Hello again, thanks for all the advice fodorites. I have another question if you will.

On our lighthouse trip to Maine, we would love to see the lighthouse in Lubec (West Quoddy).

The question is should we make it a day trip to just see the lighthouse and maybe come back to Bar Harbor?

I had originally thought we would spend the night there. I'm not seeing a lot of places to stay and a lot of things to do either.

Mapquest shows it to be around a 3 hr drive from Bar Harbor ( which we plan on spending about 3 nights there). I wasn't sure about the traffic going that far north in June.

I would normally say oh well and not go, but my cousin and I have decided that is a must see lighthouse.

Any suggestions? Also I checked places to stay in Machias, Eastport, and Bangor. Nothing sounds great. We would be making this the last stop before making our way back to Boston.

Thanks in advance
Mel

We visited that lighthouse summer of 06 - we stayed in a great place in Machias I think - let me find my notes - also had a great lunch at a nearby cafe and a great dinner in Machias at a fabulous, tiny restaurant - the lighthouse was a treat - the easternmost in the U.S.

That would be great escargot!!! I think it is a beautiful lighthouse. Even if we just drive up and say ohhh and awwwww and leave I think it would be worth it.

I found my post on that B & B - the link is below - there is also the Tide Mill Farm I mention which is a longer stay, but we've met the owners and toured their farm and they are so nice and friendly I am sure if you emailed and asked them they could recommend a good spot for you to stay - they were quite well known in the town of Machias so I would expect them to be a good resource - I think her name was Carly - the people at Whiting Bay knew them also and vice versa - small town - so I think you could count on them for referral -

In looking for my post I saw a long one on touring lighthouses so I also listed that below in case you didn't see it before - have fun !

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...1&tid=34843776


http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...1&tid=34852125

Thanks again escargot, you are fab!!

The only thing about B&B is that it is my cousin and I and we would prefer separate beds. Most of the B&B's have only one bed or you have to rent 2 rooms. We are hoping to share the cost of the rooms. So motels usually work best for that. PLus it is suits our all night talking escapades LOL!!!!

But I appreciate the advice!!! I wonder what people do without fodors. I tell everyone I meet that is looking forward to planning a trip about FODORS!!!

I think Whiting Bay has rooms with twins, but either way, I bet Tide Mill could help you out also -

have fun!

or bring an air mattress in a bag or a sleeping bag and take the lighthouse room - i think that's the one we had - it's in a separate carriage house on the grounds separate from the house - plenty of privacy and a little kitchenette in it too with sitting area

I'm emailing the Whiting Bay about the twin beds. I don't see any on their website.

We would be flying into Boston, so wouldn't be able to bring sleeping bags or an air mattress.

if you go on the web link that was in my report and keep scrolling down there are photos of each room with descriptions - I think the twin room is in the main house - maybe they have a cot or something you can use in the lighthouse room ?? it was sucha great spot with our own deck, etc. - hey, you never know unless you ask ! good luck.

Thanks, I'll try. Of course the lighthouse room would be so fitting!

I'm looking for a past post on Winter Harbor vs Bar Harbor. I'm having trouble finding it. I thought maybe we should adventure over there instead of Bar Harbor. But I can't find it yet. I always have trouble with the search aspect of fodors. I also have trouble with the yellow pages if that tells you anything.

the search function can be weird.
try typing it in a zillion different ways -
Winter Harbor, Maine
Bar Harbor, Maine
Bar Harbor or Winter Harbor
Winter Harbor or Bar Harbor
Maine: Bar Harbor or Winter Harbor

etc, etc,......sometimes I can find old posts that way...as an FYI what i do is email those posts when I see them to myself - and then I transfer them all into a travel folder under different topics, that way I always have them.

As long as you're driving up to Lubec, you should stay in the area and drive over the bridge to Campobello Island, Canada. Visit Roosevelt's summer cottage and drive to the Northern tip to see their famous white lighthouse with a red cross. It is beautiful and I remember doing these things as a day trip several years ago from a camping area near Eastport. If you have passports bring them. They aren't required but getting across the border has become a little more difficult.

