Bar Harbor Insider

2011-06-21T06:38:00.000-07:00

Up, up in the air in my beautiful balloon! I took the family recently to the annual Quechee Balloon Festival and Craft Show in scenic Quechee, Vermont near Woodstock. We had a blast and it really was an uplifting experience. Groan I know, awful puns, forgive me!

If you've never attended a balloon festival the only way to decribe it is to compare it to a fireworks display because the crowd is waiting for the exciting moment for of the balloon ascension when the colorful balloons are inflated and start to emerge from the ground and float up into the air. I makes you feel like your one of the munchkins in The Wizard of Oz!

Hot Air Balloon Calendar

Artwork for sale

2011-06-14T13:42:00.000-07:00

Summertime on the Quietside!

2009-04-28T10:11:00.000-07:00

It doesn't get better than this!

Play bocce on the home court, stroll through the mature gardens, reach down and pluck a sun ripened tomato, lounge around the campfire, put your feet up in the screened patio with a good book.

Or take a short walk down to the town dock and take your boat out for a ride or buy a lobster for dinner from the local fishermen.

This Mount Desert Island (Bar Harbor, Southwest Harbor, Tremont, Northeast Harbor) home is for sale. See the entire listing here.

Tremont MLS #927751

In Town Bar Harbor Home - Close to everything!

2009-04-28T10:02:00.000-07:00

Walk to shops, restaurants, school, YMCA, shore path, library. Everything that Bar Harbor has to offer is a short stroll from this fine in town property. Nice backyard that abuts the town ball fields for privacy. Great neighborhood filled with friendly porches, dog walkers, joggers, bikers.

See real estate listing

Next best thing to MDI ocean front living

2009-04-14T11:07:00.000-07:00

Why pay high taxes for oceanfront when you can simply stroll down to the "Algerian Coast" in beautiful, uncrowded Seal Cove?

Surrounded by Nature Conservancy land on three sides, eagles fly over head daily. You're only immediate neighbor is a summer guest cottage. The road only has six owners including a 65 acer farm, a summer cottage and a few family compounds. Six months out of the year the cove is your's alone. The rest of the year join the neighbors and a few tourists for BBQ's over an open fire on the shore.

Or moor your boat in the town landing. Join the kayak tours or explore Seal Cove on your own in your own boat. Hike the local trails from your front door or take a quick drive to Acadia National Park which surrounds the area.

The house is a expanded salt box cape with post and beams with a great sunroom, screened three season room. Complete with hammock and outdoor spa! The perfect place to be unless you like being crammed in Bar Harbor with the assault of cruise ships and tourists.

Seal Cove House

Lighthouses of Bar Harbor and the Acadia Region

2009-02-26T10:39:00.001-08:00

Arcadia Publishing has a new book out in its popular Images of America Series. With over 200 historic photographs, Lighthouses of Bar Harbor and the Acadia Region showcases the light houses of the region. We hope to have review copy of the book soon.

Bar Harbor House For Sale - Ledgelawn

2009-02-01T08:37:00.000-08:00

Location, location, location! Affordable, cute three bedroom home with nice in town backyard, neighbor porch, lots of recent updates including new bathroom and office area. Excellent location, walk to down town, YMCA right around the corner for kids/adult activities. Walking distance to Mount Desert Hospital. Minutes to Jackson Lab. Full basement for storage. Off street parking, fenced backyard and no neighbors in the back.

Great for year round living or as a seasonal rental investment property (great rental history)!

See more

Movie Magic in Acadia National Park

2008-10-24T05:45:00.000-07:00

ACADIA NAT’L PARK — Otter Cliffs was abuzz with activity Tuesday, as a crew of 50 cameramen, caterers, crane operators and others descended on the area in preparation for several days of filming for “Ashecliffe,” a new Martin Scorsese movie due out from Paramount Pictures next October.

The lower spur of the Park Loop Road atop Otter Cliffs has been blocked off for the duration of the filming, which is expected to last into Friday. Automobile, bike, and pedestrian traffic can still pass freely through the upper portion of the road there.

The “second unit” shoot does not involve the director or any of the big-name actors who star in the film. Paramount Pictures crews are using a crane and a boat to get shots of a stuntman on the cliffs, as well as scenic shots that will be incorporated into the movie, said executive producer Chris Brigham.

The movie, based on the Dennis Lehane (“Mystic River,” “Gone Baby Gone”) novel “Shutter Island,” stars Leonardo Dicaprio and Mark Ruffalo as two U.S. marshals in 1954 who investigate the disappearance of a murderer from a hospital for the criminally insane. Well known actors Max Von Sydow, Ben Kingsley, and Michelle Williams also star in the film.

Crews were busy rigging the area for the shoot on Tuesday, with filming expected to take place on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, said Lea Girardin, director of the Maine Film Office. The crews are made up largely of people from Boston and New York, with a small portion of people traveling here from Los Angeles, Mr. Brigham said.

Buy a lobster - Save a fisherman

2008-10-14T08:47:00.001-07:00

The Associated Press October 14, 2008

STONINGTON — Thousands of people showed up at a lobster bake to get a good deal on Maine's signature seafood while extending a helping hand to the beleaguered lobster fleet.

To show its support for the local lobster industry, the Penobscot East Resource Center organized the "Eat a Lobster, Save a Community" lobster bake Sunday that offered cooked or live lobsters for $3.50 each on the Stonington fish pier.

The Maine lobster industry is under pressure with lobstermen getting low prices for their harvest while coping with high fuel and bait costs.

The lobster bake was one way to give support to the Stonington-Deer Isle lobster fleet and send a message that communities along the Maine coast can help their local fishing communities, said Annie Tselikis of the Penobscot East Resource Center.

"People are still thinking of lobster as a luxury item, but when it's cheaper than steak it's not. Right now it's cheaper than hamburger," she said.

Nearly 5,000 lobsters were sold at the event, with proceeds going toward fuel credits for the local lobster fleet, she said.

The wholesale price of lobsters has plunged in recent weeks as consumer demand has fallen and orders from major processors in Canada have dried up. Many lobstermen have talked about tying up their boats and dealers have suggested they haul fewer traps to get prices back up.

The price lobstermen get for their catch has fallen to about $2.25 a pound in Stonington, Tselikis said. Lower prices have been reported elsewhere.

In contrast, lobstermen got more than $4 a pound on average in each of the past four years, according to the Department of Marine Resources. Prices in the low $2 range are reminiscent of what fishermen were getting in the mid-1980s.

The Penobscot East Resource Center, which works with fishing communities in eastern Maine, also organized a community meeting in Stonington today to discuss the lobster market and how the community can respond.

5 Most Important Burrito Elements

2008-09-23T07:17:00.001-07:00

The obvious: served warm and made with fresh ingredients. However, other key factors can make or break a burrito. Listed in order of importance are the top 5 keys to a good burrito:

1. Good meat. The most important ingredient as far as flavor goes. Out of all meats, carne asada is the benchmark meat in the measure of a good burrito. Should be tender and cut in small bits, not thick chunks. Rubbery or charred meat can destroy a burrito.

2. Proportions. This is a tough one. All ingredients should mesh together to create a unified taste. No one ingredient should overpower the others. Too much sour cream is a big strike against a burrito. The best burritos combine meat, rice (may contain very small traces of vegetables like peas and carrots), beans (preferably black – pinto beans tend to sog down and drown out the interplay of flavors), sour cream, salsa (hot or mild with cubed tomatoes), shredded lettuce, and guacamole. Shredded cheese is not essential to a top-rate burrito, yet may be added in small amounts without compromising the overall taste.

3. Cohesive. Tortilla should be wrapped tightly and must be steamed. Moist tortillas cling better to the contents and go down smoother. A dry wrapping is harder to digest and distracts from the main show. None of the internal ingredients should be visible until you take your first bite. After that, minimal bursting at the seams should occur, but expect your hands to get messy.

4. No water leakage. A small puddle will drip out of the bottom of some burritos while you work your way down. A good burrito will not drip yet should be moist enough throughout.

5. Right size. The worst thing is to come up short and leave behind a mushed fraction of your burrito. Neither you nor the burrito will appreciate this failure. The second worst but far less severe situation is to finish and still crave more burrito. Chances are you only need a fraction of another burrito to fill you up, so if you order another one, you will be faced with the worst thing left over. Although the right size depends on your appetite, choosing an incorrect size will tarnish your whole consumptive experience.

Miguel's Bar Harbor

2008-09-23T07:06:00.000-07:00

After having a great lunch at Miguel's in Bangor a few month's back (best refried beans I've ever had - actually fresh!), we were disappointed recently at the Miguel's in Bar Harbor.

A former locals favorite, Miguel's went away for a few years and then came back with lackluster results. I had the house burrito and all it had inside was cheese and meat. Rather boring compared to the take out burrito place down the street, Gringo's which serves up all kinds of interesting burrito combinations.

The fresh salsa and chips was fine and we did take advantage of the half price appetizer deal although the choices were rather similar to the dinner entrees. Maybe next time I'll try chicken mole or something in the higher price range. My burrito was less then $10 which is good for Bar Harbor but then again wasn't very exciting.

http://www.miguelsbarharbor.com/

Northeast Harbor on fire! July 30th 2008!

2008-07-30T12:28:00.000-07:00

The Islesford Dock Restaurant

2008-07-21T08:59:00.000-07:00

"The Islesford Dock is the center of social activity on Little Cranberry Island. The Islesford Dock Restaurant is the anchor around which Marian Baker's Pottery Shop, the Little Cranberry Yacht Club and Sue Hill's Winters Work gift shop revolve."

A recent boat trip over to the The Islesford Dock Restaurant had mixed reviews among our party. Five adults and three kids. We had nice boat ride over but found it difficult to find a place to dock on the busy wharf. We arrive around 12 on a Sunday when brunch is served ($6 - $12). We have been before and have expected the prices to be a bit steeper than somewhere on the mainland (it is a unique location worth paying for the experience) but we were not expecting to wait approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes for our breakfast after placing our order. It was just eggs after all. The waitress said they were having a problem with their water so we couldn't get any ice water and after taking our order we didn't see her again until the plates were ready. No reorders of drinks or even an update on what the hold up was.

When the food did arrive it was ok. My omlete ("approriately priced" = $10) with brie and sausage was ok. The edges of it seemed nearly deep fried, so I imagine it was cooked in a skillet full of oil. The home fries on the side were deepfried and they wasn't any toast or anything else. Believe me when I say we were starving by the time the meals came! Surely a better deal for breakfast can be had at Denny's but even a fancy breakfast at Two Cats in Bar Harbor is more satisfying at only $8.

At night the Dock serves high end dinners aimed at the yahating crowd as it represents a reason for the rich to justify their expensive boat purchases. For normal people the dock is usually a fun experience and you can arrive by the Little Cranberry ferry or mail boat. Expect to pay a bit more then you'd expect but hopefully you won't have to wait as long as we did.

Seacoast Fun Park - Trenton, ME

2008-07-10T14:50:00.000-07:00

Two summers ago I panned the Seacoast Fun Park for its terrible management of the water slides the day we went (letting big fat teenagers go down too soon after little kids and nearly swamping them under) and the crummy mini golf course with no shade and unleveled surfaces.

But today on a hot and muggy July day, we had a great time. The price seems to have been reduced from $18 or so two years ago to $15 for an all day pass that can start as early as 11 am and go until 5 pm. The price is still rather steep for locals who might want to go often but you can get a yearly pass to the slides and pool for $40 which is very reasonable if you for 4 or more times in the summer.

Today it was not over crowded and the attendants kept the kids under control and safe. I just wish they had more shade for the parents who don't want to shell out another $15 bucks.

Hard or Soft?

2008-07-09T04:27:00.000-07:00

If you are looking to chomp down on some lobster in July or August on Mount Desert Island or in Downeast Maine in general this summer you might be confronted with a lobster choice that you may not have experience before - hard or soft?

For those "from away" lobster is lobster. But here close to the source of the lobster's watery home you have two "types" of lobster - hard shell or soft shell. Or I've seen it called "Tender New Shell" or as the locals call them "shedders". You see in order for a lobster to grow they have to shed their old skin and grow a new one. The hard shelled lobsters travel better than soft shell lobsters so they are the ones that get sent around the world. Soft shells typically are only sold locally.

So which one is better? Its a matter of preference. Hard shell lobsters typically cost more per pound because the meat is packed into the shell tight so you are not buying a lot of water. The shells are tough so you need to use crackers. Soft shells on the other hand are suppose to be sweeter than hard shells, cost less per pound and can usually be cracked open by hand.

The only down side I've experienced with "shedders" is the meat in the tip of the claws sometimes is a bit mushy. But like I said, its a matter of preference. A lobsterman friend of mine loves this mushy part. Its his favorite part of the lobster.

If your planning on gorging yourself on lobster you might consider the soft shells because you can rip into them fast. Besides locally on the MDI in the peak of summer shedders might be the only type of lobster you can find. The hard shells get harder to find and get shipped away.

Colonel's Restaurant, Northeast Harbor Maine

2008-07-08T10:04:00.000-07:00

-------------- BURNED TO THE GROUND - JULY 2008! -------------------

After a pleasant visit to the public gardens (Thuya and Asticou) and the marine of Northeast Harbor on the Sunday after a very busy Fourth of July, our party enjoyed a very uncrowded early dinner (5 pm) at the Colonel Restaurant, down the alley and outside on the deck.

The Colonel is always a favorite spot for lunch when we are hiking in the area but this time we tried eating a light dinner and were pleased with our choices which included an excellent kid's meal of lightly breaded chicken fingers, shaved steak subs, a BLT and a nice mushroom pizza. All items were under $10 and were washed down with some excellent microbrews fresh from the tap.

Unlike the nearby Tan Turtle Tavern which boasts a ridiculously huge menu of hundreds of items that takes 20 minutes of concentrated study, the Colonel is very straight forward with its selections. Nothing is out of the ordinary, just simple and good. All the bread is freshly baked on the premises and the street side Colonel bakery is a great for grabbing desert. Too bad they are only open in the "season" because we've drive over to visit the Colonel all winter.

Who would have thought among all of the fancy art gallery's, sail boats and blue blooded mansions that you'd fine such a reasonable place to eat.

Queen Mary 2 visits Bar Harbor July 5th, 2008

2008-07-06T09:24:00.000-07:00

Queen Mary 2 recently visited Bar Harbor and dwarfed the local lobster boats. It was the size of one of the porcupine islands!

Ban the plastic

2008-06-26T16:42:00.000-07:00

The water on MDI is great. Some towns have public water from the lakes in Acadia National Park including Eagle Lake, Long Pond and Jordan Pond. Most houses outside the immediate Bar Harbor area have private wells. The water is fine to drink for sure! So was do people walk around $1+ bottles of tap water that were trucked in from who knows where (like Fiji?). I don't know. It makes absolutely no sense and its terrible for the environment. Some people just have to pay for everything or its somehow not good.

If you need to drop a dime to get a drop of water the best deal on the island is over in Southwest Harbor. You can fill up at the outside filling stations in front of Mount Desert Spring Water for 25 cents (YES ONE QUARTER) a GALLON (YES NOT A PINT A GALLON!).

Drive on over to Seal Cove road and fill 'er up!

Stop Global Warming - Do your part!

2008-06-26T16:36:00.000-07:00

With gas prices raising at alarming rates with no sign of ever stopping I almost peed my pants when I saw this idiot pulling on to the island in a giant RV/Greyhound bus type thing that had more square footage them my house AND he was towing a pimped out Humvee behind him! Soon those type of excessive wasters are going to be rioted against. Wait about a year a watch that Humvee get flipped over in a gas shortage riot.

Don't Idle in Your Car

Idling wastes money and gas, and generates pollution and global warming causing emissions. Except when in traffic, turn your engine off if you must wait for more than 30 seconds.

More action items

Chainsaw Artist Ray Murphy

2008-06-09T07:32:00.000-07:00

While in the MDI, Acadia, Bar Harbor, Downeast Maine area don't miss one of the most unique, genuine, original, folk artist in the world. Ray E. Murphy, the originator of chainsaw artwork created his first chainsaw artwork in 1953 when he was only 10. He sawed messages for his brother into blocks of fire wood and faces on fence post. Fifty years or so later, he has sawed over 53,000 chainsaw art items! Ray is now in Hancock,Maine performing his stage show in the summer and sawing inventory during the winter.

In his show "the World's Number One Chainsaw Sawyer Art Stage Show" Chainsaw Sawywer Artist Ray Murphy has become famous for his unique performances such as sawing 16 numbers on a toothpick or sawing 50 numbers on one side of a pop cycle stick and the alphabet on the other side. Or sawing two sculptures at the same time by using a chainsaw in each hand.

The Bar Harbor Insider and friends recently ran into Ray at his Hancock headquarters and chatted about the upcoming 2008 tourist season. He said that recently he had been contacted by David Lettermen's people looking to bring him on T.V. to demonstrate his chainsaw artistry. But Ray turned him down. The only place in the world where you can see his amazing show is right here behind bullet-proof glass at his stage show. You can see his work all over the world for example at the St. Augustine Ripley's believe it or Not Museum they have and exhibit of letters carved on a pencil with a chainsaw by Ray "Wild Mountain Man" Murphy but only in Hancock Maine can you actually see the artist at work.

He also made it very clear the his artwork is created ONLY with chainsaws not like some other artists who use carving and sanding tools.

Luckily we were able to snap a picture of one of his impressive eagle statues before it was hauled off to be delivered a collector's house.

More about Ray Murphy:
Ray's Official Website
Listen to an NPR story on Ray
Featured in the book Art of Chainsaw Carving

Chainsaw Sawyer Art Stage Show Info:

Address:
734 U.S.Highway 1, Hancock, ME [Show Map]

Directions:
5 miles East of Ellsworth, U.S.Highway 1.

Admission:
$10, under 10 yrs free.

Hours:
Summer. Opens mid June.

Email raynemily@downeast.net for show times.

Paul Bunyan Statue - Bangor Maine

2008-06-08T14:37:00.001-07:00

When visiting the Downeast, Bar Harbor, Bangor area of Maine don't get so blinded by the thought of lobster dinners and the beautiful seashore scenery, give a little thought to the history of the area. For example many people don't realize that Bangor was once the lumber capital of the world. Lumber from the Maine woods flowed down the rivers and cities like Bangor became rich. Today little remains to remind visitors of the lumber history but there are some great attractions based on the areas woodsman past.

The first well known example is the Paul Bunyan statue in Bangor across from the new casino building.

Paul Bunyan Statue and Birthplace:
Address: 519 Main St., Bangor, ME
Directions: I-395 exit 3 Main St, just west of the river, north a block or two, on left side opposite the Holiday Inn. Bass Park.
Admission: Free.

Bar Harbor - World's Best

2008-05-01T12:14:00.001-07:00

Bar Harbor as a travel destination came out high on a list from TripAdvisor. In the 2008 Traveler's Choice Destinations Awards Bar Harbor placed 92 in the World.

Bar Harbor was the only New England destination in the list and place 16th in the top 25 US destinations by the members of TripAdvisor.

Sips - Southwest Harbor, MDI

2008-04-27T10:28:00.000-07:00

Recently we had dinner at Sips in Southwest Harbor and it was a fantastic experience although it seemed like we were the only one's there who didn't have a full head of silver hair. Maybe all the young people were across the street at the terrible Moose place? Maybe its just the difference between the more mature wine drinking crowd and younger the beer guzzling crowd across the street?

Whatever, inside the cozy Sips they serve up a great selection of wines available as 2 oz "sips", 5 oz glasses or full bottles. They even have a three wine sampler available. The beers available are all exotic German or Belgium specialty beers. The dinners range from 12 - 21 bucks, from steak to pasta, to excellent risottos. Local seafood is featured on the menu and on the specials board.

All in all Sips offers great food in a cozy atmosphere with decent prices. A children's menu is available but its a romantic place for just the two of you if you can get a sitter.

We've also tried Sips for breakfast. They have great coffees and the prices are very reasonable.

Address: 4 Clark Point Rd, Southwest Harbor, ME 04679
Phone: (207) 244-4550

Bass Harbor Light

2008-04-27T10:25:00.000-07:00

Mama Dimatteo's Bar Harbor - Open for the season

2008-04-05T09:26:00.000-07:00

Three course early bird (5-6)and late dinner (9-10) specials are only $16.99. Plus they have great martinis! -- BHI

APPETIZERS
(7.99–9.95)

Shrimp and Prosciutto
Gulf shrimp wrapped with prosciutto, grilled and served on a bed of greens with a drizzle of warm balsamic vinaigrette

Beef Skewers
Spicy marinated sirloin tips, grilled and served on a bed of greens with a blue cheese dipping sauce

Mama’s Wings
Baked crispy and tossed with Mama’s hot sauce, served with a blue cheese dipping sauce and celery sticks. Caution, these babies are hot!

Baked Artichokes
Artichoke hearts wrapped in prosciutto and baked with a spiced cream cheese

INSALATA
(6.99–17.99)

Steak and Caesar
Our house sirloin and a Caesar make a great combination

Tuscan White Bean and Spinach Salad
Tender white beans, sun-dried tomatoes and basil, with a touch of balsamic vinaigrette and olive oil, tossed with spinach

ENTRÉES
(17.99–Market Price)

Tuscan Tenderloin
A hand-cut filet rubbed with garlic, rosemary, sage, black pepper and olive oil, grilled and served with gorgonzola butter

Chicken Crustini
Naturally raised chicken breast topped with mozzarella cheese, wrapped with flaky puff pastry and baked, served on a bed of marinara

Steamed Lobster
A 1-1/4 hard shell lobster, served with drawn butter

Roasted Salmon
Wild organic salmon filet and asparagus wrapped with prosciutto, roasted and served on a bed of baby greens with warm balsamic vinaigrette

Fresh Catch of the Day
Grilled, baked, broiled or sauteed—check our daily special sheet

PASTA
(10.99-Market Price)

Salmon Puttanesca
Bronzed organic or wild salmon, finished in a vibrant olive, caper garlic wine, basil and tomato sauce, served over fettucine

Lobster Alfredo
Freshly picked lobster, sauteed with Mama's scampi butter, finished with alfredo and served over fettucine

Crab and Spinach Stuffed Shells
Jumbo shells stuffed with a crab, spinach and ricotta filling, baked with alfredo sauce

Two Sauce Shrimp and Prosciutto
Grilled prosciutto wrapped shrimp, served over linguine with half alfredo and half marinara

Veal Ravioli Saltimbocca
Veal ravioli topped with mushrooms, prosciutto, marsala wine sauce and cheese

Lobster Ravioli
Chunks of lobster in a saffron pasta, served with our roasted red pepper cream sauce

CHILDREN'S SELECTIONS
Your choice of spaghetti marinara, macaroni and cheese
or grilled chicken breast

Website

122 Cruise Ship Visits for Bar Harbor in 2008

2008-02-22T15:26:00.000-08:00

The following ships are scheduled to visit Bar Harbor this year:

Maasdam: Owned by Holland America, built in 1995. Her gross tonnage is 55,441.She carries 1,627 passengers and has a crew of 560.

Bremen: The former name of this ship was Frontier Spirit, built in 1990. She is German, registered in the Bahamas. Her gross tonnage is 6,752. She carries 164 passengers and has a crew of 94.

Grandeur of the Seas: Built in 1996 and marketed by Royal Caribbean, she, too, flies the flag of the Bahamas. She has a gross tonnage of 73,817 carries 2,950 passengers and has a crew of 760.

Queen Mary 2: A British ship and currently the flagship of Cunard Lines. She is large, with a gross tonnage of 148,528. She carries 2,620 passengers and has a crew of 1,253.

Explorer of the Seas: This ship, marketed by Royal Caribbean, was built in the year 2000 and is registered in the Bahamas. She has a gross tonnage of 137,308 and carries 3,224 passengers with a crew of 1,285.

Grand Caribe: This ship is an American, Canadian, Carribean Line ship, classified as a mini cruise ship. She is an American ship. Her gross tonnage is 94 and she carries 96 passengers with a crew of 17.

Norwegian Dawn: A Norwegian Cruise Line ship registered in the Bahamas. Originally she was ordered as Superstar Scorpio. Built in 2002. She has a gross tonnage of 91,740 She can accommodate 2,224 passengers and has a crew of 1,300.

Caribbean Princess: This Princess Line ship is registered in Bermuda. She was built in 2004 and has a gross tonnage of 112,894. She carries 3,592 passengers and has a crew of 1,142. She will make her maiden voyage to Bar Harbor in 2008.

Norwegian Dream: Another Norwegian Cruise Line ship registered in the Bahamas, she was built in 1992. Her gross tonnage is 50, she carries 1,948 passengers with a crew of 750.

Aidaaura: This is an Italian ship run by Aida Cruises. She was built in 2003 and makes her maiden voyage to Bar Harbor in 2008. Her gross tonnage is 42,289 and she carries 1,300 passengers and 418.

Sea Princess: This ship, built in 1998, is a Princess Cruise Line ship and flies the British flag. Her former name was Adonia. Her gross tonnage is 77,499 and she carries 1,950 passengers and has a crew of 900.

Eurodam: This is Holland America Lines newest ship and 2008 marks her first visit to Bar Harbor. She has a gross tonnage of 86,000 and carries 2,044 passengers with a crew of about 800.

American Star: Built in 2007, this American Cruise Line ship is known as a mini cruise line ship. She has a gross tonnage of 100 and carries 100 passengers.

American Glory: Built in 2003, this American Cruise Line ship has a tonnage of 100. She carries 49 passengers.

Queen Elizabeth 2: A Cunard ship that will retire at the end of 2008 and become a convention center in Dubai. She was built in 1969. Her tonnage is 70,327 and she carries 1,815 passengers.

Crystal Symphony: Operated by Crystal Cruises and registered in the Bahamas, she was built in 1995 and has a gross tonnage of 50,202. She carries 960 passengers and has a crew of 545.

Jewel of the Seas: A Royal Caribbean ship built in 2004, she is registered in the Bahamas. Her gross tonnage is 90,000 and she carries 2,100 passengers with a crew of 1,050.

Royal Princess: Her former names were R Eight and Minnerva II. She was built in 2001 and is a Princess Line ship registered in the Marshall Islands. Her gross tonnage is 30,277 and she carries 698 passengers and has a crew of 373.

Constellation: This is a Celebrity Cruise Ship, an offshoot of Chandris Shipping. She was built in 2002 and is registered in Liberia. Her gross tonnage is 90,280 and she carries 2,038 passengers with a crew of 999.

Saga Ruby: Her former names were Vistajord and Caronia. As the Caronia, she often traveled to Bar Harbor. She is now operated by Saga Cruises of Europe and is registered in the Bahamas. Cruise passengers are senior citizens, the ship accepts passengers who are 50 years of age or older. The ship was built in 1973, with a gross tonnage of 29,292 and she carries 677 passengers with a crew of 376.

Norwegian Majesty: A Norwegian Cruise Line ship, her former name was Royal Majesty. She was built in 1992 and is registered in the Bahamas. Her gross tonnage is 40,876 and she carries 1,462 passengers and has a crew of 660.

Artemis: This is a Royal Princess ship registered in Great Britain. Her former name was Royal Princess. She was built in 1984 and her gross tonnage is 44,588. She carries 1,200 passengers and has a crew of 520.

