Acadia

Drive East from Ellsworth on scenic Route 1 to Route 187 and head to Jonesport - another remote location where you can move at a slower pace and enjoy the environment as it should be enjoyed - rain or shine. Here you will find a Nature Conservancy with many interesting birds and you can hop aboard a boat and head out to Seal Island - time it right and you will get to see the fascinating puffins - contact Capt Norton at www.machiassealisland.com to determine the best time to visit.

Need a place to stay you may want to give the Harbor House B&B an opportunity to treat you special www.harborhs.com

Over the next few posts (5 or 6 or more - not sure yet) I will be describing villages and or other locations that I believe you will enjoy - if you want to slow down and watch the grass grow or watch the tide come and go. I am starting with one of my top choices. Stonington Maine is located at the end of the road (route 15) in the Downeast region. Take route 3 north from Belfast - you can’t miss it - watch the signs or plug Stonington Maine into your GPS.

Eat at Fisherman’s Friend restaurant, stay at the Inn on the Harbor B&B or camp at Old Quarry Campground (not in Stonington but close by and very quiet location). The harbor is almost all lobster boats - pleasure craft are few and far between. Get up at dawn and watch the boats load up with bait and then go back to bed before eating lunch in one of several small restaurants. Return to the docks in mid to late afternoon to watch the boats return with their catch. Watch the sun set and then go out to a relaxing seafood dinner at Fisherman’s friend. I suggest two or more days, explore the many galleries and artist shops or kayak around the many small islands and through the harbor or just sit and watch a days events it a “real” Maine working fishing village - you will love it!

Go to www.markflemingphoto.com to the Places Portfolio to see Stonington Harbor.

Come on up, the snow is gone in all but places where it had been piled up by snow plows and dump trucks. The weather has been fantastic for the last couple weeks. Come prepared for the black flies - they have loved the weather but wear long pants and long sleeve shirts and you will be fine.

There are still some seasonal restaurants and other businesses that are not open yet and camping is still not in full swing - nights are still dropping into the high 30s and 40s - RVs are great but tenting, brrrrrrr.