We begin by riding directly to the bustling coastal town of Bar Harbor to explore the park.
Then we continue by riding to quieter, more serene and remote towns in downeast Maine where the cycling is divine and you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the calmer side of the coast, whether by bicycle, kayak or whale watching cruise.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: We meet at the Best Western Fort Knox Inn in Bucksport, ME at 3:00pm for a rental bike fitting. We’ll have an orientation at 5:30pm immediately followed by dinner. Founded in 1764, this small coastal community of Bucksport sits across the Penobscot Bay from the stone-hewn beauty of Fort Knox.
Day 2: We’ll bike to Bar Harbor in the heart of downeast Maine. You can unpack your bags because we’ll stay at the graceful historic Ledgelawn Inn for 3 nights, located just a short walk from waterfront Bar Harbor.
Once in town, you may choose to visit the charming shops and fascinating, one-of-a-kind galleries of Main Street. Or take a walking tour of West Street and the older summer homes that once made Bar Harbor the queen of the east coast at the turn of the century.
For dinner, we’ll go to the Lobster Pound, where we’re charged for our meal by the pound. We’ll eat our lobster feast outside on plastic chairs and paper tablecloths in typical Maine fashion. 36 or 47 miles.
Day 3: Today we leave Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Island via ferry to the quieter side of Acadia National Park. We’ll cycle through evergreen forests along the water’s edge of pristine Schoodic Peninsula to the tiny fishing villages of Birch Harbor, Prospect Harbor, and Corea. See stacks of empty lobster traps and their multi-colored buoys waiting to be submerged. Then watch the fog as it slowly rolls into the cove during our return ferry to Bar Harbor. 29 or 45 miles.
Day 4: We start the day early with a ride to the top of Cadillac Mountain. We’ll witness the spectacular sunrise over Frenchman’s Bay, the first sunrise each morning in the country. The 11-mile round-trip ride can be followed after breakfast with a 28-mile ride along Park Loop Road through Acadia National Park. You’ll see some of the most dramatic scenery on the eastern seaboard.
In the afternoon, you may choose to explore the park with a hike on one of the park’s 100 trails and up one of its eleven mountains. Rent a mountain bike or use your hybrid to ride some of the 53 miles of tree-lined carriage roads that wind over and around hillsides through the park. Stop at the lovely Jordon Pond House for an afternoon tea and their famous popovers. Or rent a kayak to explore the park from the ocean waters. Perhaps a whale watching cruise is more your fancy. Tonight, dinner is on your own. 11, 28 or 39 miles.
Day 5: We’ll continue our exploration of the rocky Maine coast with a bike ride to Blue Hill. We’ll stay at the Blue Hill Farm Country Inn, an historic B&B located on the quiet peninsula for the next two nights. 34 or 54 miles.
Day 6: We’ll explore more of the quiet back roads of downeast Maine with a loop ride from Blue Hill. We’ll meander through the small communities of clapboard houses and moored fishing boats. 30 miles.
Day 7: We’ll complete our trip with a short ride back to Bucksport. We’ll end the tour with a farewell picnic lunch back at the hotel and a shuttle to the airport by 1:00 pm. 20 miles.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Also see tour packages in:
USA
Maine
Outdoor: Land Rambler
Bicycle Touring
Women Tours
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