Geotracks

Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse

The cliffside Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse in Acadia National Park, located in the village of Bass Harbor within Tremont, Maine in the United States, marks the entrance to Bass Harbor on the southwestern side of Mount Desert Island. The lighthouse was built of brick in 1858 on a stone foundation, stands 56 feet above mean high water and is accessible by car off Route 102A. Parking is free and is open daily from 9:00 AM to sunset.

Lighthouse GPS: Latitude 44.221991; Longitude -68.337198

Their web site is here.

Jordan Pond House

Jordan Pond House has been serving popovers and tea since the 1890s when Nellie McIntire began the tradition. The original building burned down in 1979.  Upon completion of the current building in 1982, tea on the lawn has been an uninterrupted summer tradition.

Afternoon tea with popovers remains a popular, not to be missed tradition on a visit to Acadia. Reservations, especially during lunch and the very busy teatime, will greatly reduce your wait and give you a more relaxing experience. If you can’t make a reservation, the shortest waits for tables are before 11:30am or after 4pm. Our menu includes the traditional favorites of lobster stew, house made ice cream, and freshly squeezed lemonade.

Reservations: 207-276-3316

Hours of Operation: 11 am to 3 pm

Their web site is here and the TripAdvisor reviews are here. The menu is here.

Maine Seafood Chowder with sea scallops, shrimp, crab, haddock, onions, celery, potatoes and cream
Cup  $11.50,  Bowl  $15.50

Thunder Hole

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.

West Quoddy Head Light

This is in the US just before you get to Campobello Island. Their wikipedia page is here. Their web site is here. There is a good blog post here.

Manor House Inn

This is run by a co-worker of one of John's clients.

This is where one of John's salesmen loves to stay in Bar Harbor.

The TripAdvisor reviews are here. Their web site is here.

Campobello Sightseeing

The TripAdvisor reviews are here. Their web site is here.

I e-mailed them on 05/22/16 - campobellosights@gmail.com.

Address: 80 Welshpool Back Rd, Welshpool, New Brunswick E5E 1G9, Canada
Phone Number: 506 752 190

Hello Mr. Moore,
thanks for your inquiry. First, admittance to the Roosevelt Home and Visitor Centre is free of charge and not a direct part of our tour, though we pick up most of our guests there. The walk-through takes about one hour.

Our Van-Tour lasts 2.5hrs ($25/person, $50minimum pr. tour) and will get you across the entire island from the south to the north including the 2800acres Roosevelt Park Natural Area.. Under this tour you will receive historical and present-day information about Campobello Island. We visit all beautiful viewpoints of the island, most of them only accessible over gravel roads. The many tales originating around the island are always appreciated by our guests.

Even though we have a standard tour we strive to offer our tours tailored to our guest's wishes and time frame. Mostly, we have only one party on board.

The Head Harbour Light Station is located at the northern end of the island and is really only accessible at low tide as one has to walk across the ocean floor to get to the lighthouse. For exact possible timing I would need a date for your visit, as the tides differ a little every day. The path leads across rocks and involves some climbing on steel ladders. Solid shoes are necessary to do the walk-over.  There is a 4-hour window under low tide for a visit to the light station. It is private property and owned by a volunteer group. Admittance fee: 5-Dollar fee pr. person. Tower Tours: $10/person. These fees are part of the general financing of maintenance costs.

However, a very nice view of the lighthouse is also available from the headland.
The Head Harbour Lightstation has a fascinating history.

Campobello's other lighthouse sits on Mulholland Point vis-a-vis the town of Lubec,ME. It's the best place to watch seals in the water.

Timing and Stay
Including a sit-down for lunch you will need approx. 5-6hrs. for your Campobello visit. Driving up from Bar Harbour will take 2.5hrs. Some times our visitors from Bar Harbour express that they should have stayed locally either before or after their Campobello day. If you should decide to do so an early reservation is recommended as room capacity in Lubec and Campobello is very limited.

Restaurants
Campobello offers three restaurants and "Jocie's Porch, a cafe-style lunch place with a great home-roasted coffee brew. If you happen to arrive on a Friday and stay overnight Jocie's is having a musical jam with local musicians at 7pm. A fun evening which attracts a weekly crowd in an informal setting.

Getting here 
In case you are driving a rental car please make sure the rental company is allowing cross-border drives. If not we can pick you up on the American side in Lubec. Being in Lubec you might also want to see the West Quoddy Lighthouse. Crossing into Canada you will need a valid passport. Fire Arms are not allowed to be brought from the U.S. Our border officers are very friendly and wait times are usually short.

