Bar Harbor, ME

Wordless Wednesday...Acadia National Park Mount Desert Island Maine

Acadia National Park, located on Mount Desert Island (MDI) in Maine, is a 35,000 acre National treasure consisting of mountains, lakes, ocean and forest. If you have not had the chance to visit, I strongly urge you to make it a vacation destination that you will never forget.

 

A popular attraction along the Park Loop Road is Thunder Hole. At mid-tide, you will usually find Thunder Hole at it's loudest, when the waves rush into an ocean-carved pocket in the stone. This is a typical event. Note the people standing at the observatory platform. They can't always stand there as you will see in the YouTube video below.

 

If you would like to know why I chose Seacoast New Hampshire to make my home, click here to email me, and I can make a real convincing argument for you to choose it too! Or, if you would like to do your own home search, sign up NOW on my website for our exclusive Home Scout Program.

The Bridges of Acadia National Park...Mount Desert Island, Maine

Acadia National Park, located principally on Mount Desert Island (MDI) in Maine, is a 35,000 acre national treasure consisting of mountains, lakes, ocean and forest. If you have not had the chance to visit, I strongly urge you to make it a vacation destination that you will never forget.

During the turn of the century, MDI and its villages of Bar Harbor, Seal Harbor and Northeast Harbor, became the summer play land of the rich and famous, and included the Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, Fords, Morgans, Astors and Pulitzers. They built lavish "cottages," mansions really, of gigantic proportions, and acquired large tracts of land on the island. Their opulent summer lifestyles were far from that of the native fishermen and farmers. Surprisingly, it was through the generous donations of land by these wealthy summer vacationers that helped develop Acadia National Park, the first national park created by donations from private citizens.

John D. Rockefeller Jr., alone, donated more
than 10,000 acres of land including a significant section of coastline. While roads for access to many parts of the island were being created and improved, Rockefeller became concerned the island would become over-run with tourist-driven automobiles and wished to preserve the rustic and peaceful natural beauty of the island. In 1913, he spearheaded a project to create 57 miles of "carriage roads" where travel by motorized vehicles would be prohibited. Even today, these roads are limited to horsedrawn carriages, horseback, bicycling, hiking and cross country skiers.

In order to construct these roads it was necessary to bridge waterways, ravines and even the park roadways. Using local granite and cobblestones, 17 mortar core and earth filled spandrel arch bridges, designed by Welles Bosworth and Charles Stoughton, were constructed. With the exception of one faced with cobblestones, these beautiful bridges were faced with hand hewn granite.

Having spent many years in bridge construction, I found these bridges fascinating and hope you do too!

Cobblestone Bridge, the first bridge built and completed in 1917

Triple Arch Duck Brook Bridge, one of the longest in the park. Note the viewing turrets.

Bubble Pond Bridge. This bridge originally spanned the Park Loop Road. In 1980, the Park Loop Road was relocated becuase it was felt it passed too close to Bubble Pond.

You pass under this bridge as you leave the park and head towards Seal Harbor

This carriage road bridge passes over Route 233 near one park entrance.

Although not a carriage road, this bridge of similar style can be found along the Park Loop Road.

Some recent posts you may have missed:

Sink, Swim or Float in a Boat...Its All A Matter Of Survival

The Seacoast Food Pantry...Needs Your Help

Flight 423...A Memorial Day Weekend Highlight For Pease Greeters

Sandy Neck in Barnstable MA...Where Time Didn't Stop, But Sure Slowed Down

The Oceanside Walking Path in Little Boar's Head...North Hampton NH

A Glimpse Into Fuller Gardens...North Hampton NH - Part One

Many Hands Make Light Work

Do You Remember Your First AR Blog...And Your First Commenter?

In Honor of the Royal Wedding...She Dressed in Her Finest White Gown

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday - First Attempt at Spring in Seacoast NH

Seacoast Golf Instructor in North Hampton NH...Laura Shanahan Rowe

Sagamore Hampton Golf Club And Sagamore Golf Center In North Hampton NH

The Angel Trumpets Are Coming Back!

Lago's Lone Oak Ice Cream...A Sure Sign of Spring in Seacoast NH

Annie's Angels Hosts "The Heavenly Ball" Fundraiser ... March 26th in Portsmouth NH

The Chase Home for Children Fundraiser at Flatbread Pizza Portsmouth NH March 22!

Celebrating The Inner Irish In All Of Us - the Complete Series

If you would like to know why I chose Seacoast New Hampshire to make my home, click here to email me, and I can make a real convincing argument for you to choose it too! Or, if you would like to do your own home search, sign up NOW on my website for our exclusive Home Scout Program.

Up to admire the sunrise in Bar Harbor Maine, to get packed to head back to Houlton ME after this morning's MAR state real estate convention wraps up.

Today the real estate update from the National Association of REALTORS, a super breakfast to get the Maine real estate agents, brokers ready for one more class. Linda Gifford is the Maine Association of REALTORS "legal beagle". Worth the price of admission alone forget the continuing education credits, the networking options when you live in Maine. She will outline new laws and what is in committee at the Maine legislature that affects the economy, the state real estate industry. She is a REALTOR, past real estate broker and MAR's "on retainer for life" attorney running our "legal hot line" for clarification, seasoned guidance. To avoid box canyons Maine real estate agents, brokers need to avoid in the day to day property quick sand situations, Linda Gifford is always, always only a phone call away.

