Scenic Drives

Any recommendations on scenic drives and/or rainy day activities for some tourists staying in Bar Harbor in a few weeks? Doesn%26#39;t have to be real close to Bar Harbor, just something for a day trip. Thanks.

Scenic Drives

Not for a rainy day but for a full day trip you might take a trip downeast and check out the Lubec/Campobello area if you haven%26#39;t been there in the past. West Quoddy Head in Lubec is nice and the Roosevelt Internation park on Campobello. You could also check out Roques Bluff State park beach and or Jasper%26#39;s Beach in the Machias area. This would involve about a 2 to 2 1/2hr drive each way so would truly be a full day trip.

Scenic Drives

An alternative would be to head the other way on Rte. 1 and visit the Deer Isle/Stonington area. Very scenic and much different from most of MDI. You could combine that with dinner at one of the restaurants in Blue Hill---Arbor Vine or Westcott Forge. If you have time, do both---further east to the Lubec area, then back west to Deer Isle/Stonington/Blue Hill.

I grew up in the area ';cwvoight'; mentions and can give you a very scenic route indeed via smaller roads, some without route numbers. Let me know if you are inetrested.

Can drive over to schoodic point and explore that area. It%26#39;s beautiful to get out of the car too.

The best thing we ever did during one of our many visits to Bar Harbor was to visit and fall in love with Schoodic Peninsula and Winter Harbor.

Drive back to Ellsworth, turn right to take Rt. 1 northeast, traveling the Schoodic Scenic Byway - about 19 miles from Ellsworth turn right on Rt. 186 to the Schoodic Peninsula. http://www.schoodicbyway.org/ , an additional 7 miles to Winter Harbor.

In Winter Harbor turn left at the waterfront, go less than a mile, turn right at the big sign to enter the Schoodic Point section of Acadia National Park. Stop at Frazer Point (view, picnic tables, grills, view, restrooms, view).. Travel on (the road from Frazer Point is two lanes going one way) to Schoodic Point. Once you are aware of the Schoodic Peninsula, you%26#39;ll start noticing reviews that tell you this is the most beautifully compact section of Acadia National Park.

Have lunch or dinner at Fisherman%26#39;s Inn (on the right - across from the water - atsyou arrive in Winter Harbor). (Another option is to go first to JM Gerrish to pick up sandwiches and beverages for a picnic. gourmet sandwiches and desserts at JM Gerrish Cafe (turn right at the waterfront when you arrive in Winter Harbor, go up the hill, look on the right, across from the Winter Harbor 5%26amp;10 general store. http://www.winterharbor5and10.com/

If you continue past JM Gerrish, you will see two nice shops (local artisans, antiques, books signed by Maine authors) and a couple of small galleries. Turn left to explore Grindstone Neck summer colony and the huge ';cottages'; that line the neck.

An art gallery on the way to JM Gerrish (on the right) http://www.whopaints.com/

Harbor Treasures shop is past JM Gerrish Cafe, as is Works of Hand and Maloue´ Gallery.

Here%26#39;s an article that will introduce you to Winter Harbor:

www.explorenewengland.com/travel…

Get on a ferry and go to one of the islands. Take some bikes.

You can catch a car ferry to Swans Island or the mailboat ferry to the Cranberries. Great Cranberry has nice long roads for cycling, Little Cranberry (Islesford) has a nice restaurant, art gallery, a historical museum and other shops for poking around.

Don%26#39;t forget to bring some bread to hand feed the seagulls at Schoodic Point!

Thanks to all!!

hand cream