Maine: Acadia National Park

Make your own arrangements for travel to Bar Harbor. If you’re flying to Maine, VBT will offer a shuttle from Bangor International Airport. The shuttle works on a “show and go” basis and will make its only departure from the airport to the inn at 1:00 p.m. Shuttle reservations are not required or available. Upon arrival at the airport, please exit the doors in front of the escalators and cross the street to the Four Points Sheraton to await the transfer. Your shuttle bus will carry “West Bus Service” titles, and the driver will be holding a VBT sign. If you are arriving after this shuttle departs or your flight is delayed, you must make your own arrangements to reach the Bar Harbor Inn.

Guests driving to the tour may leave their car in the Bar Harbor Inn’s parking lot for the duration of the tour at no charge.

Your group meets at the Bar Harbor Inn. Before you begin biking Acadia National Park, settle in and explore this lovely seaport town until mid-afternoon. From 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., join your VBT trip leaders for a safety and bike-fitting session, followed by a short warm-up ride. At 5:00 p.m., meet again for a tour orientation and welcome reception before your 7:00 p.m. lobster bake dinner at the inn.

Accommodation: Bar Harbor Inn, Bar Harbor
Included Meals: Dinner

Today’s Ride Choice:
Cumulative Distance Range: 8.3 miles
Afternoon
Warm-up Bar Harbor: 8.3 miles

What to Expect: Ride to Schooner Head Scenic Overlook and enjoy the lovely ocean views before returning the way you came.

After breakfast, we catch a morning bike ferry (45 minutes) across Frenchman Bay to Schoodic Peninsula, the only section of the park on mainland Maine. A local’s favorite, you will ride along the shoreline through classic Down East fishing villages. View sea birds, crashing surf, and working lobster boats as you ride to our lunch spot. Enjoy the peace and serenity of Schoodic Point before riding back to Winter Harbor for our return ferry (45 minutes) to Bar Harbor. You’ll enjoy dinner on your own this evening.

Accommodation: Bar Harbor Inn, Bar Harbor
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today’s Ride Choice:
Cumulative Distance Range: 24 miles
Morning
Schoodic Loop Road: 24 miles

What to Expect: Begin your day with a 40-minute ferry from Bar Harbor across Frenchmen Bay to Winter Harbor, on the Schoodic Peninsula. Here you will experience rural riding on mainland and remain in Acadia National Park. Explore Maine’s rugged coast in this uncrowded and unspoiled magical setting, past fishing villages, secluded bays and pounding surf.

After an included lunch near the water, continue your ride on this quiet peninsula back to Winter Harbor for your return ferry to Bar Harbor.

Today’s journey biking Acadia National Park begins with a short morning ride to Compass Harbor, site of George Dorr’s Old Farm ruins. A short hike (one-mile roundtrip) takes you to Dorr Point with views of Compass Harbor and the Porcupine Islands. Continue to Sand Beach, where you can relax on the shore. After lunch at the Fabbri Memorial Picnic Area, cycle back to Bar Harbor or, for additional miles, continue on the Park Loop Road past Cadillac Mountain Summit Road. This afternoon, you may choose among optional activities (at your own expense): guided sea kayaking in Frenchman Bay or a sunset cruise on the schooner Margaret Todd. You may also choose to browse Bar Harbor’s charming gift shops and boutiques. For dinner on your own, enjoy one of the fine restaurants in town.

Accommodation: Bar Harbor Inn, Bar Harbor
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today’s Ride Choices:
Cumulative Distance Range: 14 – 28 miles
Morning
Park Loop to Sand Beach: 14 miles
Afternoon
Park Loop Road to Cadillac Mountain: 14 miles

What to Expect: A nice ride to Sand Beach where you can spend time on the beach or hike along the cliffs. Return to your cycling route on Park Loop Road and visit Thunder Hole, Otter Cliffs and Fabbri Memorial. Along the ride, you can look forward to a picnic prepared by your trip leaders.