Since Maine is a pretty big state, one of the biggest benefits to the state REALTOR attendance is to rub shoulders, compare notes with other real estate professionals doing the same thing day in and day out.

But in a slightly different area of "Vacationland" where the flavor is a little not quite the same, but still very tasty, unique, memorable.

We all sell property, promote the state of Maine. But when you are parked on the coast of Maine with "lobstahh" and lighthouses and cruise ships chugging in and out, the landscape is not the same as when you list, market, peddle properties on a lake in Northern Maine.

Or around Mt Katahdin, Sugarload Mountain, Acadia or one of Maine's 30 state parks. Here are Bar Harbor Maine images, hundreds of other shots of Vacationland.

One Maine real estate broker I sat thru one of many classes yesterday is very very close to the New Hampshire border. Can see Mt Washington from his Maine home and is in the foothills of what becomes the White Mountains.

I live in Maine, and don't know every single nook and cranny.

But the friends, the networking with other REALTORS on the county, state level is crucial. These state of Maine REALTOR meetings put on are a class act by MAR.

Our state head Cindy Butts, a veteran of 23 years at the helm of MAR and all the support group from Augusta Maine are a blue ribbon class act.

Noticed, relied on at the national level too. Not just helping the 7000 plus real estate licensees in Maine.

We are in Bar Harbor Maine for this 2010 convention, Hancock County. We were in Rockland Maine, mid coast last year. And rotate thru the Bethel / Sunday River, or Kingfield / Sugarloaf area ior somewhere new. Hope someday to have the group travel to the largest of Maine's 16 counties, Aroostook.

With 11 people per square mile, all that woods, potato farming and proximity to the Canadian border, sometimes the questions other Maine REALTORS ask make me smile, grin, wonder.

The folks who have sampled our snowsled trails, found out about how different it is than say the Portland's Old Port section, or the beaches around Kennebunk, Sanford, life in Bangor, Brewer or Lewiston Auburn or Waterville, etc come away with a sense of awe.

Maine is one big rugged state and not a lady you can describe with one or two words and nail it perfectly. Maine, big, beautiful, down to earth and 4 season outdoor simple. Get here quick as you can to sample it, all of it yourself.

I'm Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers

The hurry scurry to get to an annual Maine real estate REALTORS convention meeting.

Every year the same two step dosey doe getting the office set up for a few days at meetings.

Cauterizing loose ends, remember to do this, this and this.

Luckily I have had an assistant for nineteen years that is like Radar on the MASH television series. Robin just knows. Remind Andy to do this, don't forget to do that. And then that.

With androids, laps tops it is a seamless transition. Sure, tethered by wireless devices while in a continuing education class. Cattle prodded to call these three numbers during the lunch break. And did I set up for the day back the showing on this place, the closing on that property? It's like any vacation where just before it things get intense and you smile. You're going come heck or high water.

Realtor state conventions like MAR's this year at the Harborside Hotel in Bar Harbor Maine is a chance to connect with real estate professionals from around the state. To hear motivational talks, cutting edge discussions on new ways to delivery the real estate and community information better, quicker, cleaner.

With less fuss, no muss.

(What is muss...chaff, some by product of hard word needing to be jettisoned? Did they mean mess, like in messed wind blown hair? ) Anyway, the veterans in the industry that you don't just do business with. You connect and care about. Asking how is the Mrs, the kids, how did that work out with the buyer wanting the tattoo parlor talk, chit chat ensues.

And after the hospitality suites of banks courting you for your business on loan closings.

Maine title companies plying you with a tray of Maine lobster hors d'oeuvres.

Its down to business again the next day with more meetings. For the education, the continuing real estate credit hours. Tto hang on to the 30 year Maine real estate broker's license planted, parked on the office wall back in Houlton Maine. A cruise ship is parked off the shore to the convention complex. There is a whale watching invitation in an 5 x 7 frame calling my name by the lap top as we tap tap tap. As the ends of the fingers open up to finish up to check in with my friends on Active Rain quickly. Before putting on a name tag, venturing in to the Maine core course on real estate, other sessions today, for the next three days. Your state REALTOR convention...which ever state, have you been to it yet? Going to the national REALTOR convention this year? Maine, she is big, the four season beauty will get in your system. Then she never lets go.

I'm Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers

The crisp Maine fall air, the colors of foliage in the peak as REALTORS from around the state called "Vacationland" trek to Bar Harbor ME, Hancock County.

This year's 2010 Maine State REALTOR's Convention will be educational, informative, fun too.

The day long seminar with meetings for continuing education real estate licensing requirements all in a three day swoop are worth the price of admission alone.

But the most education comes from the round table discussions at the lunches, dinners.

Networking with agents around Maine, and comparing notes on what works, what does not.

A lot like our Active Rain blog posts that get input from others in the same real estate trenches. Have you been to your state REALTORS meeting yet? Catching up with other Maine real estate practioners, agents, brokers is beneficial all the way around. The hospitality suites from convention sponsors are a great meeting place to eat some Maine delicacies. Bar Harbor Maine with Acadia Park, oceanfront properties is in Hancock County.

Bar Harbor Maine offers this years host location for the MAR Convention.

In past years Rockland, Bethel, Sugarloaf's Carrabassett Valley, Portland Maine have been the venues for education, a little socializing, a lot of networking. It's Bar Harbor Maine's turn again.

An annual Statewide Maine real estate meeting with others wearing the "R", the hands down hardest working letter in the alphabet. Maine, big, beautiful all four seasons.

I'm Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers