Maine and NS, Canada

I began planning our trip to Maine several months ago. Knowing the summer heat here would be brutal, we wanted a place with mild temps and rave reviews for sightseeing and local cuisine. I narrowed it down to New England, and chose Bar Harbor. Before we left, I was a total research-nerd, searching special places to visit, great restaurants and scenic overlooks, but once we arrived in Bar Harbor, everywhere we turned was absolutely breath taking.

We flew into Bangor and made the short scenic drive down to our B&B on the ocean, The Inn at Bay Ledge. During our stay, we rented two cottages, which were part of the place, but not attached to the main Inn. They were isolated, beautiful and cozy, with warm fireplaces and private porches. The inn itself, literally clings to the cliffs of Mt. Desert Island, and from the back lawn sits an eighty foot staircase leading down the cliff to a private beach, overlooking the gorgeous Frenchman Bay.

Bar Harbor is located on Mount Desert Island, which is the largest island off the coast of Maine. Over 3 million tourists visit the Acadia National Park each year, nestled in the middle of the island. Within the park, visitors at the summit of Cadillac Mountain are the very first to see the sun rise in the United States. We hiked up several spots on the mountain spanning 6 days and the landscape and views were simply spectacular.

Before we left home, we made sure to obtain passports so we could take The CAT Ferry from Bar Harbor over to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada. We visited the Cape Forchu lighthouse and took a Heritage home tour, showcasing several sea captain's homes from the late 1800's. We drove along the beautiful coast of southern Nova Scotia, with the sun shining on the scenic, calm waters.

Back in April, I found out there is a company based out of Atlanta that offers scenic biplane tours in Acadia, and jumped at the chance to reserve one for Terry's birthday at the end of June. I kept it a secret from him, for 3 months, and he was thrilled when we pulled into the Hancock Airport, out of the blue. :)

Our vacation in Bar Harbor was both exciting and relaxing, and we hope to make this the first of many, many trips to this gorgeous portion of New England. Our little girls would be in heaven, with all of the outdoor activities, and fresh ocean air. In a few years, they will both be at perfect ages to enjoy the same sights we did!

I hope you enjoy the pictures, and video. If you are thinking about traveling to Bar Harbor, this will give you a great idea of what to expect!

*PHOTO ALBUM*

Maine and Nova Scotia - June 2009

*VIDEO OF OUR BIPLANE ADVENTURE*

Acadia Air Tour! from Kara on Vimeo.