Baa Haba: The Sequel

Zack's Top 12 Things to Do and See (not in order of preference)

1. Hike Cadillac (Most Trails)
If you’re not in the greatest of shape, I would recommend the Auto Road!

2. Bike Carriage Roads (Almost Every Trail)
There are a lot of easy trails, but some can be challenging if you're not in good shape!

3. Eat at a local lobster pound
It really doesn't matter which one you eat at!

4. Lunch along a rocky beach
Some of the best places are along the park loop road!

5. Schoodic Point Peninsula
If you're into naval ships, you might want to visit the coast guard port here. If you're lucky you might see a naval ship.

6. Drive Park Loop Road
Explore MDI without even breaking a sweat!

7. Window-shop downtown Bar Harbor
There are a myriad of stores to chose from that will meet anyone’s needs!

8. Pirate’s Cove Miniature Golf
One of the better miniature golf courses I've been to!

9. Sea Kayak
I'd recommend the one that is listed in my journal! They have great guides! Don't worry...There are some in Bar Harbor, too!

10. Visit the picturesque town of Bernard
This is where we first stayed. The town was amazing!

11. Eat at Geddy's
If you want to have a good time... this is definitely the place to go!

12. Eat at The Jordan Pond House
Get great views... while you eat! How much better could it get?

Quick Tips:

Zack's Facts:

The Right Time:

I found that the cheapest time is between late May and early June. If you want to have ripe blueberries when you stay, you would want to go late July and early August.

Here to There:

The local island shuttle buses whisk you from popular destination to popular destination. If you want to get off the beaten path, you may want to drive yourself.

The Money:

The great thing about this island is that there is a price for everyone. However, the lower the price the smaller the accommodations. There are also many types of lodging, from B&Bs to private rental homes. There are hotels, motels, and small inns to fit anyone’s budget. There are also numerous campsites on all corners of the island. Price varies from a high of ,000 per week to a low of per week!

Other Info:

Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 158
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Phone: 207-288-5103
Email: visitors@barharborinfo.com
When calling or writing, please mention the Chamber of Commerce website
Website: Bar Harbor info .

Best Way To Get Around:

The best way to get around from one side of the island to another is by your own car, or the island’s shuttle buses. However, you do not want to drive or take a shuttle bus into downtown Bar Harbor. It becomes extremely congested and almost impossible to find a parking spot. To save some time, park around Bar Harbor and walk into town. This way you can enjoy more window-shopping, and you won’t have to deal with the stress from driving!

Down on the Farm

The house, a circa-1820 farmhouse, is perfectly positioned along a lake where few old houses are left. The two-story, three-bedroom house can easily hold two families of three.

The Rooms

We rented two of their three rooms. My parents’ room was very spacious with many seating areas besides the bed. Their room also had a full bathroom. My room had a large bed with one window. Both rooms had air conditioning, and both were decorated with old antiques.

The Barn

The barn is off to the side of the house with a family of llamas, a male, female, and a baby, which the kids are sure to enjoy! There are also black and white chickens that also had babies, and two Chinese geese. You are allowed to visit the barn whenever you please. The kids can even go by themselves if you don't want to. A family that we were staying with had two girls ages 7 and 11, and I bet you they went to that barn every morning and evening just to go see the animals!

The Owners

The owners, Bob and Pat Riedeman, were very welcoming into their beautiful home. They were so warm and friendly that it was almost as if they were my grandparents! They showed us around the house and the barn, and said that nothing was off limits except the new expansion where Pat’s dad lives. So it's almost as if you are staying in your own private house!

What's for Breakfast?

In the morning, we were served organic eggs that are grown on the farm, bacon, toast with homemade jam, and a poached apple. Pat will make anything you ask her to!

Overview

I am sure you would have no trouble relaxing in this beautiful home, and I guarantee you will be leaving with wonderful memories.

The Cottage

The two-story house overlooks Frenchman Bay on a cliff upon Lookout Point, which is north of Bar Harbor on a map. Notice I said a house; this is not a little place at all. It is a large post and beam home with two bedrooms, two full baths one with jacuzzi, a full kitchen, and a dining area. The house has beautiful hardwood floors, except in the kitchen, which has large stone tile. The entire house is decorated with valuable antiques, and the loft of the home offers excellent views of the ocean.

Not what you'd expect

The house has everything you could imagine in a rental home. There were stairs built down to the beach, which is where my parents and I went after every day. There are also blueberry bushes out front which you can pick when they are ripe (around early august).The area around the house is abundant in wildlife; there is even a neighboring red fox that stops to pay a visit.

Not in the Boonies

The house was so close to everything! It was like a dream come true because last time we were here it took us 30 minutes to get to major attractions! We were only 3 miles from Bar Harbor, and we could see The Cat ferry come in and out of port every morning. Acadia National Park was also only 1 mile away! You could ride to the carriage roads, but I would not advise you to. The berm along the road is extremely thin and traffic moves fast, so it is possible there could be an accident.

