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Maine coast trip
aerialphoto
Registered Users Posts: 299 Major grins
My girlfriend and I just got back from a few days in Maine. We drove from NYC with a detour to Cape Cod along the way.
For larger versions of many of these images, see my smugmug page.
Our Maine coast sight-seeing tour started with clouds and rain in Rockland, on US-1 east of Brunswick. Still, it was our first stop so we got out for a few minutes to look around and take a few snapshots:
Rockland, ME
Then just 20 minutes further a quick stop to stretch our legs in Lincolnville, where you can take a ferry to Islesboro, 3 miles away in the Penobscot Bay...of course there are always plenty of Lobster, seafood, and ice cream places along to way too.
Lincolnville, ME
Another 20 minutes along US-1 brought us to Belfast with some interesting buildings, art galleries, restaurants, and the oldest shoe store in the country :Crunk:.
Belfast, ME
Ten miles after Belfast I noticed a sign inviting tourists to see a "town and lighthouse", so we scrambled to get off US-1 and explored some of the back roads trying to find it. Eventually we found Fort Point State Park, located on Penobscot Bay just a few miles south-east of Stockton Springs, Maine. The park has a $2 entrance fee (you slide $2 into a collection box at the entrance, strictly an honor-system thing) and offers picnic areas with grills, Fort Point itself, "Fort Point Lighthouse", and a long stretch of rocky beach. The weather was improving, so we went exploring.
Fort Point, built by the British in 1759
Fort Point Lighthouse, built in 1857
Fort Point Lighthouse's "fog bell", forerunner to the modern fog-horn - built in 1890
Part of the beach, rocks, and seaweed
Just north of Stockton Springs US-1 crosses the Penobscot River to Verona, then Bucksport. The new Penobscot Narrows Bridge opened in May to replace an older steel suspension bridge. The new bridge offers an observation tower on the west side (seen here):
Finally, after another 40 miles of driving through picturesque landscape and a few nice small towns we arrived at Bar Harbor.
Bar Harbor is full of gift shops, restaurants, inns, ice cream shops, and thrives on tourism to the town and nearby Acadia National Park. The town has lots of affordable inns "in town", for the most part the going rates go up as you get closer to the pier. There are a couple of higher-end resort hotels on the water, and several lower-priced motels out of town. We stayed on Cottage Street with a comfortable 12 minute walk to the restaurants and park.
Cottage St, approaching Main St in Bar Harbor
Cottage St shops
...Turning left onto Main Street toward more shops, the park, and waterfront
Water Fountain in the park, overlooking the pier
In front of one of the many ice cream shops
view from the pier
"Moose Tracks", one of the shops. Hint: Many of the shops sell the same 'tourist-oriented' items. Most of the prices are the same, but there are a few differences. One shop was selling stickers for $2.98 while the same was available across the street for $1.50. Most places carry the same Bar Harbor badged clothing, if one shop doesn't have the color or size you want just look around for it somewhere else.
We ate at several places, but I think our favorite was "Geddy's" on Main Street. Friendly fast service and good food, with a laid back atmosphere. Just look for the Moose on the roof!
Geddy's
...and don't forget the gift shop under the restauarant, right under the license plates
A trip back to Cottage Street and you'll find the town movie "palace". Opened in 1932, it's a classic working theater.
We were strolling around after dinner one evening and happened to get to the pier around sunset. There was quite a crowd around the park and pier, we thought maybe there was something going on in town - but it turns out a lot of people go to the waterfront area just for sunset.
Sunset at Bar Harbor
One of my main reasons to go to Bar Harbor was Acadia National Park. The weather wasn't the best, and it was fairly chilly with a strong wind, next time I'll spend more time.
Views along Park Loop Road
Acadia Coastline
Views of Little Hunters Beach
Bubble Pond
View from the top of a very windy and cool Cadillac Mountain
Close-up of Bar Harbor from Cadillac Mountain
For larger versions of many of these images, see my smugmug page.
Our Maine coast sight-seeing tour started with clouds and rain in Rockland, on US-1 east of Brunswick. Still, it was our first stop so we got out for a few minutes to look around and take a few snapshots:
Rockland, ME
Then just 20 minutes further a quick stop to stretch our legs in Lincolnville, where you can take a ferry to Islesboro, 3 miles away in the Penobscot Bay...of course there are always plenty of Lobster, seafood, and ice cream places along to way too.
Lincolnville, ME
Another 20 minutes along US-1 brought us to Belfast with some interesting buildings, art galleries, restaurants, and the oldest shoe store in the country :Crunk:.
Belfast, ME
Ten miles after Belfast I noticed a sign inviting tourists to see a "town and lighthouse", so we scrambled to get off US-1 and explored some of the back roads trying to find it. Eventually we found Fort Point State Park, located on Penobscot Bay just a few miles south-east of Stockton Springs, Maine. The park has a $2 entrance fee (you slide $2 into a collection box at the entrance, strictly an honor-system thing) and offers picnic areas with grills, Fort Point itself, "Fort Point Lighthouse", and a long stretch of rocky beach. The weather was improving, so we went exploring.
