Thomas Dean

Living not far from the Town of Belfast, my wife Bonnie and I love to go there occsionally, just to enjoy the beautiful harbor. This September 5th we got down there for a few hours to witness the Windjammer Festival. There were vendors, displays, PIRATES, and of course, Windjammers. It was a mild day (not too warm) and it was a pleasure strolling around viewing the festivities, and we even ran into some friends.

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There's a little known part of Acadia National Park at the tip of Schoodic Peninsula. With dramatic views and loop road of its own, around every corner is another piece of pristine coastline. This is what National Parks are there for. My wife and I often go there on an extremely hot day because the ocean breezes are like sticking your head in the refrigerator. Come on now, I know we've all done that on a hot day. Anyway, the one way two lane road is a pleasurable ride with ample opportunities to stopand take pictures or explore. At the southern most extreme is a place where, when the wind and tide is right, the crashing surf must be approached with caution. It's a sight worthwhile.

Thomas Dean

Associate Broker

Town & Country, Realtors

140 High Street

Ellsworth, ME 04605

207-667-7557 ext.106

Cell: 207-266-8668

http://www.TLDean.com

In the town of Surry, on the Blue Hill Peninsula, you can find a peaceful strip of land with views of Mount Desert Island across the Union River Bay to the east and East Blue Hill across Morgan Bay to the west. Parking at Carrying Place Beach is a great place to start. This dead end road affords dramatic views right to the end. A ride out there and back is only 10 miles, fairly level and traffic free. By the way, real estate on this out of the way is highly sought after and sells at a premium. Prices have not suffered in the current market.

Carrying Place Beach

Newberryneck Road

Union River Bay with Mount Desert Island in the distance

Morgan Bay looking toward East Blue Hill

Summer on the Blue Hill Peninsula in Downeast Maine wouldn't be complete without walking to the Blue Hill Town Park and enjoying the music of the Flash in the Pans band. This particular evening in July, my wife and I took in an art opening at the Blue Hill Wine Shop before strolling to the park where the evening light on the harbor was adding its own music to the atmosphere. This out of the way New England town is steeped in culture on an old fashioned waterfront born of fishing and the shipping of granite from a quarry nearby. In the summer the population swells with rusticators who have come for generations.

Flash in the Pans

Blue Hill Harbor

Even before moving to the Maine coast near Mount Desert Island, my wife and kids and I had already begun exploring the enchanting carriage Trails of Acadia National Park. Even ten years after moving to the area and finding all the other great places to ride, we still return to the park regularly. It's there for everyone to enjoy and we never tire of it. See our photos below and check out the Park's own website