Meal Deals at Jack Russels Steakhouse

2008-01-18T13:09:00.000-08:00

Now through the end of January, use these coupons as many times as needed.

Valentine's Dinner Scheduled for mid-February

Book your reservations soon!

Rest easy guys, we will have CHOCOLATES and FLOWERS for all ladies with reservations, as well as great fish, beef and wine specials.

Free kid's meal with any adult entrée

Jack Russell's has a great kid's menu, and between Sunday and Thursday in January, we are running this offer.

Jon Moore and the Spray

2008-01-04T08:01:00.000-08:00

Just don't ask him anything about the Internet:

Talk to Jon Moore about his boat, the Spray, and you’ll get the story of a lifestyle that is as rare as the vessel he sails.

In 1892, the aging Chesapeake Bay oyster sloop named Spray was given to, and rebuilt by, native Nova Scotian Captain Joshua Slocum in preparation for the first solo circumnavigation of the world. A replica of the Spray, with the same name, is moored in Northeast Harbor and is being refurbished by Jon Moore, a man much like Captain Slocum.

Moore’s Spray was built in Tremont by Ed Davis. Moore came across the boat in 1999 as she sat on shore at John Williams Boat Co. in Hall Quarry. She’s documented with a homeport of Boston, just like the original Spray of 1895.

“There are only 8 or 10 boats in the world that could be considered an authentic replica, which this could be one of,” said Moore. “All of the others are modified versions.”

Moore had wanted a Spray replica ever since reading “Sailing Alone around the World,” an account of Captain Slocum’s voyage, in the early 1980s.

“That boat is a very famous boat. My hull is the exact design of the boat that Josh Slocum sailed around the world,” he said.

“The reason Slocum used this boat was because the vessel is so well balanced that it would steer itself, even downwind,” Moore stated. “At that time they didn’t have a lot of advanced technology and electrical stuff for self-steering. The boat was so well balanced that he would set a course and go weeks without touching the helm. It really sails like that too,” Moore said. “You get her all set up and then you can go and make lunch. She’s got a lot of character.”

Moore has another name for the Spray. Usually he calls it home.

“We live on her most of the time. We’re not right now because we are doing a refit of the interior,” Moore said. “We rebuilt the interior from the original, which wasn’t much to begin with. When you live on a boat for awhile you kind of get a take of exactly how you want things.”

“We” is Moore and his wife, Christine, and son, Lewis.

Changes are happening topside as well.

“I am putting a Chinese junk rig on her right now. Originally, it was rigged as a yawl, but it was a regular Bermudian rig,” said Moore. “Then it was rigged as a sloop for awhile. I am putting a Chinese junk main on her because I am quite familiar with the rig because I have designed and built them before.”

“You get her all set up and then you can go and make lunch. She’s got a lot of character.”

— Jon Moore
The original Spray also was retrofitted with a yawl rig after problems Captain Slocum faced in the Straits of Magellan (at the tip of South America), according to historical accounts.

The mast that’s on Moore’s Spray right now is made of a black spruce tree that Moore carved last year.

“I did a lot of masts up in Newfoundland on work boats,” Moore said. “I’m coming at it from that angle, more of a work boat approach rather than a yachty-type approach. I primarily lean toward sailing vessels that have the ability to do something more than just look pretty.”

Moore is a self-employed marine surveyor and a self-professed “jack-of-all-trades, master of none.” A marine surveyor determines if a vessel is safe to use in conditions for which it was designed and what repairs need to be made to it.

“I do little projects like one with this fellow that bought a Friendship sloop and he is interested in learning to build and restore boats. I am helping him rebuild it as a tutorial to teach him boat work as we rebuild his boat,” he said.

Moore makes it clear where his heart lies.

“I do a lot of sailing, delivering a lot of boats, and expedition or wilderness cruising,” he said. “I lived off the coast of Newfoundland and my wife and I did a lot of wilderness cruising up there. We took old boats and made them seaworthy enough to take trips.

“We weren’t into immaculate reconstructions or anything like that. We were into getting boats seaworthy and doing something with them.

“I appreciate what guys are doing with yachts, but I am not in the furniture business.”

Owning a wooden boat does not mean you need to marry it, according to Moore.

“I survey boats all of the time and I run into people all of the time and they say, ‘Oh, a wooden boat, so much maintenance.’ It’s really nonsense,” Moore said. “It’s only really maintenance to the degree that you want to make it a museum piece. You don’t have to have it like that.

“I’ve taken old boats off a beach and four or five days later will have them operating,” he said. “I used them for the season then at the end of the season I put them back on the beach where I found them. I fished with them, I sailed them, and they worked.”

Harking back to a day when self-sufficiency was key to survival, Moore takes a utilitarian view of boat maintenance.

“In Newfoundland, if we had to do something, we’d put the boat on a beach, we’d pop a plank out and put a new plank in, on the beach, in the middle of a snowstorm. We didn’t have to have special shops and sheds. We did it with hand tools and it might have been a little crude, but it worked and we carried on.

“So, that’s where I come from,” said Moore, chuckling. “I’m not really yachty, per se.

Freakin' Cold and Tons of Snow

2008-01-04T06:51:00.000-08:00

We've had record breaking snow recently. Which is great for cross country skiing and snowshoeing on the carriage roads in Acadia National Park. Only down side lately of this winter weather is the freakin' cold temperature. We are hovering in the single digits this week.

Ice fishermen will be loving it because the lakes are really starting to freeze up for the first time this season. Better than last year when we experienced a very strange warm winter that nearly left us without any ice fishing at all. Can you say Global Warming?

Unfortunately this area will feel the effects of global warming in a very direct way with about 60 percent or so of the island disappearing underwater and who knows what will happen to the fishing industry as the water warms. Meanwhile everyone seems to like to leave their trucks running all the time burning up expensive gas and diesel and contributing to the very greenhouse gases that are projected to destroy island life. Think global, act local!

Bar Brawlin' In Bar Harbor

2007-12-27T10:14:00.001-08:00

The boys have been brawling all over the island lately. Recently someone threw fellow patron through a window at Little Anthony's. A few weeks ago it was a smashed mug in the face at Nemo's in Tremont. And this is all during the holiday season. I wonder what's in store for the bar scene in the dark days of January and February?

Calypso - Ellsworth, Maine - Excellent!

2007-12-16T11:28:00.000-08:00

In the space of the former Maidees (we had a good meal there in the past although one of our group made the mistake of ordering their dinner "spicy" and the decor needed to be revamped), comes the reborn Calypso which sports a totally renovated interior, keeping the very unique wooden diner car bar (a vintage 1932 Windsor dining car), more under control plants and an exciting new menu. What a breath of fresh air in the dining choices of the area!

Beyond lobster dinners its tough to find a good place to eat in the downeast area that isn't fried food. Calypso is a great addition to the area.

Our group of four ended up there last Saturday night after not getting a reservation at Cleonice another fine dinning choice in downtown area and we were happy to discover another great dining choice in town.

We had a 5:30 dinner reservation and had plenty of time to enjoy a great, flavorful meal and then take in a 7 pm movie.

Everyone at our table had a flawless dinner service and sampled appetizers, soups, special and regular menu items. Everything was excellent. We'll be back!!!

Calypso is located at 156 Main St, Ellsworth

http://www.calypsodining.com/

Moose Crossing Southwest Harbor

2007-12-10T09:15:00.001-08:00

The Moose Crossing is the latest incarnation to inhabit the former Deacon Seat Restaurant. It was then the Hot Dog place with their selection of over 100 hot dogs and then Maddies Dinner. Its all the same people running the new Moose Crossing or at least some of the people and their new loves. What hasn't changed is the poor service and lousy food.

We recently gave the new incarnation a try and were extremely disappointed. At first glance we had high hopes. The renovation was great. Warm and inviting. The menu looked promising with its cute Moose items. But the wait staff was over worked and unattentive. The bar service was poor - mixing up white wine with rose. But mostly the food was subpar. Everything took forever to be served and when it was it was obviously from out of the freezer bag. One appetizer was a plate of cold greasey soggy fries with cheese poured on top. A "Ruben dip" was good but came with four crackers. The Asian salad was a small amount of lettuce with chow mein noddles sprinkled on top.

The Jerk chicken wrap was manufactured chicken chunks (Costco?) and the Philly Cheese steak was made of mystery meat manufactured "steak" chunks (Costco again?) on a fococia bun. How hard is it to at least have a bulkie roll and some minute steaks and cheese whiz?

We didn't stay around for the happening bar scene but from what we've heard its a bunch of local drunks who get their load on and then start fighting. Quite the problem on a small island where everyones history intersets with each other - Hey you left my sister at the prom back in 1985! I'll get you for that. etc etc.

Its too bad. The area could use a decent place that served good honest pub food. Maybe if the chef decides not to be so lazy and relied less on the freezer and more on fresh ingredients it could be better.

Technorati

2007-10-21T16:58:00.000-07:00

Technorati Profile

The foliage has been great this year!

2007-10-21T12:43:00.000-07:00

70 degree weather on Oct 21 proved to be an great draw for the crowds that headed to Acadia National Park this weekend. The foliage was a show stopper!

Thunder Hole from above - Photo by Edward M. Fielding

Thunderhole, Acadia National Park During A Storm

2007-10-11T13:58:00.000-07:00

Many of us have been to Thunderhole and have wondered what all the fuss is about. You have to be there during a storm!

"On Thursday October 12, 2006 with an offshore storm and a misty,foggy day, Thunderhole in Acadia National Park was putting on a show. In the summer this is generally a big letdown, but it lived up to its name today. Watch until the end for biggest waves that frightened us from our rocky perch."

Acadia! Our Trip to Maine

2007-10-11T13:51:00.000-07:00

"Our trip to Acadia National Park, Maine - September, 2006" - A couples visit to MDI recorded on video.

Video from the MDI Marathon

2007-10-11T13:26:00.000-07:00

Includes Martha Stewart segment on the MDI Marathon. Martha has a house in Seal Harbor.

6th Annual MDI Marathon

2007-10-11T13:11:00.000-07:00

On Sunday Oct 14th more than 850 runners will test their metal against a grueling 26.2 mile route along what must be one of the most spectacular stretches of fall foliage, dramatic coastline and beautiful mountain scenery. The route takes the runners along mountain valleys, through the coast at Seal Harbor, along the shores of Northeast Harbor, along Sargeant Drive, Somes Sound, past Echo Lake and ends in Southwest Harbor. It runs in and out of Acadia National park and if the weather holds (it always seems to rain on the day of the marathon) the peaking foliage will be spectacular!

The race is sponsored nationally by Red Lobster although you don't see too much mention of the sponsor in the write ups about race. Locals aren't all that savvy when it comes to marketing and giving the sponsors value for their sponsorship dollar it would seems.

Red Lobster is an interesting sponsor since the local economy is so dependent on lobstering (and selling shore dinners) and there isn't any Red Lobster restaurants in Maine (who needs chain seafood when you can buy locally direct from the fisherman). For Red Lobster the fit is perfect. They can promote seafood as healthy and tie themselves in with the image of Maine and Maine Lobstering. After all they most certainly buy a lot of lobsters from Maine fishermen even if all that shrimp is frozen.

Penobscot Narrows Bridge & Fort Knox

2007-09-24T05:39:00.000-07:00

On your way to or from Bar Harbor, take the scenic route along the coast and check out the newest wonder in Maine!

Penobscot Narrows Bridge
Entrance: Fort Knox State Park
711 Fort Knox Rd, Prospect, ME 04981
$5 Adults - $3 Children 5 - 11 - $2.50 Free Children 4/under
Observatory fees include admission to Fort Knox
Observation Tower Open-May 21-Nov 1 Hrs: 8:30am - 5:00pm

Directions: The Penobscot Narrows Bridge is about 220 miles north of Boston, or about 4 1/2 hours. Take Interstate 95 north to Augusta, Maine; take exit 113, Route 3 east, to Belfast, where Route 3 joins Route 1. Follow Routes 1 and 3 north to Prospect.

Bar Harbor Foliage '07

2007-09-20T09:35:00.000-07:00

The best time to see the foliage this year will be from the first to second week of October. Don't fret about seeing the "peak" of the foliage season which is always a guess. Just get yourself on the Bar Harbor side of MDI in the area that burned in 1947. These areas have the least amount of spruce trees. The busiest stretch of asphalt visited locally during the fall season is the Acadia's Park Loop Road.

Ty Pennington Gets Stopped For OUI - Now that's an Extreme Makeover

2007-09-18T09:31:00.001-07:00

Word around town is that after the wrap party on the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition here in Maine, Ty tied one on and got stopped in Ellsworth for an OUI!

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On September 9, the Ray-Smith family of Milbridge, ME, received the exciting news that Ty Pennington and the crew of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” will renovate and hopefully appease the ghosts in their haunted home, a family heirloom, in just seven days.

Brittany Ray and Ron Smith first met in nursery school. After attending separate colleges, they came back together and were married in 1994. Both valuing education and wanting to give back to their community, they retreated back to their hometown of Milbridge, a town founded by Brittany’s great-great grandparents, to become teachers and active community leaders.

With accumulating school loans and other bills, the family had no choice but to move into the family home that has been passed down for generations. The home which is over 100 years old and built by Brittany’s great-great grandparents is spooked with a slew of problems: an outdated septic system, no insulation, a cracking foundation, an outdated furnace is outdated which overheats, a leaky roof, freezing pipes, and ancient electrical wiring that is a fire hazard and one of the more dangerous and serious issues. If the extremely unsafe condition of their home weren’t enough, the Ray-Smith house is also haunted, likely by the ancestors of Brittany Ray. With an affinity for sharp objects, they have come home to find a pair of scissors standing upright on the counter, or shirt pins balanced in a circle in a candle. On one occasion, they were awakened in the middle of the night to discover the furnace turned up as high as it could go, driving the temperature in their home to 100 degrees.

