Table Of ContentHUNTER PUBLISHING, INC,
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About the Author
A registered Maine Guide who designed and built his own energy-
efficient home, Earl D. Brechlin lives in Bar Harbor on Mount Desert
Island. He is an avid hiker, backpacker and whitewater paddler and
author of several guidebooks to Acadia National Park.
During winter he enjoys snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in Acadia
and snowmobiling near his vacation home in Greenville on Moosehead
Lake.
Brechlin has been the editor of the Bar Harbor Times, a weekly newspa-
per, for 15 years. He is a past president of the Maine Press Association, a
former Journalist of the Year in Maine, and is on the executive board of
the New England Press Association.
n n n n n
Dedication
To those who have come before.
To those who will follow.
Live the adventure.
Contents
Introduction 1
Discovering Maine 1
A Land of Fire & Ice 4
Minerals 4
Granite & Stone 5
Glaciers 6
Heaths 7
The Sea 8
Coastal Sentinels 9
Lobster Lore 13
Climate 18
Seasons 19
Tides 21
Beating the Tide 21
Fauna 22
Feathered Friends 23
Woodland Creatures 24
Calls of the Wild 25
Tracks & Other Evidence 27
Whales 27
Flora 29
Wildflowers 29
Alpine Flowers 29
Wild Berries 30
Forest for the Trees 31
Fall Foliage 34
Things that Go Bump in the Night 35
Insects 35
Reptiles 37
Mammals 37
At Sea 38
Plants 38
Two-Legged Varmints 38
History 40
Native Americans 40
Europeans 40
Modern History 41
Industrial Growth 43
Tourism 44
Political People 44
Ghosts & Legends 45
What’s In a Name? 47
vi n Adventure Guide to Maine
The Name of Maine 47
Where is Down East? 48
Who Were the Acadians? 48
Place Names 49
Place Numbers 50
Stuff O’ Maine 51
Getting There from Here 51
Car Travel 52
Travel by Bus 57
Travel by Air 58
Travel by Ferry 60
US Customs 63
While You’re on the Road 64
Ayuh, Been Theyah 65
Maine Humor 65
How to Avoid Being Labelled a “Flatlander” 66
Other Things Visitors Should Know... 68
Parks & Preserves 68
State-Managed Lands 68
Public Reserve Lands 70
Adventuring In Maine 70
Hiking 70
Mountain Biking 76
Canoeing 78
Kayaking 82
Whitewater Rafting 87
Hunting 90
Fishing 95
Camping 101
Swimming 105
Skiing 105
Snowmobiling 108
The Price of Adventuring 114
Maine’s Top Ten Adventures 115
Outfitters & Guides 118
The Best Outfitters 118
Maine Guides 120
The Basics 121
Sleeping In 121
Dining Out 124
Special Needs 126
Country Fairs 127
When & Where 128
Antiques 131
The South Coast 133
Parks, Preserves & Beaches 134
Contents n vii
State Parks 134
Beaches at a Glance 136
Wildlife Refuges 138
Natural Areas/Preserves 139
Sightseeing 141
Historic Sites/Museums 141
Lighthouses 149
Covered Bridge 150
Shopping 150
Outlets & Factory Stores 151
Antiques 151
Adventures On Foot 155
Hiking & Walking 155
Golfing 156
Adventures On Wheels 157
Mountain Biking 157
Foliage/Motor Tours 159
Riding the Rails 161
Adventures On Water 162
Whale Watching 162
Boat Trips, Charters 162
Deep-Sea Fishing 164
Places to Paddle 166
Scuba Diving 168
Parasailing 169
Fishing 169
Adventures In the Air 169
Hot Air Balloon Rides 169
Adventures On Snow 170
Cross-Country Skiing 170
Snowmobiling 171
Eco-Tours & Cultural Excursions 171
Ghost Tours 171
Apple Picking 171
Where to Stay & Eat 172
Favorite Restaurants 172
