Is Deer Isle big enough for a week's vacation

[Patiod]

or will we go nuts? We're in Philadelphia (duh) and we've never been North of Boston, and everyone raves about Maine. Like to hike, but not campers. We're thinking for renting a cottage or cabin at the end of September.

To save money, we love to rent rather than go to hotels. We spent a week at a tiny apartment right on the beach in NJ in May, cooked our own food, and relaxed.

One of my clients suggested Boothbay Harbor instead.

Any suggestions for a Maine vacation for a non-camper?

[MaineDem]

1. I'd go to Boothbay Harbor or Mt Desert Island

Bar harbor, Northeast Harbor, or Southwest harbor on Mt Desert Island are all perfect in Sept. Acadia National park is on MDI and it's one of my most favorite places in the world. Boothbay Hbr would also be excellent. Be aware that most of the businesses will actually be closed then.

There is nothing to do on Deer Isle. Unless you just want to sit and enjoy nature (which is an excellent way to spend a vacation, I admit.)

[Patiod]

2. Thanks! We do need a little something to do

We stayed at a dude ranch in Wyoming a few years back, and got itchy. Ended up driving into town every afternoon.
Will look into Bar or Boothbay Harbor.

Thanks :hi:

My mom has distant relatives who were shopkeepers in Bar Harbor, and has fond memories for driving there in the 1930s....

[Old and In the Way]

3. You'll have fun.

Deer Isle is in the heart of the mid-coast islands. I'd suggest taking a sail around the area...you should have no problems locating charter cruises in Stonington. I'll never forget sailing between Pickering Island and Little Deer Isle, we almost hit 2 deer swimming to Pickering! Lots of arts/crafts communities in that area...Blue Hill is quite the artistic community.


Also, check out Castine, Maine...very historic town that was taken over by the British in the Revolutionary War and the war of 1812. There are some nice cottages there, Castine Cottages (If you have Google Earth: 44 degrees,24.20 min North / 68 degrees, 47.35 min West - dogs welcomed)...we've stay there when we go visit our son at Maine Maritime. You're not far from Acadia National Park...I'd also visit there.

[Patiod]

4. Thank you so much

I'll check out Castine, and the Acadia NP area.

With my business, I never know far ahead if we'll be busy or not - just found out that the end of Sept won't be busy, so I'm busy googling something fun we can do without spending a forture in airfare.

The only thing I know about Blue Hill is that there's a great little NY Gilbert & Sullivan group that was founded by people who summered in Blue Hill!

What's Maine Maritime?

[Old and In the Way]

5. It's a marine college

They have a strong program for teaching/graduating students in commercial shipping and power plant systems. Most graduate with Coast Guard licenses, but they also have non-maritime power systems engineering programs. My son's in this program. They have a huge shipping vessel that they use to do actual training.

One cool item they have (sometimes open to the public) is a multi-million dollar bridge simulator. They can simulate any type of ship (from a coastal barge to a supertanker) and program the simulator for any harbor or port, any weather conditions, time of day, tides, etc. So the students can learn how these ships handle without actually learning the hard way.

Here's a pic of the school in Castine:

http://www.mainemaritime.edu/

More on Castine

http://www.castine.me.us/pages/AboutPages/about.html

Lodging in Castine (there are links to the actual B&B's so you can check them out):

http://www.castine.me.us/pages/business/business.html

It's really a unique place....it's at the tip of a peninsula, so it doesn't get a lot of drive by traffic.