Right next to Acadia National Park in Downeast Maine, is the town of Southwest Harbor. With one of the most stunning harbors on the east coast of the US, this town is found on the southwest (as the name implies) side of Mount Desert Island. Here your vacation rental will put you in the perfect position to watch the sun rise over the ocean, explore nature like never before, and spend as much time on the water as you would like!
You can start your day perusing many of the interesting shops and restaurants that you will love to find and have dinner or go souvenir shopping. Many of the diners here are seafood influenced as the city is coastal, we recommend Beal’s Lobster Pier! You must go to downtown Southwest Harbor because the gift shops here are unmatched, like the Moody Mermaid! There are also plenty of art galleries that will give you another’s perspective of the beauty Acadia holds.
After that you should hit the water! You can go swimming at many of the beaches; if you want to go canoeing or kayaking then you should look into the actual Southwest Harbor or Somes Sound. Both offer endless hours of fun on the water and fishing opportunities once you’ve had enough of exploration. There are ferries that will take you Islamorada on Little Cranberry Island which offers an adventure in itself too. Finally, you can end your day by heading to Claremont hotel for the sunset and cocktails!
Acadia National Park
This park is dedicated to protecting the beauty of the highest rocky headlands along the Atlantic Coast. If you’re in the mood for swimming, the beaches here have white sand and clear water! If you’re in the mood for hiking, there’s 158 miles of trails that will keep you in awe of all the beauty nature has to hold. Amidst the seven peaks, there is so much wildlife here to observe like moose, bears, deer, and more! Fishermen will also find that the waters are teaming with game like alewife, northern redbelly dace, and such.
For those who want to get out into the bay, there are many opportunities to take your personal kayaks out from the beach or go on guided tours with rentals! If you want to see whales or dolphins, there are also tours that specialize in whale watching and dolphin diving. For winter lovers, the trails here are excellent for snowshoes, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing. Ice fishing is also a possibility if you can brave the cold!