Island Explorer features ten seasonal bus routes linking lodging with destinations in Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island and neighboring village centers .
Bucksport is a major port for inbound fuel shipments and Eastport hosts deep-water commercial shipping for pulp , paper and other bulk commercial cargo . Numerous smaller harbors support commercial fishing , recreational boating , cruise ships , and transient yachting or sailing . Smaller cruise ships visit Bucksport and Eastport , while cruise ships of all sizes visit Bar Harbor .
Active transportation routes include the 87-mile multi-use Down East Sunrise Trail , the 211-mile Bold Coast Scenic Bikeway , and two bicycling routes from southern Florida to Calais – the East Coast Greenway and US Bike Route 1 . The bicycling routes connect with international routes just across the Canadian border , and ATV / Snowmobile trails connect to northern Maine and Canada .
Tourism , Business , and Industry
For the past two-plus decades communities within DownEast Acadia have partnered locally , regionally , and with state agencies to plan and implement projects , programs , strategies , and policies that leverage cultural and natural resources as an economic and community development tool . Although the plans , policies , and programs are varied and the oversight organizations are diverse , they all share a goal of health , education , continuity , and prosperity for the human , environmental , cultural , historic , business , and scenic assets of DownEast Acadia communities .
The Aroostook / Washington Economic Development District Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy ( CEDS ) vision statement is that :
“ Our region is a place of abundant natural resources that is reflected in the beauty of our landscape and the potential for economic and social prosperity it offers . We value the individuality and endurance of our people while recognizing the strong sense of community and place that sustains us . We will create economic growth by focusing on sectors that best leverage these assets and by working to develop policies that promote private sector investment ; while at the same time , retaining the quality of life that makes the region special .”
The Eastern Maine CEDS , which includes Hancock County , offers a vision to “ Improve economic opportunity and increase wealth for the EMDC region ’ s communities , businesses and individuals ”. Concepts to achieve this include forest products economy , emerging opportunities , sustainability and growth of businesses , leveraging assets , and advancing shared goals .
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