After lunch at the Fabbri Memorial Picnic Area, you have the option to cycle on Park Loop Road past Bubble Rock and Cadillac Mountain Summit road, back to the Inn.

Today, the tranquility of biking Acadia National Park is in full force as you cycle on Acadia’s famed car-free carriage roads, which were established by John D. Rockefeller. Your loop takes you around Eagle Lake to Jordan Pond before enjoying lunch on your own. Consider stopping at Jordan Pond House for elegant fare, including their famous lobster stew and golden, lighter-than-air popovers. This afternoon you may bike or hike on the Carriage Trails to your inn. In Northeast Harbor, you’ll find attractive boutiques, galleries, gardens, and eateries. Your accommodation here, Asticou Inn, overlooks a beautiful protected harbor full of sailboats and luxury yachts. Take advantage of the inn’s amenities, which include a clay tennis court and an outdoor swimming pool. Dinner will be at a local restaurant tonight.

Accommodation: Asticou Inn, Northeast Harbor
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Today’s Ride Choice:
Cumulative Distance Range: 24 miles
Morning
Carriage Roads to Jordan Pond: 24 miles

What to Expect: Today you bid farewell to Bar Harbor and head to beautiful North East Harbor. After 3.4 miles, merge with the carriage roads of Acadia National Park and ride along merrily on miles of car-free riding. You will pass Eagle Lake and Aunt Betty’s Pond on the way to Jordan Pond to a delightful restaurant for lunch with fabulous views.

After lunch, there is an optional support vehicle shuttle to Asticou Inn, a 3-mile hike to the inn, or continue cycling on the carriage roads and a section of the main road to the inn.

Today is your last full day adventure biking Acadia National Park. Leave your bikes behind as you explore by boat and on foot. After a leisurely breakfast at the inn, you may enjoy an optional visit to the Azalea and Thuya Gardens. Afterwards, you’ll board a lobster boat to Little Cranberry Island. This pristine hamlet hosts a year-round community of lobstermen, boat builders, craftsmen, and “rusticators” (those happy few who opt for country living). You’ll visit the Islesford Historical Museum before boarding the boat back to Northeast Harbor (a 30-minute ride).

Enjoy your final farewell celebration dinner at the inn.

Accommodation: Asticou Inn, Northeast Harbor
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today’s Ride Choice:
Non-biking Day: Optional visit to the Azalea and Thuya Gardens, included lobster boat ride, and an optional 11-mile independent bike ride of Sargent Drive in the afternoon.

What to Expect: Today we cross from Northeast Harbor to Little Cranberry Island and Islesford. Explore a quaint community that lives on this dollop of an island. For those wanting more cycling, the leaders will offer more options. Be sure to visit the Azalea and Thuya Gardens on Northeast Harbor. In the afternoon, you may opt to pursue the bookstores, antique stores and museum.

This morning, you will bike to Acadia National Park and cruise along the carriage trails one last time, enjoying the views of Eagle Lake and Bubble Pond on your way back to Bar Harbor. As you and your fellow travelers bid adieu, you’ll agree with the state’s motto that this is truly “the way life should be.”

VBT has arranged facilities for you to use between noon and 1:00 p.m. to shower and change before leaving. The innkeepers of the Bar Harbor Inn ask that you depart by 1:00 p.m. A return shuttle to Bangor International Airport will depart the Bar Harbor Inn at 1:00 p.m. (travel time approximately one hour and 15 minutes). For this reason, we suggest a flight departing no earlier than 4:15 p.m.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Today’s Ride Choices:
Cumulative Distance Range: 13 – 19 miles
Morning
Northeast Harbor to Bar Harbor: 19 miles
OR
Cadillac Mountain: 13 miles

What to Expect: After breakfast, cycle to Acadia National Park and enter the carriage trails one last time, enjoying the views along the east side of Jordan Pond on our way back to Bar Harbor Inn. Lunch is on your own in Bar Harbor.

Talk to your leaders if you would like to shorten the mileage. Options are available.