Maine

My go to guys for that area
@mach1man001 , @m603holden , @Blais03 and @Bruce988jl ,@Noelie84
Thoes guy know that area well

 

Look at that Noel chimed right in
These guys know there stuff

 

Adding Schoodic to the list, Thanks!

 

Great Wass Island is a fairly unknown hike that's like a trip into the Jurassic period. It's between Jasper Beach and Schoodic although probably much closer to Jasper Beach / Machias than Schoodic.

 

Yeah, much closer to Machias. Jonesport, I think. Very cool, but travel time is nearly the same

 

*Bar Harbor Beer Works- Brew Pub type atmosphere. Beer plus food
https://eatfishmaine.com/bar-harbor-beer-works/
*Atlantic Brewing- Actual brewery. Brewery tours, BBQ, & tasting room
http://www.atlanticbrewing.com/town-hill/

 

Schoodic Point is fantastic. Also the site of a former Naval Base. Bar Harbor is touristy and you can easily explore the Town if you are staying there. Plenty of info on the web about all there is to do there and you can always just walk around and stop into whatever floats your boat for shops, etc. They do have whale watching and sunset cruises from the Dock downtown as well. Park Loop Road and the driving to the top of Cadillac are also popular for visitors. Places like Thunder Hole and Sand Beach are popular destinations and should not be too busy that time of year. There is also the "quiet side" of the island, away from Bar Harbor. My grandparents and a bunch of my relatives live on that side of the Island. There are lots of nice places to visit there as well. Beech Mountain and Beech Cliffs is a nice half day hike. There is the Jordan Pond House which serves popovers which are fantastic but the place is a bit fancy for my liking and can be on the pricey side. Instead, consider going to the Common Good Soup Kitchen in Southwest Harbor:

http://www.commongoodsoupkitchen.org/

They serve popovers as well and they are just as good as the ones at Jordan Pond House. They have an outside dining area and the food is free! It is free but the catch is that they serve popovers and accept whatever donations people want to give. They use the donations to run their soup kitchen and feed the people who need help on the island. So you can get great food and feel good about yourself at the same time. Check out the web site for times and info.

Here is a good site to check out for many things to see on the Island:

http://www.acadia.ws/hiking-trails.htm

My favorite hike is Flying Mountain in Southwest Harbor. The mountain is only 284 feet tall! If you take your time it will take you 15 minutes to get to the top. It offers great views of Southwest Harbor and Somes Sound. If you loop the trail you will end up at Valley Cove playing in the Atlantic Ocean before heading down the fire road through the woods back to your car. It only takes about 1.5 to 2 hours depending on how slow a pace you take but there is a lot to see for a short hike.

Three good hikes:

https://downeast.com/acadias-best-hiking-trails/

And finally, one of my most favorite places to visit and one that is a hidden gem that most people do not know about is a tumbled granite rock beach off Park Loop Road. It is not marked or named although there are wooden steps that lead down to the beach. Here is the precise map coordinates:

44°17'55.1"N 68°12'41.7"W

Lots to see and do. If you want more specific information, especially about certain hikes then just let me know.

 

From Machias you could make a big loop out to Lubec (never been myself, but heard good things about Lubec Brewing). Then up to Baileyville and West out across the Stud Mill Rd which should be a stock-friendly dirt road with lots of smaller stuff off of it. That brings you all the way back to Milford. I95 / Bangor isnt too far from there. All thats doable in a day provided you dont get a flat or something, but if you got time you could potentially find a small clearing out there to toss out a tent for the night. Some parts are decently remote too, more than a few areas without cell reception

 

Wow! We have a family place in Addison. I’ve never heard of Stud Mill Rd. After a short trip down the rabbit hole, it’s on my list of ASAP trips. Might have to get up there in late September. Thanks!

 

Nice. Ive been meaning to get out there sometime this year just for a day trip, but still havent had time. Fall is a great time

 

Now I need to figure out where some of the camp sites are that are off the beaten path but relatively accessible. Anyone familiar with the area enough to know how thorough the Gazetteer is in this area?

 

Not counting winter driving its been like a year since Ive been out there. But as a general rule the Gazetteer is pretty good

 

If anybody heads up to Schoodic, I'd recommend lunch at the Pickled Wrinkle. And I dare you to try a pickled wrinkle.

https://thepickledwrinkle.com/menu


The rest of the food's pretty good and they've got a good beer selection, but I'm pretty sure that the pickled wrinkles are just something they keep to prank the tourists with.

 

No prank according to this article in the Ellsworth American:

https://ellsworthamerican.smugmug.com/Archive/2011/Wrinkles-Pickled-Whelks/

They are "whelks", which I guess is a sea snail.

 

Having sampled them, it's a prank.
Like eating a vinegar-soaked chunk of rubber.

 

I will be happy to take your word for it....

 

No no, they're delicious. Definitely go try one.

 

How bad are the mosquitoes usually in September?

 

Spend a night in Portland so you hit the many breweries

 

I would consider a fall drive on Stud Mill.