The Cuisine

The local cuisine was even better than I expected! With everything so close, we had tons of options! You will have no problem finding a place to eat. I guarantee it!

Notice:

Ingrid and Ralph, the owners of this beautiful home, do not allow kids. It is primarily used as a getaway for couples and a honeymoon spot for newlyweds. You would have to check with the owners personally to see if they can make an exception!

Who cares if we're different?

Geddy's is the complete opposite of any restaurant. For instance, regular restaurants use cloth napkins, Geddy's uses "Bounty" the quicker picker upper napkins. Regular restaurant use stainless steel condiment holders, Geddy’s uses a six-pack of beer cardboard case. There are old antique signs, and license plates all over the place. Instead of the doors of the bathrooms saying Men's, and women’s, they said outboard and inboard! I will let you guess which is which. Everything is in a relaxed style, which I found most enjoyable, but Geddy's is not your regular pub. Usually when someone says pub, you think of a dirty, scummy, smokey place. Well, Geddy's is the complete opposite. It’s a well-kept successful business that does not want to waste its money on unimportant items such as cloth napkins.

Now to the important part . . . The food . . . The food has to be one of the best meals I have ever tasted. The meals are well prepared and served on a corona dish.

The owner of the restaurant continues to amaze me, because just when you think it's normal, you find out it's not! This was a very different, but enjoyable dining experience. Kids are allowed, and there is nothing vulgar or offensive in the restaurant, but there is, however, an alcoholic bar. It also has its own gift shop in the basement that you have to visit! I guarantee you will enjoy it!

The House Along the Pond
The Jordan Pond House dates all the way back to 1847! The house was originally owned by the Jordan Family of Seal Harbor for whom the House and The Pond are named after. The house was founded as a restaurant in the early 1870's. However, in 1979 the original pond house was destroyed and then, rebuilt. The pond house has a history of many owners starting with the Jordan Family and ending with the Acadia Corporation and a small group of locals.

Believable Prices for Unbelievable Meals
With the highest single entree being exactly $20, it is almost as if you are stealing from them. The food we've eaten was extremely delicious (Popover a la Mode). Did you know, The Jordan Pond house serves Over +2000 Popovers each afternoon?! If you can't tell by now, The Jordan Pond House is known for its "Popovers", which are a light, fluffy, hollow pastry which is made from scratch in the house kitchen. The popovers can come with almost every meal, which, I think, makes everyone very pleased, although, the popovers can be a meal in themselves! Out of everything I have tried there, there are three that you have to try. They are the Cappuccino and Popovers, Popover a la Mode, and The Double Rich Brownie a la Mode with a popover. So write those down on a piece of paper and don't forget! Trust me on this one, I've tasted tons of desserts and cappuccinos and I've never tasted anything better, and if your worried about the calories, just ride bike down to the pond house, eat, and then ride back!

Samples off Their Menu
Lunch and Tea Menu
Salads and Starters
Crab Cakes two crab cakes served on greens with a green onion sauce $8.50
Baked Brie in Phyllo served with grapes and crackers $6.50
Cup of Lobster Stew a rich blend of lobster meat, cream, butter, and sherry $8.25
Cup of Seafood Chowder scallops, shrimp, haddock & potatoes in a creamy broth $5
Cup of Soup du Jour $3.75
Garden Salad with choice of homemade dressings: balsamic vinaigrette, cucumber yogurt, or blue cheese $4
Single popovers $2.75

Afternoon Tea
(Includes two popovers, strawberry jam, and butter)

Beverage and popovers choice of tea, coffee, ice tea, freshly squeezed lemonade or soft drink $7.25
Cappuccino and popovers hot or iced cappuccino (decaf available) $8.25
Oregon Chai and popovers hot or iced Chai, a spiced and sweetened tea served with steamed milk $8.50

Desserts

Jordan Pond Homemade Ice Cream a super premium ice cream, four flavors change daily $4
With homemade chocolate sauce $5
Double Rich Brownie a la Mode $5.25
Popover a la Mode $5.25
Blueberry Crisp Maine blueberries baked with a crisp crumble topping $4
With a scoop of Jordan Pond Ice Cream $5.25

Now, get up and "get going" to The Jordan Pond House! You'll be glad you did!

The Accident

Well, at first, we were planning on a full day of biking, but a couple minutes into our biking, I got a flat tire. So with our whole itinerary for the day shot, we decided to see what mountains we could hike in the area. To our surprise, the closest one was on the other side of the parking lot!

Pemetic Mountain Trail

At the beginning of the trail, you might want to pick up the pace (if you are on a time schedule) because you gain a lot of altitude farther along the trail. You should stop at the many little vistas along the trail. At each little vista you might think you’re at the top, but you’re actually not. You will see a sign at the top saying Pemetic Mountain Summit. I advise you to STICK WITH THE BLUE TRAIL BLAZERS! You can easily get convinced, as we did, that this is where the trail goes because animals and people venture off the trails. If the trail leads you downhill, and you have not seen the Pemetic Mountain summit marker, keep going. Trust me, my family learned from experience. We thought we were there, but actually, we weren't! It is a great hike if you want more than a walk, but do not want to spend all day hiking. You may not even want to reach the summit. With the numerous vistas, you don't really need to reach the summit to get picturesque views. It is just one of the many mountains on the beautiful island of MDI!

