Why Belfast?

Well, we happened upon a place that could accommodate all of us reasonably and had a pool for the children. Went on the internet to rent house or cottage in Bar Harbor area, but expensive and contracts too binding. We didn%26#39;t want to lock into something and lose money if a health problem developed. No matter where we stay, son-in-law will still be driving to see what%26#39;s beyond the next curve. I have been reading more posts and took notes to look up some of your recommendations. Perhaps we will be able to go closer to Bar Harbor. So difficult to do sight unseen but this forum is a big help.

I understand your thoughts about 7 in one motel room but in our case seven is neater than five.

Thanks for your help.

Why Belfast?

Belfast isn%26#39;t bad. It%26#39;s not one of the big tourist hot spots in Maine with a WHOLE LOT going on no matter which direction you turn (e.g., Camden, Bar Harbor, Kennebunkport, Portland, Boothbay), but it is well located and would give you a base for exploring. You could make a day trip to Acadia (not easily, not not totally taxing), you could also make day trips down to Camden, Rockland, and the St. George Penninsula, and the town itself has a certain amount of charm.

If that%26#39;s what you can afford, make the best of it. My suggestion would be to do all your research on what%26#39;s in the area before you arrive and get here with a plan and use your tme wisely.

Why Belfast?

Belfast is about 1 1/2hr drive to Acadia but is a little closer to the midcoast touristy areas (Camden, Rockport). Bangor would actually be a little closer to Acadia little over an hour and there are many hotel choices there. Also have you checked hotels in Ellsworth that is much closer to Acadia (25min), there is a Holiday Inn, Comfort Inn for chains and several independant motels.

i would NOT pick Bangor over Belfast as Belfast is on the water and it%26#39;s got a certain amount of small town/New England charm that Bangor lacks. Bangor just has nothing for tourists except the Paul Bunyan statue, Stephen King%26#39;s house, and the Bangor Mall (for tourist from Atlantic Canada who come primarily to shop.

And my experience is that the Ellsworth hotels that aren%26#39;t pricey are, ahem, dumps.

I agree with Michele however I thought I would throw it out there as an alternative to save money as it seems like that is a factor here. Bangor would provide many more hotel choices and would likely be a lot cheaper than Belfast. Also I wouldn%26#39;t call the Holiday Inn or Comfort Inn in Ellsworth dumps they are standard for they chain. I have not stayed in others so I do not know. Obviously you get what you pay for. The experience would indeed be better in Belfast but the ride would be longer (to Acadia) and less choices and possibly more expensive for hotels.

Next week is our vacation. As I read these old forums, I have to chuckle to myself . We are not staying in Belfast afterall. Going to the Southwest Harbor area. ';The quiet side';.

Spent hours reading and getting info, confusing but also very helpful. So much to do, so little time. Top ten includes seeing a moose. What are my odds? No time to go up to Baxter. Are there moose on MDI? Returning home on Rte. 2---any moose along there?

Thanks everyone for your input. You saved me from placing reservations at some questionable motels.

Your chances of seeing a moose are not all that great. I%26#39;ve lived here on MDI for eleven years and have not seen one. A good friend of mine has lived here 25 and has not seen one even though she and a friend went out one night looking at all the likely spots. I have another friend who has lived her all her life and the only moose she%26#39;s seen was dead and in a pick-up during moose hunting season.

There are moose on MDI but only seven or eight at any given time. I%26#39;ve heard of people who have seen them. They move around quite a bit. The reports I%26#39;ve heard of moose sitings are anywhere from the golf course to someone%26#39;s driveway to near the bridge onto the island.

Your chances of seeing a moose on MDI are slim to none. They used to have a moose at the Acadia Zoo in Trenton (on RT3 on the way to MDI) but I am not sure if they still do or not someone local should be able to tell you. I know that seeing one in the zoo is not the same but it is better than just seeing one on TV I guess. Also I believe there are moose at the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray, ME just off from I-95 north or Portland. Again I know this is not the same as seeing it in the wild but you might want to give it a try just so you get to see one.

Your chances of seeing one on your RT2 drive are certainly much better than on MDI but it still isn%26#39;t great, at least not by just driving through on the highway. You will be going through areas of Maine and NH that have a decent amount of moose but your chances of just happening upon one along the highway is not really great. The chances are improved some in the very early morning and late evening. The RT2 trip through ME, NH, and VT is a wonderful drive so you will enjoy it even minus the moose.

I know I%26#39;m a little late here, but I really really like Belfast. It%26#39;s not touristy and has a definite ';local'; feel to it .... plus it has a fabulous lobster pound. Youngs. We broke our winter lobster-fast there a while ago and smiled all the way home. Acadia is definitely within very decent day trip range.