Happy 4th of July.
Today we elected to go somewhere other than Bar Harbor because we noted as we left our campground that there was a steady stream of traffic on the highway headed in that direction. We are sure Bar Harbor has nice fireworks but we are also not fans of seething, squished masses of tourists awed by chemistry while crowded into small spaces.
We chose instead to explore the Schoodic Peninsula which is a portion of Mt. Acadia NP that exists on the mainland of Maine, pun unintended. This portion of Acadia is primeval and surprisingly uncrowded so we were able to drive there almost without seeing oncoming traffic. It was a cloudy day during our visit and the thick forest cover on the peninsula created dark, mysterious conditions that were delightful. The ground is covered with ferns, moss and lichens such that the soil is not visible. Large outcroppings of granite and basalt dot the landscapes and, since the place is a peninsula, the ocean is the view on the other side of the road. There are lots of birds, including an eagle we spotted on the rocky shoreline that was being harassed by seagulls who apparently found the eagle’s presence uncomfortable.
At the end of the peninsula are a series of small parking areas and pull-outs so folks can get out of their cars and explore the shoreline. The views are stunning. Mount Desert Island, the home of Mt. Acadia NP, is plainly visible across the strait and provides a spectacular backdrop to the turbulent ocean in the foreground.
We believe we made the correct destination choice today and we were fortunate not to have to spend the day with masses of the easily impressed. Schoodic Peninsula is truly magnificent but only very few folks seem to be aware that Mt. Acadia NP includes this beautiful area. It is not really shown on the official Mt. Acadia NP maps other than as a small detail inset that does not give any clue as to the location of this don’t-miss venue. I wonder if this omission was intentional because nobody seems to go to this place. We recommend a drive through this part of the world to our readers but ask that they don’t tell anybody else about it. This seems like the kind of place easily ruined by overuse.