Acadia National Park:
The second most visited National Park in the United States, Acadia National Park is open year round. Visitors can visit the visitor's center from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. May through early October.
In Acadia National Park there are more than 120 miles of marked trails. There are 17 mountains to climb. The Carriage Road consists of over 50 miles of broken stone roads built by John Rockefeller, Jr. which he later donated to the park. There are 18 stone bridges in the park. The Park Loop Road is 27 miles long. You can get to Sand Beach, Cadillac Mountain and Otter Cliffs on the Park Loop Road. In the park you will find 20 lakes and ponds. Acadia National Park also includes substantial tracts of land off Mount Desert Island. 2 miles from Bar Harbor by road. Acadia preserves 2000 acres on the tip of Schoodic Peninsula, the only section of the park on the mainland.
Southwest Harbor:
Southwest Harbor, Maine, is located at the southwestern entrance to Somes Sound on Mount Desert Island. It is often referred to as the 'quiet side' of the island because it has a mellower pace and is an easy distance from the more tourist oriented and busy Bar Harbor, located on the Northeast side of the island. Southwest Harbor has some great shops, galleries and eateries worth checking out. Access to the offshore islands by boat can be found here as well. The approximate population is 1,966 (per year 2000 census) and it encompasses 8,884 acres. Another place of note is the Wendell Gilley Museum of Bird Carving. Featured are the exceptional works of the world famous Wendell Gilley - widely recognized as one of the early pioneers of this American art form. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
NorthEast Harbor:
Over the years, Northeast Harbor, Maine, has become famous as much for its summertime residents as it has for its beautiful and protected harbor full of exclusive yachts and sailing vessels. You may be surprised to hear that its actually not an official township but rather part of the town of Mount Desert which covers 25,699 acres and has an approximate population of 2,109 (per the year 2000 census). Northeast Harbor is located on the southern end of Mount Desert Island at the entrance to Somes Sound - the only fjord on the East coast of the United States. It has a feeling of understated 'class' in a Maine way. There are several small and attractive boutiques and great places to eat. Of particular note, and places that you should consider visiting, are the Asticou and Thuya Gardens.
Golf:
For nearly one hundred years, golfers from all over the world, young and old, famous and not so famous, professional and novice, have thrilled to the challenges of the Kebo Valley Golf Club. Rich in tradition, endless in surprises, incapable of being mastered, the Kebo course, once played, never loses its attraction. Kebo is not just another golf course. Kebo is a source of pride for Mount Desert Island, an enticing lure to tourists from around the world, a noble adversary to all who play the course. Kebo is a living thing to the people who challenge its fairways. Its face and character constantly change with the seasons, the wind conditions and even with the daily movement of the sun. Nature conspires will in this place, often changing a brilliant nine holes-or even fifteen-into a frustrating day's work by the time the golfer walks up the 18th fairway. But Kebo is also a special place to those who have never played the game of golf. It preserves hundreds of acres of land in their natural state, providing a recreational resource which helps draw thousands to Mount Desert Island. It is a sanctuary amidst the hectic pace of a Bar Harbor summer.
Other Activities:
Carriage Rides, Canoeing, Kayaking, Bird Watching, Whale Watching, Painting, Photography, Lobster Fishing, Snow Mobiles, Hiking, and Rock Climbing.
