Page 182 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

180  NE W ENGLAND

The elegant resort town of Bar
Harbor is a lively tourist center
and a good base from which to
explore the Acadia National
Park. More than 5 million visitors
each year pass through Bar
Harbor on their way to the wilds
of the park. Located on Mount
Desert Island’s northeastern
shore, it was the 19th century
summer haven for some of
America’s richest people,
including the Astors and the
Vanderbilts. In 1947, a fire
destroyed a third of the town’s
Bass Harbor Head, which exemplifies Maine’s rock-bound shoreline lavish homes, thus ending its
reign as a high-society enclave.
. Acadia National rises during heavy winds, Attractions include the Abbe
Park air trapped in this crevice is Museum, which celebrates
compressed and then expelled Maine’s Native American
n Hulls Cove Visitor Center, off Rte 3 with a resounding boom. The heritage with displays of tools,
in Hulls Cove, (207) 288-3338. Open Loop Road continues inland, crafts, art, artifacts, and
mid-Apr–Oct: daily. @ Bangor–Bar swinging past Jordan Pond, archaeology. A seasonal branch
Harbor. & 8 at Hulls Cove. 7 Bubble Pond, and Eagle Lake. of the museum is located at
∑ nps.gov/acad On the southern shore of the Sieur de Monts Spring in Acadia
park is the quaint village of National Park next to the Wild
An unspoiled paradise, heavily Bass Harbor, where an 1858 Gardens of Acadia, which has
visited in summer, the 55-sq-mile lighthouse is perched on the some 300 species of local
(142-sq-km) Acadia National rocky coastline, offering plants. The museum sponsors
Park covers much of Mount magnificent views of the ocean. a Native American Festival
Desert Island, off the southeast The park is home to numerous and Basketmakers Market
Maine coast. animals, including woodchucks, each summer.
The scenic Loop Road, a white-tailed deer, and red foxes. Mount Desert Oceanarium,
27-mile (43-km) drive (closed Visitors who want a closer, more situated 8.5 miles (14 km)
Dec–mid-Apr), climbs and dips intimate look at the park’s flora northwest of the town, is an
with the pink granite mountains and fauna can do so on foot, inviting spot for families to walk
of the east coast of the island and bike, or horseback along the along a salt marsh and to learn
takes in its main sights. Among 45 miles (72 km) of old broken- about marine life. The facility
these is the 1,527-ft- (465-m-) stone carriage roads, which includes a touch tank Discovery
high Cadillac Mountain, the wind through the park. Pool, the Lobster Fishing
highest point on the Atlantic Cutting through the center Program, and a lobster
Coast. Hiking trails and an auto of Mount Desert Island is hatchery, where eggs grow
road (closed Dec–mid-Apr) lead Somes Sound, a finger-shaped until the lobsters are large
to spectacular panoramas at natural fjord that juts 5 miles enough to be released. Retired
the summit. The road continues (8 km) inland. It separates the lobstermen recount the gritty
south to the idyllic Sand Beach, quiet village of Southwest work of harvesting Maine’s
but the icy water discourages Harbor from Northeast Harbor, signature shellfish.
many swimmers. Farther which is the center of Mount
south there is a unique natural Desert Island’s social scene, P Bar Harbor
phenomenon known locally as with its upscale shops and n 1201 Bar Harbor Rd, Trenton,
Thunder Hole – when the tide handsome mansions. (207) 288-5103.

Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the Atlantic coast, with striking panoramas at the summit
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp184–6 and pp187–9

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