Brew Pubs/Microbreweries 175
B&Bs, Hotels & Motels 176
Camping 179
Maine’s Mid-Coast 189
Parks, Preserves & Beaches 190
State Parks 190
Beaches at a Glance 194
Wildlife Refuges 194
Natural Areas & Preserves 195
Sightseeing 199
viii n Adventure Guide to Maine
Historic Sites/Museums 199
Lighthouses 206
Shopping 208
Antiques 208
Adventures On Foot 213
Hiking & Walking 213
Golfing 215
Adventures On Wheels 216
Mountain Biking 216
Foliage/Motor Tours 216
Riding the Rails 220
Adventures On Water 222
Windjammer Cruises 222
Whale Watching 225
Boat Trips, Charters 226
Deep-Sea Fishing 229
Places to Paddle 230
Parasailing 233
Adventures In the Air 233
Air Charter/Transport 233
Adventures On Snow 234
Downhill Skiing 234
Cross-Country Skiing 234
Snowmobiling 235
Adventures On Horseback 235
Eco-Tours & Cultural Excursions 235
Where to Stay & Eat 237
Favorite Restaurants 237
Brew Pubs/Breweries 240
B&Bs, Hotels & Motels 240
Camping 243
Down East Coast 249
Parks, Preserves & Beaches 251
Acadia National Park 251
State & Town Parks 267
Beaches at a Glance 269
Wildlife Refuges 270
Natural Areas/Preserves 271
Sightseeing 272
Historic Sites/Museums 272
Lighthouses 278
Shopping 280
Antiques 280
Adventures On Foot 282
Hiking & Walking 282
Rock Climbing 283
Contents n ix
Golfing 284
Adventures On Wheels 285
Mountain Biking 285
Foliage/Motor Tours 286
Adventures On Water 290
Whale Watching 290
Boat Trips, Charters 291
Deep-Sea Fishing 293
Places to Paddle 294
Scuba Diving 299
Guided Trips 300
Adventures In the Air 300
Scenic Flights & Glider Rides 300
Adventures On Snow 301
Cross-Country Skiing 301
Snowmobiling 301
Eco-Tours & Cultural Excursions 302
Bird Watching/Nature Tours 302
Lumberjack Show 303
Apple Picking 303
Blueberry Picking 303
Where to Stay & Eat 304
Favorite Restaurants 304
Brew Pubs/Microbreweries 307
B&Bs, Hotels & Motels 308
Camping 310
Alexander 310
Western Mountains 317
Parks & Preserves 318
National Parks 318
State Parks 320
Wildlife Refuges 320
Natural Areas/Preserves 321
Sightseeing 322
Historic Sites/Museums 322
Covered Bridges 328
Shopping 329
Antiques 329
Adventures On Foot 330
Hiking 330
Rock Climbing 333
Golfing 333
Adventures On Wheels 334
Mountain Biking 334
Foliage/Motor Tours 336
Riding the Rails 339
x n Adventure Guide to Maine
Adventures On Water 340
Places to Paddle 340
Adventures In the Air 342
Air Charters 342
Adventures On Snow 343
Downhill Skiing 343
Cross-Country Skiing 345
Snowmobiling 346
Adventures with Pack Animals 347
Llama Trekking 347
Eco-Tours & Cultural Excursions 347
Mushing 347
Panning for Gold 348
Rock Hounding 348
Apple Picking 348
Blueberry Picking 349
Where to Stay & Eat 349
Favorite Restaurants 350
Brewpubs/Microbreweries 351
B&Bs, Hotels & Motels 352
Camping 354
Mid-Maine 365
Parks & Preserves 366
State Parks 366
Wildlife Refuges 366
Preserves/Natural Areas 369
Sightseeing 369
Historic Sites/Museums 370
Covered Bridges 378
Shopping 378
Antiques 378
Adventures On Foot 379
Hiking 379
Golfing 380
Adventures On Wheels 382
Mountain Biking 382
Foliage/Motor Tours 383
Adventures On Water 386
Places to Paddle 386
Adventures In the Air 387
Hot Air Balloon Rides 387
Adventures On Snow 388
Downhill Skiing 388
Cross-Country Skiing 389
Snowmobiling 389
Eco-Tours & Cultural Excursions 389