In addition to the struggles they face with their home, they also contend with high medical bills as their son, Thomas, suffers from Autism and doctors fear their other son, JoJo, may be Autistic as well. Both Ron and his daughter, Bayley, suffer from Hypolipidemia, a condition causing extremely high cholesterol, which resulted in fatal heart attacks in Ron’s mother and brother.

The dangers lurking in this house are scary, and the family has come to realize the entities in the house are merely trying to help them understand how unsafe their home is and that it is time to do something about it. In this episode, Ty and the designers of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” will renovate this family jewel to create a safe environment for this family, their ghosts, and the newest member of their family, an adopted daughter from China.

While Ty and the designers, local builder Broughman Builders and hundreds of volunteers and workers are rebuilding their home, the Ray-Smith family will go on vacation to Walt Disney World.

ACADIA BIKE

2007-09-17T11:43:00.002-07:00

207-288-9605 800-526-8615
Acadia Bike features the largest bicycle rental fleet in New England, so you're sure to get the bike you want. Enjoy Acadia's natural wonders as you pedal the car-free carriage roads or Park Loop Road. Our bikes - new each year, most with front suspension - are meticulously maintained and custom-fitted to ensure you'll have a great ride. All sizes, plus tandems, trailers & kids' bikes. Low rates, with discount for advance reservations. Located in downtown Bar Harbor, across from the post office. Open daily at 8am.
48 Cottage Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609

ABBE MUSEUM - MAINE INDIAN HERITAGE

2007-09-17T11:43:00.001-07:00

207-288-3519
The most fascinating journey in Bar Harbor begins at the Abbe Museum! Discover the story of the first people of Maine through exhibitions and programs that span 10,000 years of history, art and archaeology. Learn about the Native people of Maine today and enjoy their songs and stories, arts and crafts. Visit the Museum Shop for high quality gifts crafted by Maine Native people. Downtown museum: open May-November. Historic Abbe at Sieur de Monts Spring: open May-October. Admission charged.
P.O. Box 286, Bar Harbor, ME 04609

OCEANARIUM & LOBSTER HATCHERY

2007-09-17T11:42:00.003-07:00

207-288-5005
Enjoy an up-close experience with marine life. At the oceanarium on Rt. 3 take a guided tour of a salt marsh and the Maine Lobster Museum. At the working lobster hatchery we take you on a fascinating tour to see mother lobsters & baby lobsters & the hatchery process. Combination tickets available. Group discounts and tours.
Rt. 3, Bar Harbor, ME 04609

KEBO VALLEY GOLF CLUB

2007-09-17T11:42:00.001-07:00

Tee Times 288-3000; Clubhouse 288-5000; Superintendent 288-2200
Surrounded by the mountains of Acadia National Park, Kebo Valley has been enticing golfers from all over the world for more than 100 years to the challenges of the finest 18 holes of championship golf in Maine. Just minutes from downtown Bar Harbor. Kebo Valley consistently ranks among America's best public golf courses. Expert PGA staff. Private and group lessons. Fully modern clubhouse. Banquets. Lunch served daily 11am-4pm. Open daily spring, summer & fall.
100 Eagle Lake Road, Bar Harbor, ME 04609

ATLANTIC CLIMBING SCHOOL

2007-09-17T11:41:00.000-07:00

Rock climbing courses in Acadia National Park for all ages, abilities and fitness levels. Half day and full day courses available for individuals and families. All equipment is provided. Low guide-to-client ratios for better value and safety - maximum 3:1; you won't be part of a larger group. Owned by Jeff Butterfield, author of Acadia, A Climber's Guide; a comprehensive guidebook to climbing in Acadia.
PO Box 514, 67 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609 207-288-2521

The Nelson Cottage Bass Harbor Maine

2007-09-17T11:37:00.000-07:00

Looking for a more quiet rental on Mount Desert Island? Try the Nelson Cottage.

LuLu Lobster Boat Rides

2007-09-17T11:26:00.000-07:00

Unless you know a local fisherman this is the only clean and commercial lobster boat tour around...

The only Lobster Boat tour in Bar Harbor hosted on a traditional Downeast-style lobster boat. After several successful seasons delighting passengers in the Hancock area of Frenchman/Flanders Bays, Lulu now sails out of Bar Harbor. The Harborside Hotel & Marina is Lulu’s base of operations. Lulu carries a maximum of fifteen people on a two hour tour offering the most exclusive, personal and unique cruise in Bar Harbor.

More Info

Bar Harbor Cruise Ship Schedule

2007-09-17T11:24:00.000-07:00

Each year some of the world's most beautiful & famous cruise ships drop anchor in Bar Harbor. While passengers and crew visit our village & park, you can snap pictures of ships almost literally filling the harbor. (Visitors are not permitted on board ships while they are docked in the harbor.)

See the schedule

Mama Di Matteo's Bar Harbor

2007-08-30T17:47:00.000-07:00

We like Mama DiMatteo's. They stay open late in the season and are consistently good. We eat here at least once a season. Recently we tried their early bird dinner which was quite a deal. You get a choice of several entrees and it includes a choice of salad and a mini desert for $17. Its just the right amount of food and its tasty. Plus its a great deal - for example during regular dinner hours the Lobster Ravioli is $19.95. Get it between 5 - 6 or late night after 9 pm and its a special for only $17 with salad and desert.

On our recent trip we noticed a lots of families with kids. The kids menu is $6.95.

Blame It On Rio

2007-08-30T17:38:00.000-07:00

Quickie review from the insider...

Where: Former XYZ location on the harbor in Manset (Southwest Harbor) near Hinkley Boat Yard

What: Brazilian food

Drinks: Fresh, unique, flavorful, generous and strong.

Food: Good but overpriced. $18 for franks and beans (black bean and sausage) and $28 for a sirloin. Make sure you check out the view of Southwest Harbor because you're paying for it. There is a lighter fare menu with $10 burgers, $8 Hot Dogs, lobster rolls and salads.

Service: Good, family affair with attentive service although my after dinner coffee cup was about 3/4 filled and no one came around to top it off.

Bar Harbor in 3 - 5 days

2007-08-23T11:41:00.001-07:00

If you think you can see all there is to see in a day, you are out of your mind! MDI is a place you can come back to year after year and still find new areas to explore. That is if you get out of your car. Fodor's suggests these highlights:

If You Have 3 Days

If you have three days on Mount Desert Island, stay in Bar Harbor. There's plenty of things in this popular resort town to keep you occupied on your first day -- from bustling boutiques to interesting museums. On Day 2, stop at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center to pick up information about special events, then head to Acadia National Park. A drive around Park Loop Road is a great way to learn the lay of the land. Stop along the way -- a lot of the scenic overlooks have informational signs you may find interesting. Finish up the Park Loop Road journey by driving to the top of Cadillac Mountain to enjoy the sunset. On Day 3, rent a bike and explore the network of carriage roads that crisscross the island. Take in the spectacular view of Jordan Pond from the observation deck of the Jordan Pond House, a restaurant known for its massive popovers with lots of strawberry jam. For the afternoon's entertainment, hike the South Bubble Mountain (easier) or Penobscot Mountain (more challenging).

If You Have 5 Days

Follow the three-day itinerary above. On Day 4, drive to Northeast Harbor, the summer home of many of the country's wealthiest families. Take in the Asticou Azalea Garden and Thuya Gardens. On your last day, take a sightseeing cruise in the morning. In the afternoon, head to Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, taking in Somesville and Southwest Harbor along the way.

Bar Harbor Travel Tips

2007-08-23T11:34:00.000-07:00

BHI says - "Spring" can be wet and cold. Mid-May to Mid-June is black fly season. My favorite time is late June or Sept to mid-Oct. In the fall their are less families and more retirees especially cruise ship passengers so you'll find less people on the trails. Sept weather is great for hiking, warm during the day but cool at night. Pack some warm stuff. The shops in Bar Harbor do brisk business in sweatshirts when people from away come without proper clothing for the cool ocean breezes at night.

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When to Go to Acadia National Park

Memorial Day and Labor Day mark the official beginning and end of high season on Mount Desert Island. The reality, however, is that there is no reason you have to visit during this narrow window. Temperatures often begin to rise in April or May. The crowds are smaller during these months, but you may have to contend with minor irritants such as ice and snow on the trails through Acadia National Park.

By September, the heat and humidity of the summer begin to taper off, making it one of the most enjoyable months to visit. Autumn foliage peaks between the end of September and the middle of October, enhancing the already spectacular views. Although many seasonal businesses close their doors after Columbus Day, the island does not shut down entirely. You can still find some good restaurants and a small number of lodging options throughout the winter months.

Regardless of when you decide to visit, you will enjoy your visit to the island more if you book your accommodations in advance. Although it's possible to find last-minute accommodations during the summer months, it may take several phone calls before you locate a room. If you have a particular type of lodging in mind, it's best to book as far in advance as possible. Accommodations tend to fill up especially quickly on holiday weekends. From November to April, your challenge shifts from finding an open room to finding an open hotel. You'll definitely want to call ahead.

Mainely Delights - Bass Harbor Maine

2007-08-08T12:21:00.000-07:00

Mainely Delights is a little seafood and ice cream place tucked away across the Swan's Island Ferry and Morris Boat Builders in Bass Harbor, ME.

A locals favorite when it opens each summer season. I can't believe I've never tried this place until recently. Probably because it is a bit off the beaten path and with so many seasonal places to sample its hard to get around to all of them.

My son actually went here with a friend before I did. He had a doughboy (fried dough sprinkled with powdered sugar and cinnamon) and recommended the place (he's seven).

So we went for lunch. I had a crab cake special. $6.95. Nothing fancy - lettuce, tomato, bun, homemade chips on the side and just about the freshest, best crab cake ever! Very little filler. This was not one of the frozen hockey pucks you might get in Bar Harbor. This was the real McCoy, freshest crabmeat (they pick it down the street), hand formed and not overcooked.

You can get shrimp sandwiches, crabmeat, lobster rolls and even full lobster dinners but I'd try the crabmeat which really is picked in small operations around town.

My son had the chicken fingers side order ($3.95) and ate every last one of them.

They serve desert until 9 pm so go for some ice cream and the famous old fashioned doughboys and doughgirls ($2.00). Fried dough with powder suger and cinnamon or simply powdered sugar.

Mainely Meat BBQ

2007-06-19T06:41:00.000-07:00

Maine is not the first place you'd think of for smoked meats but Mainers traditionally worked with smoke as a preservative for preparing fish in the days before refrigeration. But we're not talking smoked fish here, mainly smoked chicken and pork.

My son's karate class recently moved to the Town Hill section of Bar Harbor, right down the street from the Atlantic Brewing Company's Knox Road brewery. Atlantic Brewing is the source of my favorite beer in the world - Bar Harbor Real Ale on tap.

At the brewery you can take a tour of the operation, buy items from their gift shop and even enjoy some tasty smoked meats at Mainely Meat a very laid back, extremely casual dining experience. Most of the seating is located outside under umbrellas so its best experience on a nice warm day.

The meats are all smoked in Mainly Meats huge smoker without a lot of extra favor added. Mainely the smoke favor. So don't expect ribs like you'd get in some chain restaurant where they warm up frozen ribs in a pan of BBQ sauce. Here you can enjoy the subtle smokey flavor and add your own sweet or spicy BBQ sauce to it as you please. Warning: The spicy BBQ sauce is very hot!

The side dishes are outstanding. My wife especially raves about the baked beans which have pieces of hot sausage in it for an extra kick of flavor.

Prices are good. In Bar Harbor if you happen to find baby back ribs on the menu its typically in the $20 plus range. At Mainely Meats the prices are much more reasonable. A half a rack dinner is only $11 and a sample plate (good for two people ) is $14. Plus they have the freshest beer in town.

Don't speed by the entrance. Its at the beginning of Knox Road right near the Town Hill Country store. Parking is in back. Also don't be put off by the number of Hogs or Harley's in the parking lot. The crowd is friendly.

On weekends they have an all you can eat BBQ buffet.

More info and directions

Happy 75th Birthday to the Criterion Theatre!

2007-06-10T04:15:00.000-07:00

Bar Harbor's amazing art deco theater is celebrating 75 years of history. We got a tour of the theater this weekend and got see backstage and the dressing rooms. Built at the end of the vaudeville era, the Criterion was primarily built and used as a movie house. Box seating in the upstairs Loge provided room for rich summer folk like the Astors and Rockerfellers.

We also took in a free show by the always wonderful Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers, a troup of local siblings who put on very original and very funny shows for all kids and the young at heart.

Here's to another 75 years!

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A nonprofit arts group recently purchased the historic theatre, which was put on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, early last month.

Anyone who wants to contribute to the Criterion’s capital campaign can send a check made out to the Criterion Theatre and Arts Center, 35 Cottage St. Bar Harbor ME 04609.

Smokin' Los Straightjackets Show

2007-06-10T04:10:00.000-07:00

After a great meal at The Mex, we caught Big Sandy and Los Straightjackets at the Grand in Ellsworth last Friday for a smokin' evening of guitars, more guitars and even more guitars plus some great drums and vocals by Big Sandy. Very entertaining show and as always small but enthusiastic the Maine audience gave them a very big Downeast welcome!

The Lompoc - Bar Harbor

2007-05-31T05:02:00.000-07:00

The Lompoc has been one of our favorite Bar Harbor restaurants ever since we first started coming here for vacations.

The Lompoc opened in 1989 as a small café and gradually evolved into what it is today: a slightly larger small café. Over the years, we have enlarged the space, adding a garden, a bocce court, a larger bar and a heated open air dining room.

We change our menu three times a year, every year, because we choose to use seasonal fish and locally grown, organic produce, and because we like to try new things. Some items return due to requests and some we can never change.

