|
6-Day / 5-Night Bike Tours Maine Bike Tours! Coast and Mount Desert Island |
|
Lobster boats, peaceful fishing villages, quiet harbors, dramatic crashing seas, whitewashed lighthouses perched on rocky shores, evergreen forests and open meadows, fresh seafood, artist galleries, whales and seals - these are images of a Coast of Maine that does, in fact, exist, and our tour takes you there.
Our Coast of Maine tour is based on the island of Mount Desert, the third largest island on the eastern seaboard (connected to the mainland by a bridge) and surely the best place for gentle cycling in all of Maine. We spend our first two days on the island's "quiet side" enjoying breathtaking ocean scenery and exploring villages such as the boatbuilding center of Southwest Harbor, the yachting mecca of Northeast Harbor, and the commercial fishing village at Bass Harbor. We visit Bass Head Harbor Lighthouse, and take our bikes by ferry to Swans Island where we cycle past picturesque Burntcoat Harbor on our way to a picnic at Hockamock Head Lighthouse. In the evening we treat you to a real Maine lobster feast at Beal's Lobster Pound which you enjoy as you take in the grand view of yachts, sailboats, and fishing boats out on their moorings.
We next ride into Acadia National Park, truly a cyclist's paradise. Over fifty miles of carriage roads wind gently through pine scented forests and lovely stands of beech and maple, curving around sparkling freshwater lakes, secluded ponds, meadows and marshes, and offer us spectacular views of the surrounding granite peaks and cliffs. Our cycling also takes us past miles of seascapes and shoreline, past Thunder Hole, and around Otter Point, and Hunter's Head. We visit deep quiet coves and rocky points with pounding surf, see all sorts of ducks, geese, and puffin while in the distance seagulls dive along the wake of fishing boats heading back to port. In addition to all the superb cycling, we also include an afternoon of professionally guided kayaking along the islands and quiet inlets of Pretty Marsh Harbor.
For many, a highlight of the tour will be the town of Bar Harbor. Situated on the shores of Frenchman's Bay, "downtown" Bar Harbor is brimming with stores, craft shops, museums and galleries, including the famous Robert Abbe Museum with its fine collection of local Native American artifacts. One of your nights you are "on your own" to select from the wide variety of excellent restaurants and after dinner you may be treated to a band concert on the town green, take in the varied nightlife, or enjoy an evening stroll along mile-long Shore Path while looking at the boats, the ocean vistas, and the handsome estates that border the ocean.
Finally, we enjoy all this while staying at two superb inns. Sunday and Monday we are guests at the renowned Claremont Hotel, located on a lovely harbor on Sommes Sound. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday we stay in the town of Bar Harbor at the Manor House Inn, a former 22-room mansion perfectly situated on a quiet tree-lined street that is within easy walking distance of all that Bar Harbor has to offer.
DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY
SUNDAY NIGHT: THE CLAREMONT HOTEL
This is arrival day. Many plan to arrive early so as to fully enjoy the spectacular harbor-side setting of the inn, to relax on the wide porch, or stroll into Southwest Harbor. Dinner is at 7 PM and followed by an introductory meeting with your leaders.
MONDAY
Monday's ride centers on Swan's Island. But first we ride out to Bass Harbor and to the Bass Head Harbor Light, one of the most scenic (and photographed) lighthouses on the East Coast. Bass Harbor is a working fishing village and the scenes of fishing boats, lobster pots, and quiet harbors is pure Maine. We then take a 45-minute ferry ride out to Swan's Island which provides us with lovely views of surrounding islands as well as views back to Mount Desert. On the island we ride out on various peninsulas (the terrain is more "rolling" than you might expect), including a visit to Hockamock Point Lighthouse (built in 1872) and Burntcoat Harbor, as well as a popular visit to the Saturn Press. Swan's Island is a lobstering and fishing island with a year-around population of about 350, and you will surely enjoy the colorful docks and local fishing boats, as well as getting a bit of an understanding of what it might be like to live in a somewhat remote fishing village.
Monday night you enjoy a lobster feast at Beal's Lobster Pound.
Additional Cycling Options: The standard miles on Day 1 are 31.0. The time involved in taking the ferry to and from Swan's Island makes it difficult to add much additional mileage. However, your leaders can also give you directions for the Fine Sand Beach Option which adds 4.2 somewhat rugged miles. The availability of this option is dependent on the ferry schedule.
