Magical Maine

Destination: Bar Harbor, Maine

| Activities: Hiking, Kayaking, Biking

Few places are more beautiful in August than the Maine sea coast, and our trip in Acadia National Park is designed to give you an active introduction to this amazing area: bike on quiet carriage paths amidst picturesque scenery; sea kayak along the coast among the many peninsulas and islands; hike scenic trails that provide incredible coastal views; visit some of Acadia's quaint villages and towns; and savor fresh Maine lobster. All these elements combine for a vacation that is both stimulating and relaxing, and definitely unforgettable.

Highlights

  • Biking on the carriage trails built by John D. Rockefeller in the early 20th century where no motorized vehicles are allowed
  • Hiking on beautiful mountain trails in Acadia National Park, with exposed pink granite ridge tops and views of the ocean
  • Sea kayaking along magnificent coastal shoreline
  • Visiting Bar Harbor, with quaint shops, delicious food, and friendly people.
  • Enjoying the freshest Maine Lobster possible


Departures and Prices

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Inclusions

  • 1 - 2 experienced AGC guides based on group size
  • All activities on the itinerary, including the kayak tours, dinner at a lobster pound, and bicycle rental
  • All meals from dinner on the first day through breakfast on the last with the exception of one lunch and one dinner
  • Seven nights lodging in twin/single rooms
  • Transportation during the trip including round trip transfer from the Bangor, ME airport

What's not included: Travel to and from Bangor ME, one lunch and dinner, optional activities on day 5, (i.e. whale watching, ferry to Cranberry Island), alcoholic beverages, guide gratuities and travel insurance.

Trip Documents

Trip Intro

This trip is for women who want to enjoy the many different facets of Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor and Mt Desert (pronounced "dessert") Island at a leisurely pace. While our days will be full of activity, we will not be attempting long mileage on any of our excursions. We will also make sure that you have ample downtime to relax, explore Bar Harbor, or do whatever you please. Since you always have the option to relax at the house, a 2 rating is appropriate. However, if you choose to do everything we offer, it will be more like a 3. Prior to beginning the trip, participants should be engaging in aerobic conditioning, such as walking vigorously up hills, jogging, cross country skiing or stair stepping for 30 - 45 minutes at least 3 - 4 times a week. Rating: 1 2 [3] 4 5.  

Our week includes a variety of activities including hiking, kayaking and biking in Acadia National Park. We will have time to explore the lovely coastal town of Bar Harbor, Maine and admire the rugged coast of downeast Maine. We'll bike along the bike trails built well as hike on some of their many trails. We will be hiking, biking or kayaking between 3-6 hours a day with some time to explore the area on our own.

On this trip we spend the entire week in an historic house within walking access to the center of the village. The house has a mix of single and twin rooms. There are plenty of bathrooms but not all are ensuite. Some of the bedrooms have king, queen or double beds with ensuite or shared baths, and two rooms have 2 twin beds and private baths. There is a discount for sharing the rooms with twin beds. If you prefer to share a twin and the option is still available, please choose it when you register. Otherwise rooms assignments are done by lottery.

Below is the proposed itinerary for the trip. As is true on any adventure travel trip, plans for any specific day may be modified due to weather considerations, unforeseen circumstances, new opportunities, and group interests.

DAY 1
The trip officially begins at 4:30pm at our house in Bar Harbor. If you are flying in, we will meet at the Bangor airport at 2 pm and drive 1 1/2 hours to Acadia and our home for the week in Bar Harbor. After we get settled in we will stretch our legs with a short hike. Depending on the tide we will either walk out to Bar Island (tide must be low) or into town and along the Shore Path. That night we'll enjoy the first of many delicious and hearty meals. D
DAY 2
Today we explore the lovely coast with a hike of the Gorham Mountain loop. This trail takes us from Otter Cliffs along a gravel trail paralleling the Atlantic, and then heads up to Gorham Mountain. After taking in the views, we continue on to a kettle pond called The Bowl - a scenic, inland, spring-fed lake. This is the perfect spot for a picnic lunch and there is even an option for swimming. After lunch we hike up to the Beehive, admiring views the entire way before beginning a gradual (though rocky) downhill to Sand Beach for another optional swim. We finish with a 2 mile hike along the coastal trail back to the parking lot . Back at our house we'll enjoy appetizers before another well-earned dinner. approximately 5.5 miles B, L, D
DAY 3
In the early 20th century, John D. Rockefeller Jr. set out to build a 57-mile-long series of roads on which all cars would be banned. The beautiful gravel carriage roads range from gently rolling terrain to more rugged mountain slopes. We ride through beautiful forests, past scenic ponds and over historic (and uniquely designed) stone bridges. We have designed today so you can choose the length of riding you wish from a half day to a full day of riding. What if you don't want to bicycle? No worries! The Island Shuttle can bring you to the Jordan Pond House where you can meet us for lunch and perhaps a walk around the pond. After we pick up our bikes in Bar Harbor, we will take the complimentary bike shuttle from the village green into the park and ride from Eagle Lake. We will go from Eagle Lake to the north, and ride the loop around Witch's Hole and Duck Pond trails before continuing past Eagle Lake to Jordan Pond. We will have lunch at the historic Jordan Pond House (known for their hot popovers). Want to keep biking? After lunch you can bike back along the shores of Eagle Lake (6.3 miles from JPH to bike shuttle), or ride around Day Mountain (8.3 miles and back to shuttle). Had enough biking? You can take the Island shuttle from JPH to Bar Harbor and then either return to the house for downtime or enjoy time in Bar Harbor. (B, L, D)
DAY 4
Trading pedals for paddles, we spend the day exploring the area by kayak. The actual route we take will depend on wind, tide, and weather. If all are favorable, we will leave right out of Bar Harbor. After instruction in how to kayak, we paddle around the Porcupine Islands and in Frenchman's Bay. We will stop for breaks throughout the day and have a break with a picnic lunch. Never kayaked before? No problem, you'll get the instruction you need to feel comfortable in your kayak. Tonight you are free to enjoy one of the many superb restaurants in Bar Harbor. About 10 miles of kayaking. B, L
DAY 5
Acadia is home to more activities than we can fit into a week. So today you are free to pursue anything that interests you. If you want a definite plan, join your guide for a ferry ride and walking tour of the historic Cranberry Isles. Alternatively, take a whale watching tour which visits a large breeding ground of North Atlantic puffins and whales where humpback, finback and Minke whales are all commonly seen this time of year. Want something more active? How about renting a bike to explore some more of the carriage trails? Visit the spectacular Asticou and Thuya Gardens. Take the Island Shuttle around the Park and get on and off as you please. Or stay close to home to read, relax, or explore Bar Harbor. Whatever you choose to do today, we will meet back at our lodging for a group dinner. B, D
DAY 6
Donning our hiking boots once again, we further explore the island on one of the many trails. The exact trail(s) we pick will depend on our energy, desires, and weather. One option is to hike the Pemetic Mountain trail and with its long view to Frenchman's Bay or around Jordan Pond and hike up to the Bubbles and Balance Rock. Whichever hike we pick, we will return for a wonderful dinner. B, L, D
DAY 7
Did you know the island has a quiet side? It does, and we spend our day exploring it. We start the day with a half-day kayak in West Side of Acadia. Depending on weather and energy we will hike one of the many west side trail, Flying Mtn., or Wonderland Trail and then drive on to Bass Harbor Lighthouse (the only lighthouse on the island) and share a final dinner at a nearby Lobster Pound. B, L, D (Lobster- yum!!)
DAY 8
Our week is over way too soon! After packing up, we'll have you back to the Bangor airport by 11am in time for flights out after 12:30pm. B

*These are the unfiltered reviews of women who have been on this trip in answer to the question "Did this trip meet your expectations?". We take reviews very seriously and often tweak itineraries based on feedback. Please feel free to contact us about any questions you have.