We have been recommended by "The New York Times", "Gourmet Magazine", "Yankee Magazine Travel Guide" and were voted the regional winner of "favorite restaurant" in a 2002 contest sponsored by the Maine Department of Agriculture.

One of the great things about the Lompoc is that even if you don't have dinner here, you can still come for the music. There are talented musicians on stage every Friday and Saturday night. Blues, rock, jazz, folk, bluegrass, soul...the offerings run the gamut. And if you have a talent to share, come down on Thursday nights in the summer for Open Mic night.

Our bar features locally made Atlantic Brewing Company ales on draft, 15 wines and ports by the glass, and an array of specialty cocktails, including the Lompoc Blueberry Cosmo and the Limoncella Lemon Drop. We welcome visitors to join the zany bunch of regulars at our bar; we'll take good care of you. Or stop by for a game of bocce. It's as much fun as a game of billiards, but you don't have to put down your beer while you play.

Rosalie's Pizza - Bar Harbor

2007-05-28T04:19:00.000-07:00

Had a great mushroom pizza last night at Rosalie's. First of the season but certainly not the last. Rosalie's serves up the best "traditional" chewy crust type of pizza on the island. Unfortunely you have to wait until 4pm to get one and its only open during "the season".

Rosalie's Pizza 46 Cottage Street, Bar Harbor, ME

Insider tip: Avoid the big line downstairs and head up to the second floor. If your lucky you can grab a table and put in your order at the counter. Or call in your order and do take out. Perfect for enjoying the summer concerts on the green. Also don't forget your veggies - Rosalie's has a great selection of salads. The staff is mainly imported Eastern European students so listen hard for your name when they call it out!

Sips - Southwest Harbor

2007-05-24T09:22:00.000-07:00

I overlooked Sips in Southwest Harbor when it first openned. As a local I chalked it up as another place targeting the tourists. But on a recent visit for a late breakfast I've decided that is an all around great place for locals and people from away.

Outside Sips looks terrible. Like many of the buildings in Southwest Harbor, practical vinal siding has replaced much of the original wooden exteriors of the downtown buildings, details have been removed, all leading to a less then presentable downtown at least in the eyes of tourists used to "New England" tourist towns glitz up to their former or even created glory.

But anyway, wander inside and you're in for a treat. Sips cosy interior looks like something you'd find in New York or Boston. From the looks of things you might expect to be paying Starbucks prices for coffee, bagels etc but remember this is Southwest Harbor not Bar Harbor so the prices are surpisingly reasonable. I had an excellent bagel, egg and bacon sandwich and it was under $3.50.

Great coffee, bagels and cosy interior what's not to love in Southwest Harbor?

Sips

A new addition to Southwest Harbor is brought to you by Sawyer's Specialties Wine & Cheese - this wine bar style restaurant serves wine friendly small plates of innovative creations including salads, cheese & olive plates, bruschetta, seafood crepes, desserts and more. A nice selection of wines by the bottle or glass. Open for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Gringo's Bar Harbor

2007-05-24T09:10:00.000-07:00

A favorite among the college students from Bar Harbor's College of the Atlantic, Gringo's serves up some tasty take out (seating is limited) burritos. Get either a mini or the grande and get ready for the "heft" of these packed full flour tortillas. Its about as close to fast food as Bar Harbor gets and its a fine alternative to fried seafood.

Maine is probably the furthest place you'll ever be from Mexico but these burritos make for a great lunch.

Bar Harbor Golf

2007-05-15T08:05:00.000-07:00

On July 14, 1894, the local paper, the Bar Harbor Record, noted “A golf club has been formed and links covering one and three fourths miles have been laid out at Kebo Valley...

Indeed today Bar Harbor boasts a golf course within walking distance from its downtown. The Kebo Valley Golf Club was founded in 1888 making it the the 8th oldest golf club in the United States and has challenged the skills of many of the country’s finest players, most influential politicians and leaders of industry. Nestled between Cadillac and Dorr Mountain in Bar Harbor, Maine, Kebo is a spectacular 6,131 yard, classic link and parkland golf course. Much of Kebo Valley Golf Course shares its borders with Acadia National Park, in fact at one point on the Park Loop road you pass the course on the left.

As you play on the course keep an eye out for wildlife, including Whitetail Deer, Red Fox, and the famous "mangy coyote" that always appears in the Police Beat. Look up once in a while to spot American Bald Eagles soaring above the links as well as hawks and falcons.

From Kebo management:

"Our championship par 70 course consistently ranks among America’s best public courses. We are rated among the "Top 15" public courses in New England by the New England Journal of Golf, among the "Top 10" classical public golf courses by Golf Digest and received a four star rating in Golf Digest’s Places to Play."

Photo from 1911: President Taft cards a 27 on what was then the "Elbow" hole, which is today's 17th hole. This hole is now commonly referred to as the "Taft" hole.

Note: For less serious golfers and kids, there is always Pirate's Cove mini golf just outside of town on Route 3!

http://www.kebovalleyclub.com
http://www.piratescove.net/location/7

Seal Cove, 1887

2007-05-10T05:32:00.000-07:00

Map of Mount Desert Island, 1887

Enjoying lunch at Geddy's

2007-05-08T09:59:00.000-07:00

Captain Crunch, Seth, Caffrey and Ed enjoy a meal at Geddy's. Geddy's posts photos of their customers on their web site - www.geddys.com

Looking for evidence of the 1947 Fire

2007-04-30T07:44:00.000-07:00

When you visit Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park, be on the look out for evidence of the 1947 fire and its effect on the landscape. If you visit the western side of the island you'll see what the eastern side looked like before the fires. Spruce and pine forests. The area around Jackson Labs and Sand beach is perfect for seeing the effect of a huge fire engulfing everything in its path including the soil. Even today after 50 years these areas only support forests of small birch and beech trees.

The famed 1947 fire that burned most of the eastern side of Mount Desert Island is the most recent extensive fire, but evidence of past burns is present in trees and soils throughout the Park. Post-fire aspen-birch communities are still abundant. The spruce-fir forests, the dominant closed-canopy forest type on the island, include a large component of earlier-successional birch and red maple within the area that burned, along with the maturing spruce and fir. Vegetation on the western half of the island, which escaped the 1947 fire, reflects more clearly the underlying edaphic characteristics rather than the effects of recent fire.

The Year Maine Burned

2007-04-30T07:40:00.000-07:00

Maine winters are long. Spring is always eagerly anticipated and this was especially true in 1947. The gloominess of WWII still lingered and everyone looked forward to the return of nice weather. Disappointingly, it rained continually through April, May, and most of June. Finally, at the end of June, the sun came out, temperatures soared, and a glorious summer emerged. But weather patterns continued to be odd that year. Through the summer and into the fall, Maine received only 50% of its normal rainfall. Vegetation became bone dry. Water supplies dwindled. Still, most people did not worry - rain would come eventually. The island enjoyed one of the most beautiful Indian summers in memory. But the autumn rains never came and by mid-October, Mount Desert Island was experiencing the driest conditions ever recorded. The stage was set for a disastrous blaze.

On Friday, October 17, 1947,at 4 PM, the fire department received a call from Mrs. Gilbert, who lived near Dolliver's dump on Crooked Road west of Hulls Cove. She reported smoke rising from a cranberry bog between her home and the dump. No one knows what started the fire. It could have been cranberry pickers smoking cigarettes in the bog. Or perhaps it was sunlight shining through a piece of broken glass in the dump that acted like an incendiary magnifying glass. Whatever the cause, once ignited, the fire smoldered underground. From this quiet beginning arose an inferno that burned nearly half the eastern side of Mount Desert Island and made international news.

In its first three days, the fire burned a relatively small area, blackening only 169 acres. But on October 21, strong winds fanned the ßames and the blaze spread rapidly and raged out of control, engulÞng over 2,000 acres. Personnel from the Army Air Corps, Navy, Coast Guard, University of Maine forestry program, and Bangor Theological Seminary joined local fire fighting crews. National Park Service employees flew in from parks throughout the East and additional experts in the West were put on standby.

The pace of the blaze intensiÞed and nearly 2300 acres burned on October 22. The fire crossed Route 233 and continued along the western shore of Eagle Lake. On the morning of October 23, the wind shifted, pushing one finger of the fire toward Hulls Cove. Firefighters shifted their efforts in an attempt to squelch the threat to that community. But in the afternoon, the wind suddenly turned again and increased to gale proportions, as a dry cold front moved through, sending the inferno directly toward Bar Harbor. In less than three hours the wildfire traveled six miles, leaving behind a three mile wide path of destruction. The fire swept down Millionaires' Row, an impressive collection of majestic summer cottages on the shore of Frenchman Bay. Sixty-seven of these seasonal estates were destroyed. The fire skirted the business district, but razed 170 permanent homes and five large historic hotels in the area surrounding downtown Bar Harbor.

Bar Harbor residents not actively engaged in fire fighting tried to find safety, fleeing first to the athletic field and later to the town pier. At one point all roads from the town were blocked by flames, so fishermen from nearby Winter Harbor, Gouldsboro, and Lamoine prepared to help with a mass exodus by boat. At least 400 people left by sea. Finally, by 9 PM, bulldozers opened a pathway through the rubble on Route 3 and a caravan of 700 cars carrying 2000 people began the slow trip to safety in Ellsworth. According to eyewitness reports, it was a terrifying drive - cars were pelted by sparks and ßames flickered overhead. But the motorcade was orderly and successful, an uplifting end to a day that saw close to 11,000 additional acres blackened.

Still, the fire continued to burn. From Bar Harbor, the blaze raced down the coast almost to Otter Point, engulÞng and destroying the Jackson Laboratory on its way. The fire blew itself out over the ocean in a massive fireball. But that wasnÕt the end of the destruction. Almost 2000 more acres burned before the fire was declared under control on October 27. Organic soil and vegetation on the forest floor, along with matted tree roots infiltrating deeply around granite boulders, aided stubborn underground fires. Even weeks later, after rain and snow had fallen, fire still smoldered below ground. The fire was not pronounced completely out until 4 PM on November 14.

1947 Bar Harbor Fire

2007-04-30T07:33:00.000-07:00

Epilogue

In all, some 17,188 acres burned. Over 10,000 acres of this was in Acadia National Park. Property damage exceeded twenty-three million dollars. Considering the magnitude of the fire, loss of human life had been minimal. An elderly man returned to his home to save his cat and was never seen alive again. A car accident claimed the lives of an Air Force officer and a local teenage girl. A man and woman, already ill, succumbed to heart attacks. An unknown number of animals died in the blaze, but park rangers believe that most outran the fire and found safety in ponds and lakes.

Once the fire was over, it was time to start anew. Two crews, one hired by the park and one hired by the Rockfeller family, logged selected park areas for timber salvage and clean-up. Some timber was milled, slash was burned, and other logs, still visible today, were left to prevent soil erosion.

Nature, however, played the predominant role in the island's restoration. The forests that exist today regrew naturally. Wind carried seeds back into burned areas and some deciduous trees regenerated by stump sprouts or suckers. Today's forest, however, is often different than what grew before the fire. Spruce and fir that reigned before the fire have given way to sun-loving trees, such as birch and aspen. But these deciduous trees are short-lived. As they grow and begin to shade out the forest floor, they provide a nursery for the shade-loving spruce and fir which may eventually reclaim the territory.

Fire has an important natural role. It clears away mature growth, opening areas to the sun-loving species that are food for wildlife. The fire of 1947 increased diversity in the composition and age structure of the park's forests. It even enhanced the scenery. Today, instead of one uniform evergreen forest, we are treated to a brilliant mix of red, yellow, and orange supplied by the new diverse deciduous forests.

Bar Harbor, too, was changed by the fire. Most of the permanent residents rebuilt their homes, but many of the grand summer cottages were not replaced. In fact, many of the seasonal families never returned. The estates on Millionaires' Row have been replaced by motels that house the ever-increasing tourist population. But the fire alone cannot be blamed for ending the island's once-grand "Cottage era" The opulent lifestyle had already been suffering from the effects of the newly invented income tax and the Depression. The destructive flames merely provided a final blow.

The fire on Mount Desert Island was publicized in headlines in newspapers around the world because the island was a renowned summer retreat for the wealthy. But actually, the fall of 1947 was a dry one throughout the state, and many serious fires occurred. State-wide, over 200,000 acres, 851 permanent homes, and 397 seasonal cottages were destroyed in "The year Maine burned."

The Secret Life of Lobsters

2007-04-23T05:57:00.000-07:00

When one visit's Bar Harbor one can't help but become interested in lobster - from eating them to wondering what its like to be a lobsterman. I recommend this book which is a facinating read. It covers everything from the scientific (the secret sex lives of lobsters) to the social (lobstering as a family tradition on the coast of Maine) and the efforts to conserve the fishery for future generations.

Follow this link for more info. LOBSTER SECRETS

Books on Acadia National Park, MDI and Bar Harbor

2007-04-23T05:51:00.000-07:00

This site has a great selection of books on Acadia National Park, Mount Desert Island, Bar Harbor, Maine and even Lobsters!

Click here to view the list

Tan Turtle Tavern - Visit 2

2007-04-18T09:13:00.000-07:00

The Tan Turtle Tavern has such a large menu one wonders how they can possibly do it all well. Here are the results of our second visit.

Drink: TTT Black and Tan - Excellent!

Kid's Grilled Cheese - Excellent! Great bread.

Voodoo Fish Sandwich - Excellent! Great bun.

Chicken Pot Pie - So So. Very watery, soup-like "chicken stew". Menu claimed 'seasonal veggies' but the reality its was frozen peas and carrots.

We like the place, it's just a matter of figuring out what they do well (any fish dish seems like a safe bet) and what to avoid.

