Please Help Me Decide Where to Stay!

We will be visiting Acadia National Park October 5 - 8 of this year for my husband%26#39;s 40th birthday - and we are leaving the kids behind! I have researched several places and am stuck on trying to decide the best place to stay. Can you help?

My husband and I enjoy historic hotels/inns. We have not had too much experience with B%26amp;B%26#39;s but we are mostly looking for a relaxing, comfortable, lovely place to stay for 2 people who don%26#39;t get away from the kids that often! Beautiful views are a plus.

I have identified 4 places that have received great reviews and are within my budget. Can you offer me pros and cons as to these specific hotels? I appreciate all the help I can get.

Coach Stop Inn in Bar Harbor

Cleftstone Manor in Bar Harbor

Kingsleigh Inn in Southwest Harbor

Claremont Hotel in Southwest Harbor

Please Help Me Decide Where to Stay!

First, all four of your candidates are well regarded.

Coach Stop may be the most historic, i.e., the eldest. It is not in the village of Bar Harbor but rather in the town (township) of Bar Harbor, about half-way between the bridge to the island and the village of Bar Harbor. It is located right on Rte. 3, the major highway on the island. Views, negligible.

Cleftstone Manor is located on Rte. 3 in the village of Bar Harbor, directly across from the campus of College of the Atlantic. It is one of the larger B%26amp;Bs in the area. It dates back to the glory days of the village and is one of the relatively few ';cottages'; (16 rooms +) that somehow survived the great fire of 1947. It was the inn that we stayed in during the approximate 20 years that we were tourists here. Relative to the village center, where the shopping and most restaurants are located, it is about a 20-minute easy walk. Views---well, from the topmost rooms you can get a glimpse of the harbor.

Kingsleigh Inn is on the main road through Southwest Harbor and is virtually in the village center. I%26#39;ve never been in it, so I can say much about it other than that it is close to some the hiking/waliking trails of that end of the island (and it%26#39;s within two blocks of one of my favorite restaurants--Red Sky). Views---none that I%26#39;m aaware of.

The Claremont, I believe, is one of the two oldest surviving hotels on the island (the other being the Asticou Inn in Northeast Harbor). For views, this would be the best of your candidates. Among other things, it is host each summer to a hotly-contested croquet tournament. It has spacious grounds that go down to the water.

Having said all that, and considering what you say in your second paragraph, I think that Cleftstone Manor and the Claremont would be your top two choices. Cleftstone offers more ready access to the village center of Bar Harbor and to the major portion of Acadia National Park; the Claremont offers more of a ';get away from it all'; opportunity.

Please Help Me Decide Where to Stay!

My husband and I just returned Tuesday from our third stay at the Kingsleigh Inn. The Kingsleigh is very inviting and relaxing, you definitely feel like you are at home, it keeps us coming back! We have stayed in the Turret Suite twice, breathtaking views, as well as the Chelsea that has a spectacular view as well. Their website shows the views from the rooms.

I personally think Southwest Harbor is prettier than Bar Harbor. Also, Southwest Harbor is on the quiet side of the Island away from the tourist traffic of Bar Harbor, which is a big plus if you are looking for a memorable, unforgettable getaway. The Kingsleigh is walking distance to what I think are the best restaurants on the Island. Walk to dinner at Red Sky, Fiddler%26#39;s Green or Cafe 2, they are all right there and then walk down to the harbor afterwards, very romantic.

If you haven%26#39;t had much experience with B%26amp;B%26#39;s, this would be a special treat for you and your husband. You won%26#39;t find better hosts than Dana and Greg, they are absolutely the best. My husband and I only stay at B%26amp;B%26#39;s and none compare to the Kingsleigh; all the little extra luxuries that Dana and Greg provide to make you feel welcome and pampered and you certainly won%26#39;t find all this in a hotel.

Breakfast at the Kingsleigh is a work of art. Not only is breakfast very pretty and creative, it%26#39;s absolutely delicious! Dana also offers yummy afternoon nibbles to enjoy.

I could go on and on why I feel you would enjoy the Kingsleigh. I do hope wherever you choose to stay, you and your husband enjoy your trip to Acadia National Park and Mount Desert Island.

Hope this helps.

We loved the Quimby Inn but the Bar Harbor Inn has an amazing location. Check out GoList...

tripadvisor.com/GoListDetail-i12151-New_Engl…

Would you say any of these places had prettier grounds than any of the others?

In terms of the grounds, I would say that the Claremont is by far the best.

for sure teh Claremont on that list- I also think you should look at Linddenwood Inn in SW Harbor- or Maison Suisse in Northeast Harbor- don%26#39;t even THINK of going to Bar Harbor- way too touristy- drive there for a nice dinner- but you don%26#39;r want to hang out there- like Coney Island!

You%26#39;ll have to excuse riri, folks. It%26#39;s hard to recover from the sumptuous cuisine of NEH, as exemplified by the Tan Turtle Tavern.

Coney Island, indeed.

Coney Island my..a..ummm. bum.!!

Lisde- I also prefer the SW side, but keep in mind it%26#39;s all the same island. A quiet 10-15 mintues from one side to the other. Don%26#39;t agonize. Pick one. You%26#39;ll be happy either way.