Questions about where to stay on MDI

We are planning our first trip to Maine for this coming June. We%26#39;re trying to get our bearings on where stuff is in relation to each other.

It looks like the kind of places we%26#39;d like to stay are probably not right in Bar Harbor. We%26#39;d like a mountain cabin or waterfront cottage type of location.

We%26#39;ve found several homes we like in the Hulls Cove area, another one described as ';about 10 minutes to the east of Bar Harbor on the edge of the park'; and we%26#39;re also curious about Southwest Harbor.

I guess we%26#39;re wondering if it%26#39;s a hassle to not be right in town. Is traffic an issue if we do want to get into downtown for dinner, sightseeing, etc or is that only an issue more in July/Aug? Are there grocery/convenience stores in these other areas?

I know Southwest Harbor is a bit more of a trek, but it looks so pretty and peaceful. We will probably spend a good deal of time exploring BH, going out a whale watching trip, maybe the ferry to the smaller islands so I%26#39;m thinking SW Harbor may be a little too far, but we also like the place we stay to be a bit more private with the possibilty of glimpsing a little wildlife from a deck if we%26#39;re lucky! How much of a hassle is it to get from one side of the island to the other?

Any insight you guys can shed would be so appreciated. It can be so overwhelming trying to plan a trip to a place you are completely unfamiliar with.

Thanks,

Melanie

Questions about where to stay on MDI

Southwest is beautiful and is located on what the locals refer to as the ';back'; or ';quiet'; side of the island. Getting to Bar Harbor is not that difficult from there. While Bar Harbor does have the best restaurants in the area (Guinness %26amp; Porcelli%26#39;s, Havana, Mache...just to name a few) the main attraction is Acadia National Park which takes up a good majority of the island.

I hope that you enjoy MDI as much as I do.

Questions about where to stay on MDI

P.S. Hulls Cove would also be a good choice as it is right outside of Bar Harbor and would be easy to access both the park and the downtown Bar Harbor area.

Hi. Mount Desert Island is a small island and the driving thoroughout is easy but *very* country - as in winding and hilly. Everything is close by. Whale watches leave from Bar Harbor. The mail boat leaves from Northeast and goes to the outer islands. Another boat goes from Southwest and Island Cruises, narrated nature, leaves Bass Harbor. Opportunities to be out on the water are available from most working harbors and almost endless. Southwest Harbor is very pretty as are Bass Harbor, Bernard, Seal Cove - all in Tremont. Southwest has a small super market and Sawyer%26#39;s, a great little grocery store with a wonderful deli. There are conveniece stores throughout the island. For cottages, try acadiamagic or vrbo or bassharborcottages.com. acadiachamber.com will introduce you to the %26#39;quietside%26#39; of Mount Desert Island. You%26#39;ll see wildlife everywhere and the birding is great. Have a great time.

First off, when in June? I ask because there will be a difference in traffic in early June versus very late June--and that applies to SW Harbor as well as to Bar Harbor.

That being said, it is unilkely that you will encounter many hassles relative to July/August.

MDI is approximately 100 square miles in area, so no drive is all that long. The one ';problem'; is that the island is split about 2/3 of the way up from the south by Somes Sound---which makes the drive between SW Harbor and Bar Harbor a little longer than a straight-line disttance would have you believe.

SW Harbor has a good grocery store in the center of the village (Sawyer%26#39;s) as well as a couple of good wine/liquor stores, and coffee shops. It boasts (in my opinion) one of the best restaurants on the island---Red Sky.

You didn%26#39;t say whether you liked to walk/hike. Not far from SW Harbor are two easy and very nice walks---Wonderland and Ship Harbor, both of which take you through forest or heath to the ocean shoreline.

Thank you all very much!

We will probably be coming sometime in mid-June. Here in FL the kids get out of school in May so we are lucky enough to be able to come to Maine just before the rates go thru the roof.

We have young boys, 6 and 8, so we%26#39;ll definitely be looking for the easier walks, thanks for the info!

I am dying to show the boys (ok, it%26#39;s more for me than them ;) ) a moose or 2 while we%26#39;re there. I know on the island is highly unlikely though possible. Do you guys have any opinions on the closest place to have a good shot at it? (Besided the zoo, lol) I%26#39;d be up for a day trip if need be!

Thanks again!

Melanie

For moose, you have to head inland. We%26#39;re making a stop at Millinocket before going to Mt Desert Isle so we can look for the big guys. There is something called Moose Photos that guarantees you%26#39;ll see a moose or your money back.

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