Thunder Hole - April Nor'easter

2007-04-18T09:02:00.000-07:00

If you visit Thunder Hole in the summer on a calm day you might think 'what's all the fuss about?'. But check out this photo taken at high tide during the Nor'easter "Perfect Storm" on April 16th, 2007

Photo by Diane Woodworth

More Restaurant Openings Around The Island

2007-04-12T10:02:00.000-07:00

This is the time of year dining out starved locals get all excited and start to drool. Especially now, early in the season before the crowds of "people from away" come to visit. Here are some recent reopenings (hopefully this weekend's storms won't keep the patrons away):

Pancho Villa's Tex-Mex Restaurant at 116 Cottage St. (www.panchovillatexmex.com)

The Colonel's in downtown Northeast Harbor

Galyn's 17 Main Street Bar Harbor

Guiness & Porcelli's 191 Main Street with Friday and Saturday night "Spring Fling" deals

Tan Turtle Tavern in Northeast Harbor

Red Sky - Southwest Harbor

Acadia National Park Loop Road Opens Sort Of

2007-04-12T09:52:00.000-07:00

April 15th is the day the loop road typically opens but this year because of all of the spring snow we've been getting only a section of the loop road will open this weekend.

Route 66 Restaurant Reopens

2007-04-12T09:50:00.000-07:00

A self proclaimed "A Fun Place To Eat", Route 66 Restaurant is opening for the season on April 13th. Located at 20 Cottage St in Bar Harbor, Route 66 features a fun interior decorated with toys and kitch from decades gone by.

He's One Mother Shucker!

2007-04-12T09:48:00.000-07:00

Former Seal Cove native William "Chopper" Young recently won the 2007 Mohegan Sun Oyster Open.

Bass Harbor Lighthouse - Closed for Repair

2007-04-12T09:46:00.000-07:00

The visitor's path on the west side of the Lighthouse will be closed from April 17 to April 20 for repairs.

Choose Your Victim - Selecting Your Lobster

2007-04-12T06:52:00.000-07:00

Know what you are eating! For lobster identification get the above "Lobster Identification" t-shirt from fishboy.com
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Lobster is one of the few meal choices that invites you to choose your own victim. While there are some restaurants where you can pick out your own steak, it's not like seeing the whole cow. With lobsters, you do see the whole thing. This leaves the diner with several tough decisions:

* Should you have a soft-shell or a hard-shell lobster?
* Will a large lobster be as tender as a small lobster?
* Should you choose a male or a female?
* Should you choose a green lobster or a red one?

According to David Dow, former Director of the Lobster Institute in Orono, Maine, and a lobsterman himself, "Most people in the industry prefer the new shell: the 'shedders.' Their meat is sweet, and the shells are easy to break apart." However, others claim hard-shelled lobsters are better because the meat is firmer and there is more of it than in a newly-molted lobster.

Of course, you have to expect that the shell will not be crammed full of lobster meat in a 'shedder.' Lobster dealers sometimes refer to soft-shell lobsters as "low quality". It's not that they don't taste as good, but rather that in their weakened post-molt condition, these lobsters don't transport well. So if you plan to take a Maine lobster across state lines, a hard-shell lobster travels best.

Dow also claims that large lobsters taste as good as small ones "until you get to 5 to 7 pounds. Then the meat gets kind of stringy." Advocates of tail meat recommend getting a female whose tail is broader than a male's of equal size since she uses the space to carry her eggs. The best time to buy lobsters is in the fall, after Labor Day, when all the tourists have gone home and the lobster landings are at their highest.

Because lobster meat can go bad quickly, it's generally necessary to cook a lobster while it's still alive. That means you pick a green lobster, but don't eat it until its shell turns red! Never eat a cooked lobster with its tail uncurled, as it died before it was cooked.

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Note: The Bar Harbor Insider agrees that the shedder meat is sweeter and you do pay less per pound because you end up buying more water but I don't like the tips of the claws on the shedders, they tend to be mushy. Tip: If you are dining with a friend get one of each and compare but keep in mind each lobster does have its own individuality - we are not talking about mass produced chicken nuggets here!

YMCA Bar Harbor Lobster Races

2007-04-11T08:47:00.000-07:00

PETA hates this kind of thing but who cares its fun being at the top of the food chain!

Wednesday, July 4th, At the Ball field after the Parade
Watch local businesses put their lobsters to the test in a high-speed crustacean contest where guts and determination will reign supreme. Proceeds benefit the MDI YMCA Scholarship Program. MDI YMCA, 21 Park St., Bar Harbor.

Camping Recommendation: Quietside Campground and Cabins

2007-04-11T08:19:00.000-07:00

The Quietside Campground is a Bar Harbor Insider recommended business:

ALL SITES have a picnic table and fire ring.

TENT SITES have a 12' X 12' wood tent platform (most sites have been updated with larger wood tent platform.) Some sites are located near the campground road; others are "walk-in" sites in a more wooded area.

LOG CAMPING CABINS sleep four (queen size and bunk bed), are located in a wooded area, and have heat, electricity, and a small refrigerator. There is no plumbing in the cabins.

WATER & ELECTRIC SITES have 30 amp service and accommodate pop-ups or small RVs up to 28 feet.

RUSTIC CABINS sleep four (queen size loft and queen size bed on main floor), they do NOT have heat, electricity or plumbing. They have a propane lantern, gas grill and screened in porch.

LARGER CAMPING CABIN has electricity. The upstairs has a queen size bed and 2 twin sized beds. This cabin features a sofa, microwave, gas fireplace, small refrigerator and gas grill. There is no plumbing, but the bathhouse is nearby.

A-FRAME CABIN accommodates 2 adults in an upstairs loft, has heat, electricity, and a small refrigerator. There is also a small futon on the first floor.

THE CAMPGROUND has a total of 37 sites. There are two full-service bathhouses with free hot showers. There is an outside toilet near the cabin area.

Call: (207) 244-5992
Write: PO Box 10, Bass Harbor, ME 04653
Email: info@quietsidecampground.com
http://www.quietsidecampground.com/

Ten great things to do on Mount Desert Island - UPDATED BY THE BAR HARBOR INSIDER

2007-04-11T08:01:00.000-07:00

Mount Desert Island
Ten great things to do on Mount Desert Island.
June 2000 issue of ISLANDS magazine

1 Up With the Sun
Every day the sun's first rays touch the nation at the summit of Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park, which takes up much of Mount Desert Island. The 1,530-foot peak, the highest point on the eastern seaboard, is a mecca for sunrise enthusiasts, who congregate as early as 4 a.m. for the spectacle. Bring hot coffee and a blanket, find an east-facing niche on the stark granite slopes, and settle in to watch the predawn light slowly creep down over the forested landscape and onto a string of islands in a glimmering sea.

BHI- most tourist sleep in so you can beat the crowds by getting up early but pack a jacket! It takes awhile before the coastal effect cool mornings burn off.

2 Million-Dollar Stroll
The town of Bar Harbor once went by the name of Eden, and it was truly a paradise for the turn-of-the-century aristocrats who summered on Mount Desert. Steamboats ferried du Ponts, Vanderbilts, and Drexels from the mainland to their elegant, mansion-size "cottages." But after a 1947 inferno destroyed many lavish homes, the town languished. You can get a glimpse of the glamour days with a stroll along the Shore Path, a 3Ú4-mile gravel walkway that follows the curve of Frenchman Bay, past surviving Tudor-style mansions and their manicured gardens. At the pier, turn inland to reach the town's boutiques and galleries. Or, for a longer walk, head to the end of Bridge Street at low tide and slosh across the sandbar to Bar Island, where meadows and a fir forest await.

BHI - A great stroll. For more hikes head into Acadia National Park.

3 Horsing Around
Industrialist John D. Rockefeller Jr. may have owned Standard Oil, but when he retreated to his sprawling summer estate here, he wanted to leave automobile exhaust fumes behind. In the early 1900s he ordered the construction of a 57-mile network of gravel roads – for the exclusive use of horse-drawn carriages. Now part of Acadia National Park, these "carriage paths" wind beside tranquil ponds and over picturesque granite bridges, past pines, cedars, and maples, attracting bicyclists in summer and cross-country skiers in winter. Enjoy the millionaire's largesse with a horse-drawn carriage tour from Wildwood Stables. For a cost of $16.50 per person, you can take a two-hour ride to Day Mountain to watch the sunset or to the Jordan Pond House for tea and popovers.

BHI - Skiing is very iffy these days due to global warming and the coastal warming effect. Bikers watch your speed, you can be ticketed for driving to endanger. Heed the signs that explain the right of way and yield to less manuverable people.

4 Blueberry Fields Forever
In August and September the island's "barrens" are laden with wild blueberries. To fill a basket, try the bushes along the park's trails, including those radiating from the summit of Cadillac Mountain. Too pooped to pick? Then stop at the Sunday Farmer's Market on Main Street for a pint of blueberries and other local specialties, like strawberries, raspberries, and maple syrup.

BHI - Pick your own trail side but don't tresspass!

5 Edible Exotics
Restaurateur Michael Boland named his Main Street bar and grill Rupununi, after a river in Guyana. The exotic name complements his creative menu, which includes ostrich, buffalo burgers, and wild mushroom risotto. (For less adventurous eaters, there's also that Down East mainstay – lobster, served any way you want it.) Upstairs, the Carmen Verandah bar overlooks the Village Green, where the town band performs on Monday and Thursday evenings in summer. For more rowdy tunes, wait for nightfall, when blues, rock, or jazz bands energize Carmen's. Finish off the evening with a smoke at Boland's upscale cigar bar, also on the premises.

BHI - A long time bar and grill in Bar Harbor and its good. On a warm day sit outside on the patio and watch the tourists go by.

6 Here, Kitty, Kitty
There is nothing meek about The Cat, the sleek, black, high-speed catamaran that whisks travelers across the Bay of Fundy to Nova Scotia. What was once a six-hour-long journey now takes a mere 2 hours and 45 minutes aboard the 300-foot-long motorized vessel, which even has a gambling casino. A day trip to the Canadian fishing port of Yarmouth allows for five hours on shore to see the town's lighthouses and white-sand beaches.

BHI - The Cat has cut back its schedule. Look for info online. They no longer have daily service.

7 Thar She Blows
Each summer a teeming smorgasbord of herring and krill lures pods of whales into the Gulf of Maine, where they breach, "spyhop," and "lobtail." Humpback whales are the most acrobatic – sometimes launching their gargantuan bodies completely out of the water – but fin whales, the second-largest animal on earth, and the more diminutive minkes also give astounding performances. The gulf's skies are the domain of shearwaters, which skim the ocean surface for food, and northern gannets, known for spectacular dives. Getting a close look at the behemoths and birds requires taking a blustery 25-mile boat ride out of Bar Harbor. For the weak of stomach, the Friendship V catamaran promises the smoothest ride.

BHI - Not for those who experience sea sickness.

8 Rock On
Granite cliffs loom throughout Acadia National Park, beckoning those who love heights. Several local climbing schools offer instruction in rock climbing, from basic techniques and rope skills to scaling and rappelling. When you're ready for a challenge, grab your ropes and pitons and head for the top of Otter Cliffs, a 110-foot-high oceanfront wall within the park. The reward? A mesmerizing view of the coast and the rolling Atlantic Ocean. Beyond lies Europe.

BHI - Recent earthquakes on the island may have lossened rocks. Be careful!

9 Sweet Somethings
Tempting treats abound in Bar Harbor, but Ben and Bill's Chocolate Emporium on Main Street makes oversize indulgence irresistible. Of course, there's homemade fudge, but also peanut and macadamia nut brittles, truffles weighing in at a fifth of a pound, two-foot-long gummy snakes, and chocolate- covered everything, including not-to-be-missed chocolate-covered blueberries in season. Want more temptation? Try a waffle cone with a couple of the 64 ice cream flavors – from lobster (with real lobster chunks) to "moose droppings," a chocolate mousse taste-alike with malt balls.

BHI - I've had the lobster ice cream - once. The ice cream part is butter flavored, the lobster chucks are kind of nasty. Maybe an eskimo would enjoy biting into frozen lobster chunks. Novelity item - order it just to say you tried it.

10 Windows Into Heaven
Maine's largest collection of Tiffany stained-glass windows shines at St. Saviour's Episcopal church, built in 1878 in Bar Harbor. A noted New York surgeon donated the first colorful installation – a three-panel depiction of the resurrected Christ placed above the original altar – in 1886. Since then, members of the congregation have added additional awe-inspiring Tiffany windows and others crafted as far away as England and France. The Victorian stone church offers tours during summer, but the building is open year-round. Next door, cemetery buffs can wander the old graveyard, where the maze of tombstones memorializes the town's distinguished founders and their families.

BHI - Number one tourist attraction for the cruise ship crowd.

Best Place for Lobster On MDI

2007-04-11T07:52:00.000-07:00

Shhh! I shouldn't be telling you this but my favorite place for lobster (besides on the beach) is Thurston's Lobster Pound in Bernard (its part of Tremont and across the harbor from Bass Harbor). Thurston's location - right on a pier jutting into Bass Harbor can't be beat for the best location on the island to enjoy lobster. Plus everything about it is authentic. You sit right over the water where the lobsters live, the view looks out on to the harbor full of the boats that catch the lobsters and Thurston's is a lobster dealer so its where the lobsters go from boat to being sold. No middlemen! From your seat watch the water for seals. If you see a head pop up that looks like a dark, wet dog head that's one of them!

Parking is limited.

Thurston's Lobster Pound Steamboat Wharf Road Bernard, Maine 04612 207-244-7600

Jack Russell's Brewpub & Beer Garden & Crab Cakes

2007-04-10T07:33:00.000-07:00

This place really is more of a stakehouse then "pub" but they do brew their own beer via their Maine Coast Brewing company located on the premises.

The first time my wife, son and I tried to eat here we were put off by the lack of attention from the hostess, the prices on the menu and the lack of a children's menu. We actually ended up walking out before we even ordered!

