I’m back from Maine with a new perspective on the state, yet still committed to my previous impression – it’s far. Unlike that prior trip, though, this time I found enough wonderful things to experience and explore that I can now say, it’s definitely worth the trip.
Let me share some tips, recommendations and suggestions to help you decide if a roadtrip to down east Maine might be for you.
- From our area, I think a minimum of 4 nights are needed to make the trip worthwhile. In all honesty, 5 nights would have been even better because we could have stopped to spend the night somewhere mid way back to Albany. We broke up the trip north by staying in Rockland for the night and, despite our hotel being in a sterile, commercial zone, we were able to walk to the harbor and downtown area for dinner in the evening and yoga the following morning.
- Pack appropriately. Despite it being the end of May, Maine was definitely on the cool side. I had three sweaters, a jacket and a rain anorak and wore all of these on repeat. One of the mornings the feels like temperature was 29°! On that day, I actually bought a cheap fleece hat which I wore for most of the time I hiked.
- Speaking of hikes, the hiking is wonderful. It’s not an activity I do a lot of, but I sure did enjoy the trails in Acadia. That being said, one needs to choose their hikes wisely. For me, that meant no Beehive because the exposure and ladders would stop me dead in my tracks. I’m not a fan of heights. Instead, we did some nice loops and expanded routes. I loved the hiking on Arcadia because what I chose to do were moderate trails with connections so I could cover more ground to see more things.
- Accessing parking for trails requires a park pass ($35 for a week), a small expense for such beauty. If you’re interested in catching a sunrise or sunset on the highest peak, Cadillac Mountain, that will cost you an additional $6 for your reservation. Yes, reservation. To drive to the top of Cadillac, a reservation is required. I was able to get a reservation for sunset on our first night on island, but failed to obtain a sunrise spot despite trying 4 days in a row. It was kind of a bummer because it was something I really wanted to experience, but maybe next time, right?
- The trails are pristine. I saw only a single piece of trash over the course of 3 days of hiking. Of course, I picked it up.
- Google Maps was surprisingly reliable in terms of navigating the trails as long as cell service was available.
- We had some really good food during our time in Maine. Primo was spectacular, but we also enjoyed the popovers at Jordan Pond House, blueberry pancakes at Jordan’s in Bar Harbor, pizza from West Eden in Town Hill, small plates at Project Social and sandwiches from the Salt Shop in Southwest Harbor. Don’t snooze on a visit to Bar Harbor Winery where the young owner can make great conversation as well as terrific wines from fruit sourced off island. The rosé was dynamite. He also tipped us off to the fact that the nearby Atlantic Brewery had live music (and terrific beer) Sunday afternoon and we worked it into our day. And, yes, there were lobster rolls consumed. I mixed it up and had a hot one on the way north and a cold one on the way back home.
A few last thoughts – I loved being there before season really kicked in. While the island wasn’t desolate by any means, the overall vibe was chill, aside from sunrise on Cadillac Mountain, I guess. The roads are inclined to change speed limit in what felt like random fashion, but Mount Desert Island is a place where slowing down makes sense. You don’t want to miss anything!
One final thing, get yourself to Selkie Sauna for a delightful sweat and swim session. We caught this mobil sauna at Seal Cove picnic area and it was a wonderful way to decompress after a morning of hiking. Damn, that water was cold but I loved it nonetheless.
Maine, I think you’re growing on me.
DelSo 