Help planning my trip to Maine

Next summer I will be spending a week in Maine with my husband, and need some help planning where to go and what to do. I definitely want to go to Bar Harbor and Acadia Park for a few days. How many days should I plan on that portion of the trip? Where should I go for the remainder of the trip. I will have access to a car, and would like to stay close to the shoreline. Any help and advice would be appreciated.

Help planning my trip to Maine

Where will you be picking up your car, and will you have a central location to take trips from?

Help planning my trip to Maine

I think I will be picking up the car from Bangor Airport (although I am pretty flexible). I was thinking of making my home base Bar Harbor (again...I am flexible).

Some resources to get you started:

%26lt;http://www.acadiamagic.com%26gt;

has a wealth of information on Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor, including activities, lodging, bike and kayak rentals, etc.

If you are interested in B%26amp;Bs,

%26lt;http://www.sleepbarharbor.com%26gt;

provides descriptions and photos of Bar Harbor B%26amp;Bs as well as rates and availability.

If you are interested in what sort of weather you may encounter,

%26lt;http://www.wunderground.com/tripplanner/index.asp%26gt;

provides summaries as well as historical data---just type in Bar Harbor or the zip code--04609-- and the range of dates that interest you.

The Overview section at the top of the Bar Harbor Forum page has information on hikes, walks, restaurants, and reading material about this area.

As to where to go and how long to stay, well, there are those who think a week in Acadia is not nearly enough. It depends, of course, in what sorts of things interest you. From Bar Harbor, there are fairly easy day trips to Schoodic Peninsula, much of which is also part of ANP, as well as to Deer Isle and Stonington---a very lovely part of downeast Maine. Headed the other way, there is Lubec and Campobello (and read Countymounty%26#39;s description of the Cutler area in the Cutler thread on the Bar Harbor forum).

The forums specific to this area, e.g., those for Bar Harbor and for Acadia National Park contain a lot of information and opinion regarding things to see/do as well as lodging and dining alternatives.

Happy planning.

I spent a week there a few years ago and really did not feel like I scratched the surface. And I almost never spend that many days in one place on vacation, but there are so many different things to do. I spent a couple of days biking the carriage trails, kayaked, a couple of short hikes (really more like walks), a day riding the islands and a day trip to West Quoddy, then time off and on in Bar Harbor. I stayed at Blackwoods Campground in the National Park. I am pretty sure it has a trail to seaside.

But you could easily spend a couple of days hiking, a day at least for a sea trip (I kayaked but whale watching and stuff is available), another day to Schoodic Penisula, another day you could day trip up to West Quoddy Head (up north near Canada but is a bit of a drive), and another day to explore the island and its small towns, and at least a day or two in Bar Harbor.

Oops---

Countyymounty%26#39;s description is on the Cutler forum (and also shows up as part of this general Maine forum page).