Spontaneous trip on Wednesday "free-day" with Debra, Kaitlyn, Barbara and Beth checking out Schoonek Island. Spending time biking and hiking in Arcadia.

Magical Maine 8/31/2019-9/7/2019

Magical Maine 8/31/2019-9/7/2019

Good variety of activities; some "down time" where we could relax as well.

Magical Maine 8/31/2019-9/7/2019

EXCEEDED BY FOOD PROVIDED EXPECTED A FULL ITINERARY AND DIDNT DISAPPOINT BELOW FELT RUSHED AND ALWAYS MEETING A TIME LIMIT TO BE SOMEWHER

Magical Maine 8/31/2019-9/7/2019

The location was beautiful. Although the house was perfectly located to the Town of Bar Harbor, easy to walk to places, the house was not in great shape.

Magical Maine 8/31/2019-9/7/2019

A challenging hike and the multi sport

Magical Maine 8/31/2019-9/7/2019

My favorite day was summiting Mount Pemetic. That was very challenging, especially in the rain, but also a memorably good time.

Magical Maine 8/25/2018-9/1/2018

Kayaking. Would like to spend more time on the water. For me personally, I'd like an earlier start to the days. Fewer people. And since it happened to be unseasonably hot, it would have been cooler. I realize that's tough with a group though...

Magical Maine 8/25/2018-9/1/2018

Guides were totally indulgent of me -- trip had been described as a 2 or 3 depending how much a woman took advantage of rest or other event time. As far as activities, I focused on hiking -- other days I took rest times. That way I had down time to get used to keeping track of different "stuff" -- new back pack, etc and to take care of toe on right foot.

Magical Maine 8/25/2018-9/1/2018

This was my fifth trip with AGC, and probably my favorite.

Magical Maine 8/25/2018-9/1/2018

I knew I would not be disappointed. This is a fantastic group and will be noted as one of my favorite trips ever!

Magical Maine 8/25/2018-9/1/2018

This was a great great trip! The activities were fun, the views were wonderful, the guides were great and the other women were a lot of fun to get to know.

Magical Maine 8/25/2018-9/1/2018

The entire trip was amazing but I most enjoyed the the hiking and biking.

Magical Maine 8/25/2018-9/1/2018

The location was beautiful and I liked the diversity of the activities. The women were great and the guides were both fun and knowledgeable. It was my first AGC trip and I was a little concerned that I wouldn't be able to keep up, however, I was able to complete all the activities. It was challenging but not to the point where I was distressed or extremely uncomfortable.

Magical Maine 8/25/2018-9/1/2018

  1. I have never kayaked before, is this the right trip for me?

    This is the perfect trip for new and more experienced kayakers. The first day there will be instruction on safety and basic kayaking strokes. The guides are experienced kayak instructors and will teach you everything you need to know.
  2. Where do we eat?

    The guides will be cooking breakfasts and most dinners in the vacation home. Before you leave in the morning the guides will put out lunch 'fixings' and you will take a packed lunch. You will also have one lunch and dinner where you're free to explore Bar Harbor Restaurants.
  3. What dietary preferences or restrictions can you accommodate on this trip?

    We can accommodate vegetarian, lactose-free, and gluten-intolerant if we know well in advance. We cannot guarantee a completely gluten-free diet and we cannot provide a kitchen guaranteed to be free of cross-contamination. If you’re severely allergic or if you have other significant dietary restrictions, please call the office before you register. If you’re vegan, you may want to bring some additional protein bars.
  4. I will be coming by myself. Do I need to pay a single supplement?

    No. On this trip there are 6 singles and 2 rooms with 2 twin beds. If you prefer to share a twin and the option is still available, please choose it when you register. There is a discount for sharing a twin room. Otherwise rooms assignments are done by lottery.
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