MONDAY NIGHT: THE CLAREMONT HOTEL
TUESDAY
On Tuesday you begin with a ride along Sargent's Drive, surely one of the greatest oceanside cycling routes imaginable. Then on into the village of Northeast Harbor, passing some magnificent shingled "cottages" owned by folks that have clearly made their fortunes. The harbor area of Northeast Harbor has an interesting variety of commercial fishing boats, private yachts and sightseeing excursion boats, and the village itself has a number of interesting stores, a great number of galleries (and a good bike shop!). As you leave Northeast Harbor, you can stop and explore the paths leading through the lovely Asticou Azalea Gardens.
Next we begin your exploration of the Acadia National Park Carriage Trail system, including a visit to the Jordan Pond House where you can enjoy their famous popovers while sitting on the front lawn that overlooks Jordan Pond and the "Bubbles." A wonderful optional ride included in the standard directions takes you from the Jordan Pond House to the lookout on Day's Mountain where you can see much of the island as well as great ocean vistas out to the Cranberry Isles.
The construction of the 57 miles of Carriage Roads was financed and directed by John D. Rockefeller Jr. between 1913 and 1940 and is restricted to use by bikers, hikers, horseback riders and, of course, carriages. You will be impressed at the care that was taken to leave the land as intact as possible, and by the overall result of a beautiful network of roads leading us through unbelievable gorgeous scenery. Stop and admire each of the bridges you cross - they are famous for their beauty, engineering, and use of natural materials.
Finally at the end of the day you arrive at the Manor House Inn in Bar Harbor. You will quickly note that Bar Harbor is a larger town than Southwest Harbor or Northeast Harbor, and you will want to explore the town with its innumerable shops, galleries and restaurants, as well as take an evening stroll along "Shore Path."
Tonight we have a great dinner together at a local restaurant.
Additional Cycling Options:The standard miles for Day 3 are 19.4. The Sommesville Option and Day Mountain Option (in standard directions) add 18.1 miles. In addition, your leaders have directions for the "Around Mountain" Carriage Road Option which begins at Mile 13.3 of the standard route. This option follows a series of carriage roads that loop back to Sign Post 10 and adds 8.1 miles.
TUESDAY NIGHT: MANOR HOUSE INN
WEDNESDAY:
Today we provide you with a great kayaking adventure along the quiet inlets of Pretty Marsh Harbor. You are instructed and led on this adventure by the expert guides of the National Park Sea Kayak Tour Company. Often this is followed by a scenic hike up Beech Mountain where you enjoy a spectacular 360 view of Mount Desert and the adjoining islands. In addition, we offer you several cycling options to take after (or in lieu of) the kayaking. The biking is from Pretty Marsh Harbor along Crooked Road to the Acadia National Park Headquarters and then along the Park Road to Bar Harbor: 17 miles plus options.
You are on your own for dinner this evening. You leaders will provide you with a list of a number of excellent dining options to choose from.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: MANOR HOUSE INN
THURSDAY:
Thursday we take what must surely be one of the most scenic rides anywhere...the Loop Road of Acadia National Park. We have kept the mileage modest today since we know you will want to linger and enjoy the fabulous views at Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, Otter Point etc... And then you wend your way back along the carriage roads and follow the Eagle Lake carriage road system as it leads past Bubble Pond and Eagle Lake.
Dinner this evening is at Maggies, on of the best and most popular dining places in Bar Harbor.
Additional Cycling Options: Standard miles for Thursday are 22.2. Leaders have separate directions for the side trip up Cadillac Mountain (which starts at Mile 16.1 and adds 10 challenging miles) as well as a description of the Park Loop/Route 3 option which begins at Mile 12.3 of the standard route and adds 5.1 miles.
THURSDAY NIGHT: MANOR HOUSE INN
FRIDAY
Our last day includes shorter rides so as to allow for guests' travel plans. The biking brings us to another lovely area in the carriage road system, cycling over Paradise Hill with its sweeping vistas of Hulls Cove and Frenchman Bay, and past Witch Hole Pond (where we often see a pair of cavorting loons). A very nice optional route takes us past Gilmour's Meadow and Aunt Betty Pond, both of which provide ideal habitat for deer, otter, beaver and a number of birds. Mileage 10 or 16. Additional miles available.