Helen's, in Machias, is famous for its pies - blueberry and all other kinds. There is also a small motel which is clean and some rooms have views out the back over the bay where you can see bald eagles.

While you are in Lubec cross the bridge to Campobello Island and visit the summer cottage (34 rooms) where FDR spent some of his summers as a young boy.

I topped "Beyond Bar Harbor Maine..." for you. Did you happen to see it? It's already down to 68 on the list, but it seems to be the info you're looking for.

Thank you Clousie that is the thread I was looking for. I thought I would check out Winter Harbor as well.


We don't have passports. I was wondering about crossing over into Canada. When we went to Alaska, we crossed the border into Canada and just had to show DL & birth certificate. I was hoping it would be the same thing now.

I'll check into the FDR summer home.

Thanks again all.

We visited the FDR cottage this summer. When we crossed all you needed both ways was a photo ID issued by a government agency. In that case a drivers license will do nicely. That is what we used.

When are you going? I thought it was for June of next year, 2008 ?? If so, I would advise you apply for a passport anyway, what the heck - I thought yoyu were going to need them for Canada, maybe not - but even if not, why not have one - you never know when you might want one and then the wait can be excruciating with the back up - if you applied within the next month, you would definitely have it early 08.

True escargot. We started to apply for one when we went to Alaska and then we thought when would we ever need to go out of the country again. Now look. I'm wanting to go back to Canada!!!

I spent two weeks in Lubec in summer 2006 attending Summerkeys, a music camp for adults from all over the U.S. and Canada. I loved this little town!

Here are my suggestions for a trip to Lubec and the West Quoddy Lighthouse:

Drive to Lubec and stay at the Peacock House (named for a previous owner, not for the bird). This is an historic house that is beautifully furnished with Sue and Dennis, the owners, providing wonderful breakfasts and personal attention. There is at least one very attractive room on the first floor with twin beds.

Here is the link to the website:
http://peacockhouse.com/

Make sure that you get up before sunrise and drive to the West Quoddy Lighthouse which is only about five minutes away from the Peacock House. Arrive while the sky is still dark with warm clothes or blankets to wrap around yourselves. The lighthouse itself is beautiful with the sun rising but the most incredible experience is to listen to the seals on the uninhabited islands close to shore waking up to dawn's early light. As the pre dawn light brightens into sunrise, the seals bark softly and then louder to greet the new day. I have to say it was such an incredible experience that I went on two different mornings and hope to return.

You MUST go to FDR's home on Campobello. It's a beautiful house and contains artifacts of the family's time there. Campobello is so close to the West Quoddy Lighthouse it would be a shame to miss it. I was especially curious to see it because it is where FDR got polio which was the essential reason Eleanor became the forceful First Lady FDR needed her to be. From an architectural point of view, the house is definitely worth a visit.

Also, in Lubec, just before the bridge to Canada, you can sample and buy sumptuous handmade chocolates at Monica's. These chocolates are absolutely outstanding.

In Lubec there is a good cafe on the street adjacent to the water called the Atlantic House Coffee Shop. There are a few tables on the deck overlooking the water. I highly recommend the spanakopita -- it's made by an excellent chef/baker that I talked with at length when I was there. Her outstanding fruit pies are unusual because of the high quality of the ingredients.

On a steep hill that rises from the water to the churches at the top of the hill, there is a house with a sign out front advertising Christmas items made in Germany. If it is open when you are there, I recommend stopping by if this kind of item is of interest. The owner is a woman from Germany who loves the German ornaments and candleholders.

If you happen to go to Lubec during the Summerkeys summer music program, there are concerts in the church at the top of the hill open to the public usually on Thursday and Friday nights. On almost any evening in the summer, if you walk around after dinner, you can hear the sound of the musicians practicing in trios and quartets as you pass by the guesthouses throughout the town.

Have a wonderful trip to Lubec!
Jane in Connecticut

Thank you Jane, I feel as if I am already in Lubec. Your descriptions are awesome.

We will be going to LUBEC!!!

Thanks for all the advice everyone.