Maine Coast: Purely Acadia​

Travel to Maine. VBT will offer a shuttle from Bangor International Airport to the Bar Harbor Inn in Bar Harbor, departing the airport at 1:00 pm. If you are arriving after this shuttle departs or your flight is delayed, you must make your own arrangements to reach the Bar Harbor Inn. 

Guests driving to the tour may leave their car in the Bar Harbor Inn’s parking lot, without charge, for the duration of the tour.

Our group meets at the Bar Harbor Inn. After settling in, explore this lovely seaport town until mid-afternoon. At 3 p.m., join your VBT Trip Leaders for a safety and bike-fitting session, followed by a short warm-up ride. At 5:00 p.m., meet up with the group for a tour orientation and welcome reception before our 7:00 p.m. dinner at the inn.

Today, cycle on Acadia's famed car-free carriage roads, which were established by John D. Rockefeller. Your loop takes you around Eagle Lake to Jordan Pond before you enjoy lunch on your own. We recommend stopping at Jordan Pond House for their elegant fare, including their famous popovers. The afternoon ride offers exceptional views of Bubble Pond and Cadillac Mountain, the first place to view the sunrise in North America for most of the year. Savor the flavors of Maine tonight during a lobster dinner at the inn. Afterward, there are often free concerts on the town green.

Spend the morning riding on the Park Loop Road to Sand Beach, where you can relax on the shore or participate in a short hike. After lunch at the Fabbri Memorial Picnic Area, cycle back to Bar Harbor or, for additional miles, continue on the Park Loop Road past Cadillac Mountain Summit Road. This afternoon, you may choose among optional activities (at your own expense): guided sea kayaking in Frenchman Bay, a whale-watching excursion or a sunset cruise on the schooner Margaret Todd. You may also choose to browse Bar Harbor's charming gift shops and boutiques. For dinner on your own, enjoy one of the fine restaurants in town.

Today, cycle to the quiet side of Mount Desert Island, where we'll have plenty of time to check out the local microbrewery and enjoy lunch. Then, continue cycling to Northeast Harbor, offering views of the spectacular fjord of Somes Sound. In Northeast Harbor, you will find attractive boutiques, galleries, gardens and eateries. Our accomodation here, Asticou Inn, overlooks the beautiful protected harbor full of sailboats and luxury yachts. Take advantage of the inn's amenities, which include clay tennis courts and a heated outdoor swimming pool. Dinner will be at a local restaurant tonight.

After a leisurely breakfast at the inn, we board a car-free ferry to Great Cranberry Island (20 minutes) and, again by ferry, we continue to Little Cranberry Island (15 minutes). Visit this pristine hamlet, which hosts a year-round community of lobstermen, boat builders, craftsmen and “rusticators” (those who opt for country living). We'll visit the Islesford Historical Museum before boarding the ferry back to Northeast Harbor (30 minutes). Enjoy an optional visit to the Azalea and Thuya Gardens before our final farewell celebration dinner at the inn.