Acadia National Park, Schoodic Point - vacation rental ~ Beautiful one bedroom apartment in quiet coastal fishing village. Within walking distance to the harbor and the National Park and in the heart of the acadia region. Biking, hiking, fishing, boating, kayaking, golf are just a few of the local pleasures that await you. Your holiday starts here.
Winter Harbor Cottage - Acadia National Park rental ~ Warm & cozy seasonal cottage located in Winter Harbor. You've heard of the 3 season location. This is even better. Sort of a three location vacation. Enjoy being near the ocean, the feeling of being in a remote cottage in the country and yet being right in town. Have it all! Within walking and bicyling distance to town, the park and the ocean.
The Settlers House - Acadia National Park vacation home ~ Birch Harbor Colonial 3 bedroom home sitting right off the park exit. To enjoy some beautiful scenery or excercise just bring your bike or walk the park loop. This colonial home has plenty of room for large families. Built in 1765 and beautifully maintained it is the oldest remaining home on Schoodic Peninsula.
Guptill Cottage - Winter Harbor vacation rental ~ Make the last turn at the end of the point and you've reached your destination. Don't worry about missing it. You can't go any farther without a boat. Sitting at the end of the lane this three bedroom cottage is in town but still off the beaten path so to speak. It's private and quiet and it is easy feel like you are all alone in the world except of course for the lobster boats pulling their traps in the morning and the resident eagles soaring overhead all day.
Situated on the coast in Downeast Maine in the heart of vacation land a little east of Ellsworth. The southern end of the peninsula hosts the only section of Acadia National Park on the mainland. There is no fee required to enter and the flora, fauna and geological features here on the peninsula are typical of the entire park
On your right after you enter the park there is the turnoff to Frazer Point picnic area. The view around the harbor is magnificent. There are picnic tables and fire pits for barbecues. There is a long wharf from which to fish. There is also a tide pool that the children wade in and small sand beach next to that. On any given day you'll see lobster boats pulling in the days catch and eagles soaring about the harbor. You can wander out on the rocks and picnic or bring back mussels for dinner. Have a cook out or lobster bake and relax into the evening around the campfire if you like listening to the loons after dark. Life does not get any better than here.
From this point on there are turnouts along the way for you to pause, relax or spend the day and take in the spectacular views of the islands, sea and wildlife.
The Schoodic shoreline consists of rocky beaches and exposed, weathered pink, red, and gray granite and black basalt that varies from 10 to 100 feet from sea to the tree line. The natural seawalls on the east side of the park are another favorite place to explore an enjoy the day. Several islands of various sizes, also part of Acadia National Park, are close to shore including Little Moose Island, Schoodic Island, Pond Island, and Rolling Island. A couple of which you can get to at low tide.
The 4 groomed hiking trails in the park provide a natural perspective of the park while hikers meander through birches, cedars, jack pines, climb granite outcroppings and over switchbacks. Along the way you can pick wild bluberries, cranberries and apples from overgrown trees on old farmsteads.
If you don't want to hike up to the summit on the left side of the park road near West Pond Cove, there is a narrow dirt and gravel road that winds its way to the top of Schoodic Head, the highest point on the peninsula. Its 440 foot peak offers panoramic views straight out into the open Atlantic Ocean, Frenchman Bay and Cadillac Mountain to the west. On a clear day you can see the village of Corea on the east side of the peninsula and the Pettit Mannan lighthouse and preserve on the next peninsula over.
Schoodic Point, at the most southern tip of the peninsula, has granite outcroppings and pounding surf. People come from all over to watch the surf as storms or hurricanes passing by sometimes hundreds of miles away break against the rocks and throw spray fifty feet or more in the air. It really is something to see. There is ample parking space for visitors and it is well worth the trip any day.
Still there's more to the peninsula than just the park. Although the area may be similar to the rest of the park the villages scattered around the peninsula are smaller, much less commercialized and have allot to offer visitors. Especially those guests who desire a more relaxed, less crowded atmosphere. And it is exactly for this reason that the people who live here treasure their laid back lifestyle on the peninsula.
Beginning in Winter Harbor during the tourist season L.L. Bean runs a free bus shuttle tour of the Schoodic Section of Acadia National Park; the tour includes Gouldsboro's villages of Birch Harbor and Prospect Harbor before returning.
There are many shops to wander through. Places to rent kayaks and bikes. Winter Harbor boasts a 9 hole golf course with Winter Harbor on one side and Frenchmans Bay on the other side. There are multiple lobster coop's and pounds to buy your dinner. And you won't find lobster cheaper anywhere else.
It's generally quiet here except for the dreaded Winter Harbor Lobster Festival. Once a year the entire area goes on holiday. Usually the second Saturday in August. The only time of year the tourists are thicker than the black flies. Sometimes the cars get backed up at the stop sign downtown five deep waiting to make the turn for the craft fair or boat races. (What can I say I'm not used to crowds and lines?) The day starts off with a 5k road race in the morning and ends with a parade in the evening. Of course there are lobster dinners and barbecues. It's always a good time.
Whatever you desire, hiking, biking, kayaking, swimming, canoeing a lake or pond, fishing, golf, sailing, whale watching, bird watching, sea duck hunting, puffins cruises, cross country skiing and the list goes on. You can have it or get to it from here.
But still, if all that's not enough for you. When you are in the mood for the crowds and the whole tourist scene take the ferry to Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island. It's about a 45 minute trip. There is no better way to get there or anywhere else for that matter. Along the way you'll round many beautiful islands with the occasional cabin and see vistas that will last a lifetime. That's one of the beauties of a vacation or living here. You can have remote, secluded, quiet or crowds anytime you want, it's your call.
Off the peninsula and other
FOR RENT ~ Camp on Birch Hill in Eastbrook- vacation rent ~ I have never seen prettier sunsets and sunrises as I have from here in all my life. The camp is to close to civilization to be called remote by our standards, but if you are from anywhere else I bet your gonna feel like you out in the boondocks. Its about 30 miles from town. The area is full of all kinds of wildlife. If you want to get away from it all you won't find more suitable lodging. Great fishing and hunting!
Long Term Rentals ~
Apartments & Houses available for yearly leases or winters.
1998