The Adventure

It was Thursday night when my mom came across a sea kayaking brochure. We were all still tired from hiking Katahdin on Monday, and then today from a full day of biking. So we thought we would give out legs a break and put our arms to the test. My mom decided to book the trip even though I told her I didn't think it was a good idea, mainly because I was a little scared! Tomorrow came fast and before I knew it, it was already 2:30! We were going to push off around 3:10pm, and I was extremely nervous. I have never really liked water, except tame water, like in a swimming pool or something. So with no prior kayaking experience, I was scared to death to go in a little boat on the sea. When we got to the guide area, my mom told the woman that I was scared to get in a kayak. (Why do parents have to embarrass their children? It must be instinct.) The woman replied that there is a slim chance something would happen. This made me feel a little better, but not much. So we all piled in the van and were driven to a quiet harbor. That is where we pushed off. The water was relatively calm in the harbor. The guide taught us how to operate the kayak properly and then we set off. We had four tiring hours of kayaking ahead of us, and my excitement was at it apex. Once I got in the water, I was completely fine and had no worries at all. Our guide told us history about MDI, and about the wildlife we saw. We took a break halfway through the trip at Bartlett Island. The guide showed us where we were, how far we have traveled, and where we were going to put in. Sadly, we could see exactly where that was. So after everyone had a chance to stretch their legs, once everyone was seated in their kayaks we pushed off again. It did not take us long to reach our destination, and by the time we reached shore the van was ready to pick us up. It was an amazing, fear-facing experience that I will surely never forget!

Don't Worry...Be Happy!

To ANYONE who is afraid of kayaking or has never even thought about doing it, I highly advise you to go and try it! I was scared to death of even getting in a kayak, and now, I am hoping to buy my own! You are missing one of those great adventures!

The sun was up and there were no people to be found on north OR southbound lanes. It seemed like forever until we reached the nearest city..or what looked like a city. As soon as I saw the first person, I belted out one word. "People"! The entire car busted into laughter and we all started to feel better...or maybe it was the coffee. We were all wide-awake in the middle of nowhere. Then we passed a sign for the park radio. So we changed the channel and started to listen. When we changed the channel the whole car fell silent.

We found out that they only allowed so many people in the park. I think all our hearts sank when we heard the news, because it was already 8.We finally found out that it was not full. So we got all our stuff around at the base and we hit the trail around 8am. There was a father and son 20 minutes ahead of us as we signed in on the trail board. Our goal for the time being was to safely catch up to them. So we started at a very fast pace, almost a jog but walking... you know what I mean. We passed the hikers in a little bit resting on a fallen log. Although we passed the hikers, we still kept a steady pace.

That is until we hit the boulder field. We had stretched our whole bodies to get over some boulders. That is when we started to slow down, and take out time. Of course, my mom (37) was scared to death that something would happen to me all the way there. Anyway, so all the way through the hike there are areas where you can look back and see where you have been and the views around you. You get your best views when you are out of the tree line, but at the same time, it also gets more dangerous.

After we've climbed some extremely large boulders, we came to a very short ledge. A few feet above our heads was a small steel hook, and a bar. This is when my mom finally lost it and could not go any farther. So we reached "our summit" for the time being. We took pictures, and stuff and started to head back down. As we got down off the steep parts and into the tree line, we started to say, "It didn't seem this hard coming up"! Our knees and legs ached all the way down. When we reached the base, we were all relieved. Then we looked up at the top and just gaped at the mountain.

It was an amazing experience that I will never forget. Mainly because we did not finish it, but hey, I can always do it next year!

The Carriage Roads

The carriage roads are an excellent way to get away from the crowded hustle and bustle of down town Bar Harbor. Here, you can easily bike at your own pace on OVER 52 MILES OF CARRIAGE ROADS! The carriage roads are not only for bikes. You may want to walk, jog, or even run the carriage roads. On some areas of the carriage roads pets are allowed on (ex. horses, and dogs).

Not Just a Sunday Stroll . . . although it can be!

For those of you who are avid bikers and like hills don't go thinking this is all flat. Some trails offer a +35% grade which is sure to tire anyone after a full day biking. If you’re not really into the hill thing, there are plenty of ways to get around them. This is also a great area where kids don't have to struggle to get up hills. They can easily get up most hills without trouble. If you have little children, the rental shops allow you to rent little wagons to tow your children behind you!

A view you've earned

All through out the carriage roads trails are areas where you can stop and enjoy the view. You could be lazy and drive around the park loop, but when you’re biking, I think you appreciate the views a little more. So stop and enjoy the view! You'll be glad you did!