Forget the big island up here in Maine where the main part of Acadia NP is. Head further Down East to Schoodic Point. It is just as pretty and ALOT fewer touristos.
Then you can keep traveling up the coast and on in to Canada.
As for the ferry from Bar Harbor, it isn't running at all until May 30 and then it is only Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs.
Thus, you are better off cruising up the coast and crossing over in Calais. You might be able to get the ferry back.
I'm only 20 miles from Mt. Desert Island. It's really nice and you would still like it but there is more up the coast to see especially the small villages. Corea is my favorite. It's out by Schoodic Point.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=179646\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Schoodic is beautiful, for sure. Lots of great places up that way, like Winter Harbor.
Trapsing around MDI is like going to any big NP in the summer. It sucks, long lines and so many RV's driving around.
That's precisely why I stay out in the Cranberry Islands, or take a trip down to Great/Little Duck... much less crowded, and, if you know where to go, a view of MDI that you can't get from any other part of the island. Islesford and Bakers are my personal favorites, but I'm extremely biased. Suttons can be nice, but the island (pretty much all private landowners, in fact I believe the road is officially private) can be a bit hostile to outsiders. However, there are some great osprey shots waiting if you can scramble on the northern shore. Islesford has the rarely hiked-to Marsh Head, where I misspent many a summer afternoon scrambling on the large granite boulders and generally screwing around. Boating and wildlife shots abound - osprey, bald eagles, hawks, owls, you name it - all around looking for a bite to eat. Bakers has the dancing rocks and other pink granite landscapes that are a real treat for the eyes.
Bar Harbor is a mess from mid June through early September. Cruise ship season is the worst IMO.
Northeast Harbor, Southwest Harbor, Bass Harbor and Seal Harbor all have their charming aspects. Bass and Southwest are a little more working class (even if Hinckley Yachts is based in SWH), while Northeast and Seal are a bit more upper crust (Martha keeps her boat in Seal Harbor, the only taupe-hulled boat I've seen in my life).
I could fill pages. I've spent a large amount of my life there, and am preparing to eventually relocate back home. We've got the land, just have to add the house...
Cheers,
-Andrew