Gearing up for Acadia!

We%26#39;re counting down to the single digits for our annual BH trip and were thinking of trying something new this year. Does anyone know about the ferry that goes from BH to Winter Harbor? In all our years on MDI we%26#39;ve never been to that part of the park (Schoodic) and understand that there is ferry service from Town Pier to Winter Harbor with the Island Explorer available on the other end. We%26#39;re thinking of bringing our bikes on the ferry and riding around, what%26#39;s the terrain like? Any deli%26#39;s or sandwich shops nearby? My hiking books list some hikes and they look like fun.

Gearing up for Acadia!

Well, in advance, have a safe trip here, and welcome back.

Yes, there is a combined Explorer--Ferry service. The schedule and bus route are at: %26lt; http://www.exploreacadia.com.%26gt;

Regarding the ferry, as I interpret the schedule put out by Island Explorer, it leaves BH at 1000, 1200, 1400, and 1600. Return trips are at 1100, 1300, 1500, and 1700. The fare is $29.50 per adult plus $6.00 for each bike. When I talked to the young lady in the ferry office just now, I forgot to ask if reservations were necessary. The phone number is 207 288-2984.

The terrain is bike-friendly. There are some hills, but in my travels there (admittedly not by bycycle), I don%26#39;t recall any hills of the height or length of some of those on the carriage roads here on MDI. It is a lovely place---I think that you would enjoy it.

Winter Harbor has restaurants and probably a deli, but I couldn%26#39;t swear to it. The Fisherman%26#39;s Inn restaurant in Winter Harbor is very good.

Gearing up for Acadia!

Oh, yes, do come over to Winter Harbor and the Schoodic section of Acadia National Park. It is very bike friendly - we see lots of bike tour groups going through to Schoodic Point (via the one way loop road) and even on to Prospect Harbor and Corea.

The Island Explorer bus schedule is tied into the Winter Harbor - Bar Harbor ferry schedule. The buses have bike racks in case you wish to ride the bus to a point, then bike. About the ferry:

downeastwindjammer.com/BarHarborFerry/index.…

In Winter Harbor is the JM Gerrish Provisions Gournet Cafe (with free wifi), offering sandwiches, ice cream, coffees, salads, wonderful bakery items. You can sit inside or out on the little roadside patio. The Cafe is on upper Main Street. From the cove where Rt. 186 come to a T, proceed past the service station, past the IGA food market, up the hill and look on the right. The cafe is directly across from the Winter Harbor 5%26amp;10 general store. If you continue past the cafe, turn left onto Grindstone Neck, you can ride those roads among the summer mansion cottages and down to the water (the water is downhill going, of course).

You might find this article helpful:

…mainetoday.com/biking/040801biking.shtml

Skip Acadia`s crowds; Schoodic`s just as scenic

Post again if you have additional questions. My husband and I own a vacation rental in Winter Harbor but we spend a lot of time there and are always eager to help others discover the beauty of Schoodic Acadia National Park and Winter Harbor, it%26#39;s host town.

Kathleen

winterharborhouse[at]yahoo[dot]com

Wow, thank you to you both for your prompt and informative responses! It looks like a fun adventure, so we%26#39;ll work it into our two week stay. It%26#39;s a great help to have local ';detectives'; assisting in the planning of our new experience; even though we%26#39;ve been coming to MDI for almost 20 years this is a new area for us.