That was about a year and a half ago. As one of the only restaurants on the island that stays open year round we decided to try it again on a Saturday Night "Date Night" sans child. And I'm happy to report we had a great dinner!

We made a early reservation (not really needed in April) and found the place rather empty for the time (6 pm) but then again it was off season. I ordered the drink special, a Dark and Stormy which was fantastic. My wife ordered the Maple Martini which she has been raving about for weeks. Then we got down to business and studied the menu. I was pleasantly surprised to see options any where from $12 to $28 with plenty of choices for any budget. I settled in for a teriakyi steak kabob ($12) with a crab cake on the side (+ $8) and my wife had the rib eye. Both were cooked to prefection and the plate had ample sides.

My only complaint would be about the crab cake which was rather standard fare. More dry than I like although that seems to be the standard. I like mine with a bit more flare, like with red pepper and corn and a few sauces to add. This crab cake was rather bland. I suppose I should just give up on crab cakes. The worst one I've had on the island was at Gaylns in Bar Harbor. They usually have good food but their crab cakes are like hockey pucks. The best crab cakes in Bar Harbor can found at Rupununi, American Bar and Grill down at 119 Main St. They have the moist ones with corn, red pepper and its served with two great sauces.

Back to Jack Russell's, good food and a great bar makes the perfect combination for a nice date night. (By the way, they do now have a children's menu!)

Lobster $10 a pound and that's wholesale!

2007-04-06T17:18:00.000-07:00

Lobstermen friends of mine have been excited lately because the seafood dealers are paying $10 and up a pound for lobster - boat price. Seems there is quite a shortage at the moment and all reserves have been used up.

But if you are headed to Bar Harbor this summer don't worry, you won't be paying $20 a pound. Typically by late spring the lobster landings go way up and the prices fall to more reasonable amounts. Expect to pay around $7 a pound at the market or $12 a pound at a restaurant with some places offering early bird deals for $15 - $17 including sides.

What are those shiny things up in the sky?

2007-03-29T09:27:00.000-07:00

One of the real treats of visiting Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park is laying on your back on Sand Beach and gazing up at the stars. Just bring a flashlight so you can find you way back to the car because in this part of Maine the skys are dark!

In fact Maine has more dark sky than any other state on the East Coast and its just one more thing that makes a visit to Maine so special. People visiting the island from the city are in for a real treat.

Just how dark is it around here? Well, once I parked my car at end of my long driveway. The outside lights of the house were on but by the time I reached the road where I thought I left my car I couldn't see my hand in front of my face. I used my foot to feel for the end of the gravel driveway and the pavement of the road. I turned leftin the direction of my car and ended up walking right past it! Not until I saw the flashing red light of my car alarm could I find the car! Now that is dark!

The Grand, Ellsworth

2007-03-25T16:23:00.000-07:00

Too many visitors to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park, Ellsworth is like the last reminder of New Jersey, i.e. sprawling retail and pavement before they can take a deep breath and breath in the natural scenery of Mount Desert Island. But behind off of the chain stores and urban blight of signage, parking lots and power lines, the heart of Ellsworth - its downtown area is worth a visit. There are plenty of nice little shops and fine eateries. The jewel of Ellsworth is The Grand. The Grand shows movies and produces excellent regional theater. Every production is professional with great sets, wonderful costumes and amazing acting. Much more than one might expect from this corner of Maine.

The Bar Harbor Insider just saw the latest production - Once Upon A Mattress and it was a wonderful experience especially because of the brand new comfy seating that they recently put in.

"The riotous and much acclaimed Broadway musical comedy, Once Upon A Mattress, comes to the stage of The Grand this spring. In this hilarious revision of the fairy tale, “The Princess and The Pea”, the shrewish Queen Aggravain has ruled that no one may be married before her son, Prince Dauntless, marries. However, she sabotages every princess who comes along, believing none is good enough for her precious son. Mischief and side-splitting antics fill the palace as the court schemes to short-circuit the Queen’s best efforts." - A must see says the Bar Harbor Insider

About The Grand

On July 13, 1938, The Ellsworth American headline read "New Grand Theatre Gala Opening Thursday." Ellsworth's long-awaited new motion picture theatre at last had become a reality. However, between 1950 and 1960, the lights were turned off and the 500 seats of The Grand were empty when structural and financial problems closed the building. By thelate 1960's and early 1970's it was used as a boxing ring, because Ellsworth had "no use" for a downtown moview theater. And in 1974, it was scheduled for demolition.

In 1975 a group of community leaders formed The Hancock County Auditorium Associates, which bought the historic Art Deco landmark for $7,000 and a mortgage of the facility. As it had not been used for several years, The Grand was "a mess." Seats were broken and ripped up, there were mountains of trash, and plugged drains caused water to back up into the theater. The Grand Auditorium re-opened on august 8, 1975, to a standing-room-only crowd for a benefit performance by Noel Paul Stookey.

Mount Desert Island Business: FISHBOY

2007-03-21T07:52:00.000-07:00

Local t-shirt creator Fishboy has been serving up fresh fish, lobster and moose t-shirts since 1996. You can find Fishboy products on their website (www.fishboy.com), at national retailers such as Bass Pro Shops and at resort retailers such as Bar Harbor's very own famous Cool As A Moose.

Fishboy only sells the very best t-shirts and hats. Their shirts are 100% cotton and custom pigment dyed in the U.S.A., their hats feature nice extras such as leather straps and brass "tail" hiders. Check out their selection of over 70 designs.

Ollie's Trolley

2007-03-21T07:42:00.001-07:00

Santo Petruzzello is a veritable encyclopedia of information and odd “facts” about subjects and sights having to do with Mount Desert Island. He can spend over two hours talking with you and still not cover all the information he knows about the area. But for a tour guide, that’s a good thing.

“One thing I want you to be aware of — you aren’t required to laugh at any of my jokes,” says Petruzzello at the start of today’s tour. “But there is a law in the state of Maine that says you’re not allowed to throw anything at the driver.”

Oli’s Trolley tours in Bar Harbor are a unique and humorous way to see Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park — and to learn a little bit about the history of the area, with a few tall tales thrown in for good measure. The trick is to separate the jokes from the facts.

Did you know: The most common death of beavers is to be crushed by the tree they are chewing down? The fire of 1947 on Mount Desert Island started in a cranberry bog near the town dump? A train ran to the top of Cadillac Mountain from 1883 to 1890? These are just a few of the tidbits you’ll be offered while taking an Oli’s Trolley tour ride.

“A lot of the stuff comes from people who live here,” says Petruzzello about the information he includes. Other facts and stories come from books, other tour guides, periodicals and a script of basic material to cover developed by the company.

“The first time I did the two-and-a-half hour tour, I ran out of information and wasn’t even done with the tour yet,” he says. “I didn’t know what to say. I said ‘I’m not going to get caught like that again.’”

That was a couple of years ago. Now Petruzzello studies or reads any book he can get his hands on and paces and embellishes his tours in certain spots to keep it going as long as possible. And now he knows so much that he could probably do the two-and-a-half-hour tour twice before he exhausted all the information he has, says Petruzzello.

In the mid-1980s, Oliver Parker started Oli’s Trolley with one trolley car. In 1988, Bill and Mary Sweet purchased the tour company and added three custom-built trolleys to the lineup. This fall, they’ll be adding another trolley to the fleet for their busiest time of year — the cruise ship season.

“We like to say Oli’s Trolley is a fun way to see the island,” says Denise Morgan, operations manager for the trolley company. “The open air trolleys provide great photo opportunities.”

The trolley company is a concession of Acadia National Park. That means they are regulated by the Department of the Interior.

Back on the tour, Petruzzello is pulling the big red and green trolley that looks like it came straight from San Francisco into the Cadillac Summit parking lot. The 27 passengers file out for a few minutes to explore the mountain-top.

“The most popular stop is Cadillac Mountain,” says Petruzzello. “But during stormy weather, the most popular stop is Thunder Hole. Thunder Hole becomes extremely popular when you have a little action.”

Oli’s Trolley has two different tours, an hour tour and a two-and-a-half-hour tour. The hour tour goes to the top of Cadillac Mountain and the two-and-a-half hour tour goes to Cadillac Mountain, Sieur De Mont Springs, Thunder Hole and on occasion, the Jordan Pond House.

Today Thunder Hole is a dud and Petruzzello decides to stop at the Jordan Pond House. Along the way, we hear the story of how some of the first lobstermen in the area didn’t even need boats or traps to catch their lobsters.

At the Jordan Pond House, Petruzzello points out some of the dozens of books he’s read on the area. “Steam to the Summit: The Green Mountain Railway, Bar Harbor’s Remarkable Cog Railroad,” “The Story of Acadia National Park,” “Lost Bar Harbor,” the titles pile up.

The trip back to Bar Harbor brings another story, this one about the Jordan Pond House, how it was started and about the first “rusticators” to come to the area. Like a master storyteller, Petruzzello makes history fun and interesting. It’s a job well suited for him. He loves to talk and loves working with people.

“It’s just a great job,” says Petruzzello. “Where else can you drive people around and get paid for it?”

Other tidbits you’ll learn on the trip include how George B. Dorr established Acadia National Park over 75 years ago and some background on John D. Rockefeller Jr.’s carriage roads. For more information, call Oli’s Trolley at 866-9Trolley (866-987-6553).

Have it your way - The Bar Harbor Subway

2007-03-21T07:33:00.000-07:00

My good friend Dave runs the Subway in Bar Harbor. Boy, this guy puts in a lot of hours making sandwiches for hungry tourists and locals alike. Interesting enough he tells me that he gets really busy early in the morning around 9 am. Seem to early for a sub? Well, clever tourists going on boat trips, hiking, to Sand Beach etc, stop in and get a sub to go for later on in the day. This way they don't have to worry about trying to find a place to eat later in the day.

In the off seasons the Subway is about one of the only quick places to grab sandwich to go. Check it out. The Bar Harbor Subway is convienently located next to Ollie's Trolley.

The Downeast Three Kick Rule

2007-03-21T06:12:00.000-07:00

A New York lawyer went duck hunting in rural Down East Maine. He shot and dropped a bird, but it fell into a farmer’s field on the other side of a fence. As the lawyer climbed over the fence, an elderly farmer drove up on his tractor and asked him what he was doing.

The litigator responded, “I shot a duck and it fell in this field, and now I’m going to retrieve it.”

The old farmer replied, “This is my property and you are not coming over here.”

The indignant lawyer said, “I am one of the best trial attorneys in the United States and, if you don’t let me get that duck, I’ll sue you and take everything you own.

The old farmer smiled and said, “Apparently, you don’t know how we settle disputes Down East. We settle small disagreements like this with the Down East Three Kick Rule.”

The lawyer asked, “What is the Down East Three Kick Rule?”

The Farmer replied, “Well, because the dispute occurs on my land, first I kick you three times and then you kick me three times and so on back and forth until someone gives up.”

The attorney quickly thought about the proposed contest and decided that he could easily take the old codger. He agreed to abide by the local custom.

The old farmer slowly climbed down from the tractor and walked up to the attorney. His first kick planted the toe of his heavy steel toed work boot into the lawyer’s groin and dropped him to his knees. His second kick to the midriff sent the lawyer’s last meal gushing from his mouth. The barrister was on all fours when the farmer’s third kick to his rear end sent him face-first into a fresh cow pie.

The lawyer summoned every bit of his will and managed to get to his feet. Wiping his face with the arm of his jacket, he said, “Okay, you old coot. Now it’s my turn.”

The old farmer smiled and said, “Naw, I give up. You can have the duck.”

A Sample from Tim Sample

2007-03-21T06:07:00.000-07:00

Tim Sample (well-known Maine Humorist), once put it, "You can come from anyplace in the whole world, and come to the state of Maine, you’ll be just fine here. Everything will be hunky-dory as long as you don’t break the only rule that really exist in the state of Maine, and that is - you can’t think that being from away make you better than the local people. You come into the state of Maine with what Unc’ refers to as an altitude problem and you won’t even get the number of the truck that hit ya."

Going Up to Boston? - What's with this Downeast stuff?

2007-03-21T05:53:00.000-07:00

Around here you'll hear people tell about going up to Portland or up to Augusta. Huh? Since when does going up mean going south? Well here in "Downeast" Maine we still think in terms of traveling by sea instead of by car. In the early days when roads were few, bridges even fewer and what was, was rough - it was easier to travel by boat from the various islands, pennisulas and towns along the coast of Maine. The prevailing winds blow up from Boston so to get to Bar Harbor one would be sailing downwind and east.

Downeast Magazine (which is a wonderful publication about the state of Maine) defines it well:

"When ships sailed from Boston to ports in Maine (which were to the east of Boston), the wind was at their backs, so they were sailing downwind, hence the term 'Down East.' And it follows that when they returned to Boston they were sailing upwind; many Mainers still speak of going 'up to Boston,' despite the fact that the city lies approximately 50 miles to the south of Maine’s southern border."

2007 Bar Harbor Cruise Ship Schedule

2007-03-21T05:47:00.001-07:00

Bar Harbor to host ship bigger than QM2
By Bill Trotter
Monday, March 12, 2007 - Bangor Daily News

BAR HARBOR - Three years ago, the enormous cruise ship Queen Mary 2 got a big reception when local officials set up a pedestrian-only zone on a downtown street, hundreds of sightseers flocked to the Shore Path to see the vessel ease into Frenchman Bay, and the governor showed up to help cut a cake celebrating the ship’s inaugural visit to this scenic coastal town.

This year, it might be the first-ever local appearance of the Explorer of the Seas that everyone remembers.

Though maybe not as well known, the Royal Caribbean ship arguably is bigger than the QM2. With a length of 1,020 feet, it is 112 feet shorter than the Cunard vessel, but it is about 10 feet wider. And it can hold more people.

