Downeast Maine

Biking the carriage roads of Acadia, swimming, kayaking out front, or boating the bays and lakes, hiking the land where the mountains meet the ocean. These activities are here in abundance, along with, of course, Maine Lobster! We'll direct you to all the usual 'must see' tourist destinations along with some lesser known but equally pristine out of the way places for swimming, hiking, picnicking, or for a scenic relaxing drive along the ocean. One of the most helpful tools for exploring the coast is "The Maine Atlas & Gazetter." It's a detailed map that will help you find all the out of the way spots less visited. It's available at local bookstores, grocer's, ect.

Swimming: The usual well known lakes and swimming spots for Acadial National Park are well listed and documented, so we'll skip them (though you may choose not to!). Locally, in town there are three exceptional lakes of interest. Tunk lake, voted one of the ten best pristine lakes in the state of Maine, Donnell Pond, which though hard to believe, rivals Tunk, and Little tunk, a little gem of a lake not to be missed. Great for kids!

There are also mountain hikes accessible from here. A notable one is Schoodic Mountain, with stupendous views of the Downeast coast.

Fine Dining: (and we do mean fine!)

One of our favorite restaurants the next town over is the Crocker House Country Inn. Famous for it's Crocker House Scallops, and other local seafoods, it's easy to get to, with the warm county welcome visitors and locals all cherish. We're happy to recommend family dining and fine dining to help you enjoy all the tastes of downeast Maine.

Family Dining: Going to be down in Acadia National Park? Just this side of Southwest Harbor on Rt. 102, try "DiMuro's Top of the Hill Restaurant". Great mussels marinara, and great fried haddock and clams! And of course lobster specials. Great food, reasonable prices (open at 5 pm).

Schoodic Point

Winter Harbor & Acadia National Park, Schoodic Point: Continuing North on US 1 in Sullivan, turn right onto Rt. 186 and follow that into the town of Winter Harbor, to the stop sign. Turn left, and 3/4 mile on your right is the entrance to Acadia National Park, Schoodic Peninsula. This becomes a one way loop that includes beautiful open ocean and mountain vistas of Mount Desert Island, with the road passing right along the ocean's edge.

Corea by the sea " ": A short extended tour of Downeast Maine: As you exit Schoodic peninsula, you will arrive back at Rt. 186. You can turn left and head back to Winter Harbor, and Sullivan, or instead... turn right and continue "down east" to the town of Prospect Harbor. The trick here in Prospect Harbor is to turn right onto Rt. 195 but you'll first see Rt. 195 on your left. A hundred yards past 195 on your left is 195 on your right (a street sign will mark it as "Corea Rd." Turn right onto 195, bear left with 195, and a mile or so on your right, you'll see a sand beach (across from a B&B). A couple of miles beyond this beach is the town of Corea. It is a real working fishing village and harbor, and was the adopted home of Louise Dickenson Rich who wrote here about the coast of Maine .

Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park & Mount Desert Island: Shortcut to "The Park" without going through Ellsworth: Cross the bridge heading South on US 1 (a Gazetteer helps), look for the Mud Creek Road, (1/2 mile past Viking Lumber & Hardware in Hancock) turn left and follow that to the yeild sign where you'll turn right onto Rt. 204. Follow to the stop sign, turn left, then a quick right (still on 204). The road bears left, and ends at a stop sign at Rt. 3. A left takes you to Mount Desert Island, Bar Harbor, and Acadia National Park.This little back way passes through hay fields, meadows, and a salt marsh, some of the prettiest farm land in the area. It's all wonderful.