Acadia All-American Road
Schoodic National Scenic Byway
Bold Coast National Scenic Byway
Suggested stops
In Bar Harbor, explore Maine’ s coastal habitat and marine life at Mount Desert Island Oceanarium and Education Center.
Wild Gardens of Acadia experience Acadia’ s uniquely varied plant life in a serene brookside setting.
Enjoy Acadia’ s historic carriage trails with Carriages of Acadia.
Grab lunch at Downeast Mexican Takeout in Gouldsboro, or after completing the byway, grab a drink and a bite at The Pickled Wrinkle in Birch Harbor.
Look for the colorful Kids Quest signs— its seven locations will engage families in the region’ s history, ecology and culture.
The unique coastal town of Winter Harbor is a picturesque working harbor filled with small businesses and historic buildings.
Learn more at SchoodicByway. org
Learn about the 10,000 year history of indigenous wild blueberries at the Wild Blueberry Heritage Center in Columbia Falls.
As you make your way up the coast be sure to stop in Machias for a meal, a nature excursion, and a coffee! Check out West Branch Farms, La Laiterie, Tom’ s Mini Mart, Machias Marketplace, and Roque Bluff State Park. In late August experience the Machias Wild Blueberry Festival.
The Tides Institute and Museum of Art in Eastport holds an extensive cultural collection of historical to contemporary arts.
Acadia All-American Road
Distance: 40 Miles The drive starts in Trenton, passes Thompson Island Information Center, and follows Rt. 3 across Mt Desert Narrows, and onto MDI. The route continues along the shore through Hulls Cove and into Bar Harbor. South of town, visitors must pay a park entrance fee to join up with Park Loop Rd.
If travelers plan to enter the Park Loop Road and visit Sand Beach, Thunder Hole and Cadillac Mountain, check in at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center within the park. Reservations are required to visit Cadillac Mountain. The free Island Explorer shuttle is recommended. Schedules are available online.
Schoodic National Scenic Byway
Distance: 29 Miles Winding along the coast from Hancock to Prospect Harbor, this route offers up unparalleled scenery, including reversing tidal falls, historic architecture, and Frenchman Bay, while also passing through the only mainland section of Acadia National Park.
Start at the Taunton Bay Gateway where travelers can take in the sight of seabirds swooping in the sky, lobster boats, and sailboats in the distance. Along the shoreline the byway passes through rolling hillsides and historic seaside villages with names like Bunkers Harbor and Wonsqueak Harbor.
Have your camera ready for the Frenchman Bay Scenic Turnout, offering views across the bay to Mount Desert Island and Cadillac Mountain. The Prospect Harbor Lighthouse is said to be haunted and is a not-to-be-missed view along the way. While Prospect Harbor marks the end of this Byway, a short drive up Rt 186 to U. S. 1 to Milbridge visitors can connect up with the Bold Coast National Scenic Byway.
Bold Coast National Scenic Byway
Distance: 125 Miles
The Bold Coast begins in Milbridge with active fishing villages and winds eastward through historic riverside villages, prolific blueberry barrens, and wild rivers from Cherryfield to Machias. Further northeast, the rugged shores are dramatically shaped by the rise and fall of the Bay of Fundy and the highest tides on earth.
Quoddy Head in Lubec is the easternmost point of land in the United States and provides the first glimpse of sunrise in the USA. Campobello Island is home to Roosevelt / Campobello International Park and is a jumping off point for exploring the Fundy Isles by ferry.
Eastport, an historic fishing port and artist community, offers a wealth of dining, arts, and culture opportunities. A seasonal ferry connects Eastport and Lubec by water. The small city of Calais is the northernmost end of the Bold Coast region, located several miles inland on the tidally influenced St. Croix River – the international boundary between the U. S. and Canada.
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