Reservations and Payments
I recommend to make reservations as soon as you have a date for your visit.
We do not charge a reservation fee. Sorry, we accept payments in cash and cheque only.

I'd be happy to answer any further questions if the need should arise.

Links:
www.fdr.net
www.islanddiscoverytours.com
www.visitcampobello.com
www.campobellosightseeing.blogspot.com
www.campobellowhalewatchmotel.ca

Best Regards
Peter Harwerth
Campobellosightseeing
506 752 1901

Camden, Maine

The TripAdvisor article is here. The wikipedia article is here. Their web site is here.

Here are some shopping places and here and here are some restaurants.

Head Harbour Lightstation

Their web site is here and the TripAdvisor review are here.

Campobello Island

Their site is here and the wikipedia page is here.

The main attraction is Roosevelt Campobello International Park. The TripAdvisor article is here. The background on FDR is here.

Campobello Island is in the Atlantic Time Zone and is an hour ahead of Eastern Time.

Saltair Inn B&B

The TripAdvisor reviews are here. Their web site is here.

Bar Harbor Manor

This is the hotel that Herman Hill recommended.

The TripAdvisor reviews are here. Their web site is here.

The Park Loop Road

The 27 mile Park Loop Road is the primary avenue for navigating through Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island by vehicle. It begins near the Hulls Cove Visitor Center on the north side of the island and connects the park's lakes, mountains, forests and rocky shores for easy exploration. You may also access it off Route 3 just south of Bar Harbor on the right just past Jackson Lab. Much of the road is one way but there is a two way section that begins near Wildwood Stables so keep this in mind. (GPS Coordinates for entry points are provided below.) A fee is required and may be paid at the Entrance Station located about one-half mile north of Sand Beach. Entrance Passes may also be purchased at the Visitor Center, Blackwoods and Seawall Campgrounds, the Bar Harbor Village Green, and the Thompson Island Information Center.

Observation Points

There are special pull-off observation points along the thoroughfare as well as special parking areas such as at Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, Otter Cliff, and others, so take advantage of them. When traveling on the one-way section on the eastern side of Mount Desert Island, you may also pull over to the right side and stop or in the actual right lane itself. However, still use extreme caution when exiting your vehicle as another vehicle can appear at anytime. And don't be afraid to check out surrounding areas but always use caution whenever near the shore and especially when near the high cliffs.

History of It's Creation

Construction of the roadway was a huge undertaking and one which began in 1922 and continued through the 1950's. It was partially financed by John D. Rockefeller, Jr., who was the father of the park's famous Carriage Roads. A large part of the beautiful and sensitive design, often taken for granted, is attributed to the talents of landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., who artfully combined functional aspects of a road system with the indigenous landscape. Much of the physical labor that was required was provided by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) beginning in 1933. This was a social program setup during the Great Depression by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt shortly after he was elected. The CCC planted many trees, and helped construct the Carriage Roads as well. One of the program's earliest camps that was set up for housing was near Eagle Lake and is currently used as the Park Headquarters.

Last but Not Least

There are endless things to discover and appreciate here. Drive slowly as there is an abundance of wildlife. Deer often can be standing right next to the road, especially in the early hours, and you would not see them until you are right next to them. Enjoy the magnificent forests and plant life as well. One good place to begin your exploration is the Nature Center at Sieur de Monts Spring. This location holds special significance in the history and formation of this national treasure. Take your time, and feel free to contact the National Park Service with any questions that you may have. A Park Ranger is always happy to assist.

GPS of Access Points

In Bar Harbor you have:

• Eagle Lake Rd., Rt. 233: Latitude 44.381217; Longitude -68.230011
• South Main St., Route 3: Latitude 44.360418; Longitude -68.204756
• Entrance Station: Latitude 44.339063; Longitude -68.183242
• Visitor Center: Latitude 44.408696; Longitude -68.245869

In Seal Harbor:

• Stanley Road.: Latitude 44.296450; Longitude -68.241969

http://www.acadiamagic.com/park-loop-road.html

2016 Bar Harbor Cruise Ship Schedule

Link

Bar Harbor Inn

The TripAdvisor reviews are here. Their web site is here.

Maine Weather

Climate Bar Harbor - Maine

20 Steps to Long Sands Beach

Their website is here.

The Tides Beach Club

The TripAdvisor article is here. Their website is here.

Covered Bridges

This site has a map of covered bridges in Maine.

Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory

The Penobscot Narrows Bridge has an observation site at 420 ft. There are photos here.