" was filmed.

I am more familiar with the Southern part of Maine but I am sure others can help you with more suggestions. Enjoy your visit!

Thanks so much for your response. Do you think it would be good if I went directly to Camden and took a windjammer cruise and saw the coast of Maine that way? It seems that, given my time constraints, and as so much of Maine is worth visiting, perhaps a boat trip might be best. Trouble is I would be sad to miss seeing Blue Hill, Bar Harbor and the other sites that many people rave about. Such a choice! Thank you for your help.

Although people rave about windjammer cruises, I think you should look into a short cruise or look for a specific narrated cruise. Check out the schedule of day trips at the website for the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath. We took a very interesting cruise to see lighthouses. In Bar Harbor you can also take a short cruise to see seals and eagles. I don't think you should miss driving around Mt Desert. The views are spectacular. We didn't go to the top of Cadillac for the sunrise but I would chose to do that next time. You can drive to the top and you might want to sit for awhile. Bag chairs have become popular here and are very inexpensive. You might want to buy one when you are here. They fold up and fit into a small duffle bag which has a shoulder strap. You will also need a car to explore down side roads to find a great place for lobster on an open deck. Yankee Magazine is a regional publication and you might find some good tips on their website: www.newengland.com.

Juliet, Donna is right. Bar Harbor is a wonderful place to explore. You could even take a boat out to see whales and puffins. Acadia National Park on Mt Desert Island is also great for mountain biking. There is a small restuarant called Jordan Pond House which I would strongly recommend trying to visit as their popovers are the very best food our family has ever had on vacation. Good luck, and enjoy! Rose

There is so much to see in this area-- I do hope you love it. I loved Blue Hill and Camden, and I wish I'd spent more time on Deer Isle. A very charming area.

I have mixed feelings about the cruise. I'm sure it would be terrific, and the view from the water is wonderful, but then it would be unfortunate to miss the inland towns! Donna's sugggestion about a day trip sounds like a good one (and the Maritime Museum is very interesting).

In case you have any hesitation, let me mention that this is very easy country to drive in. If your research program in relatively short (a week or two) you might even find it cost effective to rent a car for the whole time. We did this last summer when we did a combined driving and sailing trip.