Explorer of the Seas has a capacity for 3,114 passengers — nearly 500 more than the QM2. Its first visit to Bar Harbor is scheduled for Sept. 5.

That day and Sept. 19 likely will be busy for downtown merchants and tour bus operators who line up near the town pier waiting to take cruise ship passengers on rides through Acadia National Park.

Both Explorer and the Norwegian Spirit, which can hold 1,966 passengers, are scheduled to be in town on both those days, which means there could be as many as 5,080 cruise ship passengers tromping around Bar Harbor’s seaside village at the same time.

That’s about 260 more people than the U.S. Census Bureau counted when it added up the number of year-round residents Bar Harbor had in 2000, when the most recent official census took place.

Based on the number of vessels that have booked dates to be in Bar Harbor, this year well might be the town’s busiest ever for cruise ship visits, according to town harbor master Charlie Phippen. He said there are 91 ships scheduled to stop in Bar Harbor between mid-May and the end of October.

"That’s the most ever on the schedule before the season started," Phippen said last week. "Preseason, we’re at an all-time high."

Phippen said that if there are enough cancellations, 2007 could end up not being a record year. There were 83 scheduled visits in 2006, he said, but because of weather and other issues it turned out that only 73 ships stopped in port.

"You never know until after the season," Phippen said.

Chris Fogg, executive director of the local Chamber of Commerce, said last week that his group may be interested in giving the Explorer of the Seas a welcome similar to the red-carpet treatment the QM2 received in 2004, but that he has yet to talk to town officials about it.

He said the final draft of a cruise ship management plan commissioned by the state might formally establish certain procedures, such as blocking off downtown streets to vehicles, that could be followed for special cruise ship visits.

"There’s a lot of moving parts to it," Fogg said about the plan, which has only been presented to the town in a preliminary draft.

State and town officials and the Florida consultant who drafted the document are expected to attend a public workshop on the plan at 7 p.m. March 22 at the local municipal building.

Phippen said each ship gets a plaque from the town when it makes its first-ever visit to Bar Harbor, but that he didn’t expect there would be any extra pomp and circumstance for the Explorer.

Whether it might be the town or the state that takes the lead in implementing some of the management plan’s recommendations has yet to be worked out, according to Fogg.

Planners have considered rerouting tour bus traffic downtown, blocking off some parking spaces near the pier to help with pedestrian traffic flow, and even increasing the number of anchorages in Frenchman Bay from two to three.

Mark Ittel, the consultant who drafted the plan, has said he does not recommend expanding the number of anchorages at this time.

The cruise ship business in Bar Harbor has changed considerably since at least 1990, when only 27,000 cruise ship passengers came through town.

This year it could bring roughly 130,000, a small percentage compared to the 2 million to 3 million tourists that visit Bar Harbor and Acadia every summer, but still a sizable number when considering cruise ship passengers spent $11 million in Bar Harbor in 2005.

The ships have grown bigger, and they come more frequently. An item from the Sept. 25, 1990, edition of the Bangor Daily News indicated that after that date, five more cruise ships were expected to stop in Bar Harbor that fall.

The item also pointed out that typically "the cruise ships disembark more than 600 passengers to spend several hours visiting local shops and touring the national park."

This year, 33 cruise ship appearances are expected in Bar Harbor after Sept. 25.

Queen Mary 2 will make its one stop in Bar Harbor on Oct. 1 and its sister ship, Queen Elizabeth 2, will make its lone appearance for 2007 the next day.

Crown Princess, which like Explorer can hold more than 3,000 passengers, is scheduled to make five visits, two of them on the same day Norwegian Spirit will be in port. On those days, Oct. 3 and Oct. 10, there could be as many as 5,046 cruise ship passengers walking around Bar Harbor.

The Maasdam will be the first to arrive on May 12 and on Oct. 31 Norwegian Spirit is expected to be the last cruise ship to sail out of Frenchman Bay for 2007.

Many of those visits will be repeat appearances by the same ship, with Maasdam leading the way with 17 stops. American Star, a ship with a 100-passenger capacity that ties up directly to the Bar Harbor Town Pier, is scheduled to make 15 visits.

More information on Bar Harbor’s cruise ship schedule is available on the Internet at www.barharbormaine.gov/tourism.

Top Five Places to Avoid When A Cruise Ship is Visiting Bar Harbor

2007-03-21T05:27:00.000-07:00

Bar Harbor gets over 70 cruise ship visits in a single season! Sometimes two large ships can be docked in the harbor at once sending a flood of tourists itching for dry land on to the island during daylight hours. Or even a single monster ship like the Queen Mary 2 or even larger (by 10 feet and more passengers) Explorer of the Seas from Royal Caribbean.

Seeing the cruise ships in the harbor can be very exciting but while the cruise ships are great for the local economy and don't increase the number of cars on island there are some disadvantages. If you have limited vacation time you should plan out your activities with the cruise ship schedule in mind. There are simply places you don't want to be when a cruise ship is in town. Here are the top places to avoid:

1. The Shore Path - The Shore Path in Bar Harbor is very convienent to cruise ship passengers and many guided tours take place here when cruise ships are in town. Its a great place to view the ships be prepared to have your way blocked by groups of cruisers. Best to take a stroll around dinner time when the ships passengers are rushing back for buffets and the ships are getting ready to set sail. This way you can watch them leave the harbor.

2. China Joy (and the sub shops like the now closed EPI) - The less expensive eateries in downtown Bar Harbor get filled up with employees from the ships looking for a break from cruise food.

3. The Town Pier - This is where the cruise line shuttle boats drop off passengers and tour bus operators who line up waiting to take cruise ship passengers on rides through Acadia National Park.

4. Any ice cream outlet in Bar Harbor. Prepare to wait in line if a cruise ship is in town.

5. Cadillac Mountain - The mountain top is busy enough normally, then add all of the buses full of cruisers. Go around five when the cruise ships are getting ready to leave town.

6. Jordan Pond House - This area will be covered with cruise ship passengers as well as the popular hiking trail around Jordan Pond.

7. The Park Loop Road - Popular spots such as Sand Beach and Thunderhole will be extra busy.

All in all it might be best to check out the "Quietside" of MDI on cruise ship days. Swim at Echo Lake, dine in Southwest Harbor, check out the lighthouse in Bass Harbor, get a lobster at Thurstons.

How does one pronounce "Mount Desert Island"

2007-03-19T05:46:00.000-07:00

"Mount Desert Islands" comes it's îles du mont Désert. Frenchman, Samuel de Champlain, who made the first important contribution to the historical record of Mount Desert Island. He led the expedition that landed on Mount Desert on September 5, 1604 and wrote in his journal, "The mountain summits are all bare and rocky..... I name it Isles des Monts Desert."

Although it can be pronounce like a hot expanse of sand or like the treat that comes after dinner, the locals call it "Mount Dessert Island" like the treat.

"In Maine, you're taught to pronounce, "mount dessert island", although they can still tell that you're up from Boston or New York for the summer."

- Correction to the above quote found on the Internet - It's down not up. More on that later.

Bird Watching in Acadia National Park

2007-03-13T07:41:00.000-07:00

Good birding is even more appealing when its setting is one of the most beautiful areas on the northeastern coast. Acadia National Park attracts millions of visitors each year with its surf-splashed rocky headlands, rugged hills, and placid ponds. Birders enjoy all those attractions while searching for seabirds and a good assortment of nesting land birds. Mostly located on Mount Desert Island (other park areas are found on Isle au Haut, Baker Island, and the Schoodic Peninsula), Acadia is easily explored along paved roads and on hiking trails, including 57 miles [91.7 kilometers] of carriage roads—broad, level paths crisscrossing much of the park.

A bird list is available at the visitor center on Maine 3, north of Bar Harbor. Your next step might then be a drive up Cadillac Mountain for an overview of this dramatic landscape. In fall, Cadillac can be a productive hawk-watch site. From here you can look down on the islands off Bar Harbor, 1,530 feet [466 meters] below, where Osprey and Bald Eagle nest; Common Raven gives its croaking call as it passes by. Not far to the west, trails around Jordan Pond make a good introduction to some of the park’s nesting birds, including Ruffed Grouse, Black-capped Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Black-throated Blue and Black-and-white Warblers, Ovenbird, and Dark-eyed Junco; in spring, you’ll hear the laughing call of Common Loon from the pond. As you drive the park’s Loop Road near Bar Harbor, stop at Acadia Wild Gardens for an introduction to some of the plants found on the island. Walk nearby trails for Yellow-bellied Sapsucker; Eastern Wood-Pewee; Alder and Least Flycatchers; Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Green, and Canada Warblers; and American Redstart. Continuing on the one-way Park Loop Road, stop to scan the cliffs of Champlain Mountain, where Peregrine Falcon nests. A few miles beyond, where the drive borders the Atlantic around Otter Point, watch for Common Eider, Black Guillemot, and other seabirds.

Some of the park’s best birding is found on the southwest part of Mount Desert, between the Seawall Campground and the famously picturesque Bass Harbor Head lighthouse. Walk the Wonderland Trail (1.4 miles [2.3 kilometers] round-trip) and the Ship Harbor Nature Trail (1.3-mile [2.1-kilometer] loop) and look for breeding Yellow-bellied and Alder Flycatchers, Blue-headed Vireo, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Swainson’s Thrush, and warblers including Nashville, Black-throated Green, Palm, Wilson’s, Northern Parula, and American Redstart. Spruce Grouse might b e found here, too, but is rare and elusive.

In the warmer months, several companies offer whale-watching tours from Bar Harbor out into the Atlantic. Some also specialize in seabird-watching, with experienced onboard naturalists (cruise information available in Bar Harbor; Chamber of Commerce +1 207 288 3393). Though dependent on the season, and the luck of the day, some of the birds that might be seen on an offshore cruise are Common Loon; Greater, Sooty, and Manx Shearwaters; Wilson’s Storm-Petrel; Northern Gannet; Double-crested and Great Cormorants; Common Eider; Osprey; Bald Eagle; Red-necked and Red Phalaropes; Razorbill; and Atlantic Puffin.

Black Fly Season

2007-03-12T05:05:00.000-07:00

After a long wet spring on coastal Maine - Mid-May to Mid-June is host to a bumper crop of Black Flies. If you thought mosquitos were bad, you haven't experience Black Flies. Black Flies are tiny flys that bite. They can leave you marked with little blood splots. They don't use a needle like nose like mosquitos to get your blood rather they simply take a bite out of you. Plus they have the annoying habit of swarming around your head. Plus if that were not enough they come out in the daytime!

They seem to be attracted to sweat so as soon as you start to do a little gardening they attact. Black Flies seem to have a keen sense that tells them when you have your hands full so you can't swat at them. They also don't make any buzzing sounds, unlike mosquitos, so you can't hear them coming. A familiar site around the island during the black fly season is a father and son playing catch wearing head nets!

The good news is the Black Fly season does have an end. When hotter days arrive the Black Flies die. Usually its only about four weeks of torture. Unlike mosquitos which go through cycles of various varieties (freshwater, saltwater etc). Plus downtown Bar Harbor doesn't seem to get the flies. Probably because it is drier, has less trees around and gets a nice breeze off the ocean.

Bar Harbor Insider Tip

2007-03-11T17:16:00.000-07:00

You'll pay less taxes on your meals if you get them "to go" instead of eating in.

Tourists Are An Endless Source of Humor

2007-03-08T06:46:00.000-08:00

A Tourist pulls up in his shiny BMW and shouts to the fellow in front of the general store, "How do you get to Bangor?" His reply: "My father takes me."

Downeast Humor

2007-03-08T06:45:00.000-08:00

A lobsterman's wife falls overboard from his boat in rough seas and her body washes up on shore weeks later with a dozen lobsters attached. In discussing disposition of the remains, a fellow fisherman says that in view of the high price of lobster and the poor state of the economy, he'd "set her again."

Thunder Hole

2007-03-08T06:11:00.000-08:00

"The highlight of the Ocean Drive Trail was Thunder Hole, a crevice where the surging ocean crashes against the rocks and makes a booming noise. The best time to see and hear Thunder Hole is at mid-tide when the sea is rising."

---

Acadia with all of its beautiful scenery is not as dramatic as the National Parks in the western United States. There is no Grand Canyon, or huge mountain, or faithful geyser. Our mountains are smooth, grinded down miles thick ice and we don't have the geological features of say Yellowstone or even the water worn sandstone natural sculptures of a Arches National Park. Yes, we have our incredible rugged coastline but Acadia really doesn't have those singular features like a giant redwood that you can walk through -- thus Thunder Hole unfortunately has to bear the brunt of such responsibilitly.

It's unfortunate because as much as Thunder Hole is a very interesting feature, it often does not live up to the hype so to speak. I visit Thunder Hole through out the year (it's accessible by car even in the winter) and have seen it at its most dramatic - water shooting up 15 feet over the top of the highest rocks during a tropical depression off the coast - to its most minimal gurgling at low tide.

But tourists have limited time and are going to stop at Thunder Hole when they happen to be driving buy so poor Thunder Hole is under a lot of pressure to perform. Its not Thunder Hole's fault that people have put so much pressure on it to be the Old Faithful of Acadia!

So if you visit Thunder Hole and are disappointed, realise that it is you who failed Thunder Hole by not visiting at the right time and right conditions and keep your expectations low - Thunder Hole just might surprise you and put on a great show. Or not.

----

"Thunder Hole is the place in Acadia National Park to experience the thunder of the sea against the rocky shores of Maine! On calm days you may wonder what the fuss is all about. But wait until the waves kick up a few notches. Thunder Hole is a small inlet, naturally carved out of the rocks, where the waves roll into. At the end of this inlet, down low, is a small cavern where, when the rush of the wave arrives, air and water is forced out like a clap of distant thunder. Water may spout as high as 40 feet with a thunderous roar! Hence the name: Thunder Hole. "