The Quietside is famous for Bass Harbor Head light, one of the most visited and photographed spots in Acadia and certainly of all the lighthouses around. Quintessential coastal Maine, the lighthouse keeps our ocean navigators safe.

A rare jewel on the Quietside is the Seawall of Acadia representing the granite clad coastline that Acadia National Park is well known for.  Seawall commands the southerly tip of Mount Desert Island.  Our guests are all just a short drive to this breathtaking part of the Park.  Seawall offers a perfect spot for a picnic with several picnic tables perched along the Seawall.  Just beyond Seawall picnic area are two very easy and well maintained hiking trails that bring you closer to the natural wonders of the Maine coast.

Boat tours are plentiful from all harbors of Mount Desert Island.  Cruising the waters off Mount Desert Island provide the breathtaking scenic mountain views representing Mother Nature’s footprint that the glacial movement left behind.  Boat tours come in all shapes and sizes from Friendship Sloop Charters, to Downeast Windjammers, Nature Cruises and the opportunity to ride in a wooden lobster boat to experience the harvesting of lobster.  Local Chamber of Commerce sites have a variety of boat tours and their contact information.

The Island Explorer offers free shuttle service all over Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park.  Check out the new way to explore Acadia and leave the driving behind!  See more of what the island has to offer as a passenger of the Island Explorer. Check out their website for routes and schedules. www.exploreacadia.com

Update: The Island Explorer will not be running in the 2020 season.

Mount Desert Island  is made up of numerous small towns, each boasting their own harbor facilities.  Each harbor is unique to one another.  Bar Harbor has the cruise ship activity, Seal Harbor is a quiet summer colony, Northeast Harbor also has a strong presence of summer residents along with boats that service the needs of our neighbors that live on the outer islands.  Southwest Harbor has a variety of lobster boats, a large marina, home for our Coast Guard, and the impressive mooring field of Hinckley Boats next to the Hinckley Boat Yard. Bass Harbor has a very active fishing village feel.  Many lobstermen fish from Bass Harbor, delivering their catch daily to the market and area restaurants.  Swans Island Ferry is also located in Bass Harbor. Most harbors have tour boats, whale watching trips and charter boats for our guests to enjoy.

Outdoor Activities are bountiful such as hiking, biking, kayaking, climbing, boating and swimming, to name a few.  Activities are located all over Mount Desert Island, inside and outside Acadia National Park.  This link takes you to a popular hiking map for the Quietside, the western side of Mount Desert Island.  You can rent bikes and kayaks locally in Southwest Harbor, and of course, as our guests you have free use of the kayaks located at our vacation rentals.   The National Park Service website also has extensive maps for Acadia National Park that will help you plan your trip to Maine.  You can also purchase your park passes online prior to your travel.   www.nps.gov/acadia

Dining options on the island are vast and cater to the taste buds of all our guests.  There is no doubt the majority of our visitors want their “fill” of lobster while here.  Most dining establishments include lobster on their menu.  On the Quietside, we have a few traditional “Lobster Pounds” where you can watch the fishermen unload their daily catch, while you wait for your lobster to be steamed in outside cookers “in the rough”.  It is an experience you won’t want to miss!  These lobster pounds are only a few minutes’ drive from any of our vacation rentals.

Update: There will be new guidelines for the 2020 season due to the national pandemic for all dining establishments.

Be sure to experience the iconic Somes Sound during your visit.  Mother Nature was kind enough to provide the most beautiful natural fjord on the east coast for us to enjoy. There are numerous boat tours that provide trips up the sound to admire places like Valley Cove, one of the most beautiful sites from the water.  The Eagles and Osprey are abundant and you might even spot a seal looking for a snack!