Continuing south on 102, we passed through Southwest Harbor. Several shops line the main street and the actual harbor is quite busy with fishing/lobstering and the US Coast Guard station. We purchased organic jams and jellies on the honor system outside someone's home.

Below Southwest Harbor, the road splits off to 102A. Follow this along the coast to Seawall campground and a public picnic area across the way. A mile or two further down the road is the Wonderland trail. This easy 1.3-mile roundtrip walk takes you to a small secluded beach on the ocean. It's a perfect spot for a picnic or just relaxing to the sound of ocean waves. A very short distance down the road is the Ship Harbor Nature Trail. This 1.2-mile loop trail is fairly easy but includes several rocky areas. You experience the great diversity of Acadia while walking through a spruce forest and along the salt marsh shore of Ship Harbor. Looking inland you would think you were at a secluded mountain pond in the Adironacks. Turn around and you're facing the outlet into the ocean. The trail continues along the rocky ocean shoreline where you can linger to be mesmerized by the waves. Return through the forest to the parking lot and head just about a mile to Bass Harbor Head Light.

This is the only lighthouse on MDI accessible by car. It is fully automated and managed by the US Coast Guard. It marks the entrance to Bass Harbor and rises from the rocky southernmost tip of the island. There's a trail from the left corner of the parking lot leading to the rocky shore where you can get a good view of the lighthouse and Swan's Island.

We finished our tour passing thru the fishing communities of Bass Harbor and Bernard. Of course, we stopped at another lobster pound - Thurstons - for lunch.

It is well worth the time to explore this quieter, less-visited-by-tourists side of the island.