Fort Point, built by the British in 1759
Fort Point Lighthouse, built in 1857
Fort Point Lighthouse's "fog bell", forerunner to the modern fog-horn - built in 1890
Part of the beach, rocks, and seaweed
Just north of Stockton Springs US-1 crosses the Penobscot River to Verona, then Bucksport. The new Penobscot Narrows Bridge opened in May to replace an older steel suspension bridge. The new bridge offers an observation tower on the west side (seen here):
Finally, after another 40 miles of driving through picturesque landscape and a few nice small towns we arrived at Bar Harbor.
Bar Harbor is full of gift shops, restaurants, inns, ice cream shops, and thrives on tourism to the town and nearby Acadia National Park. The town has lots of affordable inns "in town", for the most part the going rates go up as you get closer to the pier. There are a couple of higher-end resort hotels on the water, and several lower-priced motels out of town. We stayed on Cottage Street with a comfortable 12 minute walk to the restaurants and park.
Cottage St, approaching Main St in Bar Harbor
Cottage St shops
...Turning left onto Main Street toward more shops, the park, and waterfront
Water Fountain in the park, overlooking the pier
In front of one of the many ice cream shops
view from the pier
"Moose Tracks", one of the shops. Hint: Many of the shops sell the same 'tourist-oriented' items. Most of the prices are the same, but there are a few differences. One shop was selling stickers for $2.98 while the same was available across the street for $1.50. Most places carry the same Bar Harbor badged clothing, if one shop doesn't have the color or size you want just look around for it somewhere else.
We ate at several places, but I think our favorite was "Geddy's" on Main Street. Friendly fast service and good food, with a laid back atmosphere. Just look for the Moose on the roof!
Geddy's
...and don't forget the gift shop under the restauarant, right under the license plates
A trip back to Cottage Street and you'll find the town movie "palace". Opened in 1932, it's a classic working theater.
We were strolling around after dinner one evening and happened to get to the pier around sunset. There was quite a crowd around the park and pier, we thought maybe there was something going on in town - but it turns out a lot of people go to the waterfront area just for sunset.
Sunset at Bar Harbor
One of my main reasons to go to Bar Harbor was Acadia National Park. The weather wasn't the best, and it was fairly chilly with a strong wind, next time I'll spend more time.
Views along Park Loop Road
Acadia Coastline
Views of Little Hunters Beach
Bubble Pond
View from the top of a very windy and cool Cadillac Mountain
Close-up of Bar Harbor from Cadillac Mountain
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Comments
I love the shot of the deer, and the Bubble Pond photo is wonderful.
Thanks for sharing.
--- Denise
Musings & ramblings at https://denisegoldberg.blogspot.com
bsvirginian
My blog: HERE
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
Looking at your pics from Maine brought back many memories. My wife and I made numerous trips there when our daughter worked in Cutler and then in Bethel. We saw Bubble Pond and Bar Harbor Harbor from exactly the same spot as your posted pics. Thanks for the memories.
Don
www.motorpo-po.smugmug.com
having spent 3 years as a scenic tour pilot over Acadia national park, I can say the beauty in Acadia is amazing and your photos definitely bring the beauty out.
Well shucks, thanks... can't wait to get up there again, you've got a beautiful area to fly in. More interesting than these here parts
Are you an aerial photographer?
Yep. Used to have a Navajo and '206 in the stable, now just an older 310 and a 152 for fun.
NEW Smugmug Site
http://www.twitter.com/deegolden
I run a small aerial photo business in Maine. Where do you do your photos?
east-central Florida. I fly projects from southern Georgia to the Keys, primarily. Are you shooting large format stuff, or??
I only shoot digital, mostly for engineering and construction companies. I have done quite a bit of work for real estate companies but they tend to be very finicky.
I posted one of my pet projects here, and some out-the-window stuff here.
Enjoyed your pics...
Tessa
www.tessa-hd.smugmug.com
www.printandportfolio.com
This summer's wilderness photography project: www.tessa-hd.smugmug.com/gallery/3172341
First i see the Nova Scotia thread, now this one !!!
I wish my wife wanted to head north this past week instead of heading to Baltimore Inner Harbor/Annapolis/DC like we did. I doubt our truck would have been broken into and trashed in Ogunquit or Kennebunkport :-/
Love Bubble Lake
Nikon d200w/ grip, 18-70 Nikkor , 85mm 1.8 , 50mm 1.8, tokina 12-24
Nikon n80 w/grip, 28-200 Tamron
Fuji z6900
old school Olympus OMG-1
Sony DSC-H3 point and shoot
Heck, nothing would surprise me anymore!