the.arys - gary and mary

2014-05-11 Acadia Hull Cove Visitor Center, carriage road to Witch Hole Pond, Paradise Hill

About 7 miles from our park is the main visitor center for Acadia National Park. They have an excellent short film on the park, and a large 3D model of Mount Desert Island which gives you a good feel for the layout of the mountains, roads, and trails. There are 50+ miles of carriage roads in the park, for foot, bicycle and horse traffic only. These roads were designed by John D Rockefeller to take in the views and natural beauty of the area. The bridges of Acadia were all built with local granite from right here on the island. When coming to Acadia, be prepared to ride. We hope to bicycle all the carriage roads this summer!

We walked the carriage road leading out of the visitor center parking lot, down to Witch Hole Pond and then up and over Paradise Hill which gives peak views of the shore line and Bar Harbor. It seems every lake and stream contains a family of beavers - they seem plentiful here.

Beaver lodge on Witch Hole Pond

One of many peak views from Paradise Hill

At home for another lovely sunset

2014-05-02 Our first excursion into Bar Harbor, walking the Shore Path

Our last drive from southern Maine to Mount Desert Island, we noticed a vibration in the front of the truck. Our first day here, we headed to the local mechanic - time for new bearings on the front end. However, he was backlogged and could not do the repairs until May 12. We weren't scheduled to start work until May 5, so we had time to explore, but unfortunately were tied down to short drives in the immediate area!

Our first day of exploring was a morning walk around Bar Harbor - 9 mile drive from home. We walked the Shore Path along the rugged rocky shore lined by multi-million dollar estates, then looped back around through a neighborhood of "quaint" coastal mansions and finally a stroll down main street and around town, amongst a plethora of touristy shops, eateries and pubs. It is a beautiful little town, very quiet now with only a few of the shops open yet. Will be a zoo later when the weather is warm and the cruise ships are in!

Waterfront in Bar Harbor

Agamont Park on the waterfront, Main Street shops in the background

The Bar Harbor Inn next to the West Street Pier

Cannons and the West Street Pier

The Shore Path was created over 130 years ago

Looking up at Bar Harbor Inn from the rocky shore

along the path

the fog is lifting

Balance Rock, deposited by glacier, is popular with photographers!

beauty in the mist

strolling along the sea wall

just another modest estate with manicured gardens

Balance Rock Inn

rocky and beautiful

Main Street shops

the Village Green

Looking down Cottage Street

Looking across Agamont Park to the waterfront

Testas on Main Street

Bar Harbor FD at the Village Green

2014-04 Arrived at our summer park, Bar Harbor / Oceanside KOA on Mount Desert Island

WooHoo! We made it! We parked the rig at the entrance and immediately walked the entire campground - wow, what a setting...

Several of the 17 deluxe cabins are on the ocean edge with spectacular views. Waterfront RV sites wrap around the point, some are nestled in the woods. The park will look very different when full of RV's come July and August, but right now - it's gorgeous!