lvs

My husband and I are planning a July vacation in Maine. After a couple of days in Portland, we are thinking of 2 nights in Pemaquid Point and then possibly 2 to 3 nights in the Deer Isle area before heading closer to Arcadia for a couple of days to explore the park (possible staying around Hancock to avoid the crowds at Bar Harbor))

Any recommendations for lodgings around Deer Isle? We plan to explore Penbscot Bay area and go over to Isle au Haut for a day of hiking. Any other suggestions would also be appreciated. This is our first trip to Maine.

jcasale

I don't know any specific places on Deer Isle, but in Blue Hill my relatives have stayed at the Blue Hill Inn and liked it very much. There is also an Inn right on the water (I don't think the Blue Hill Inn is) in Surry (next town over) called the Surry Inn. The people who own it are very nice and the food in the dining room is quite good. There isn't much to see or do in Surry itself, but it is located right between Blue Hill and Ellsworth (gateway to Bar Harbor). If you want a little out of the way place to stay near Blue Hill you could try the Alamoosook Lodge in Orland. It is on a wonderful lake and is very peaceful and relaxing. We spent the night before and after our wedding there and have wonderful memories and pictures of it. All in all you will have a great trip no matter where you go. Yes, there will be alot of crowds around Bar Harbor, but you might also try the "quiet side" of the island - Bass Harbor, Northeast Harbor and Southwest Harbor. Just getting from Hancock onto the island can be a challenge since everything funnels through there in Route 3. Enjoy!

je

Last summer, my wife and I spent 2 nights at the Grey Rock Inn in Northeast Harbor. That is a delightful little town and you can drive to Acadia and Bar Harbor but avoid the crowds that surely will be there. The owners of the Grey Rock will suggest interesting itineraries for you and they have a wonderful breakfast each morning.

lvs

Thanks to both of you for your advice.

After spending 2 nights in Pemaquid Point at the Bradley Inn we will spend the next 2 nights at the Pilgrim's Inn in Deer Isle. Then one night at the Crocker House in Hancock to explore the Schoodic Pt. section of Acadia (which will keep us off Route 3 and off the island that day). Then we will be spending our last 2 nights in Maine at the Grey Rock Inn in N.E. Harbor which will give us 2 full days to explore the rest of Arcadia and do some hiking and touring. The Grey Rock website looked great and Adam has been incredibly helpful and knowledgeable about the area. Thanks for the great suggestion!

We'll be going to Nova Scotia on the catamaran round trip from Bar Harbor for 3 nights following our stay at Grey Rock. It should all be quite an adventure!

If you have any suggestions on specific itineraries, places to eat etc. I'd love to hear it. Perhaps we can get to Surry one night for dinner even if we aren't staying there.

Thanks again.
Linda

je

Linda - I think the Pilgrims Inn serves a very nice dinner. We ate at a very good restaurant in Blue Hill but I can't recall the name. Adam at the Grey Rock will be very helpful in that area. There's a great lobster pond over in SW Harbor, not too far from NE Harbor, that's a good choice as well as a nice restaurant on the main street of NE Harbor.

PamSF

We stayed at the Blue Hill Inn and liked it. By far our favorite was The Keeper's House on Isle au Haut.

nml12

PamSF- My husband and I were thinking of staying at Keeper's House inn on isle au haut. We have found very little information about it, except for their website and one bad review on trip advisor. We were hoping you could tell us about your experience and why you liked it so much.

Thanks.

PamSF

I think it depends on what you are looking for. The Keepers House is somewhat rustic(no electricity and ecology showers as in very low flow). That being said, we loved being on the island, biked all over the place and stared mid range a great deal. The owners are old lefties (who do not impose their world views) but it fit with ours so we were happy as clams. The food is very healthy however you eat what is served. Again, the cooking came from places like Greens, Moosewood Cookbook etc so it was just fine with us. If you want to drink alcohol you need to bring it with you.