Acadia & Bar Harbor & Down East offer vacation activites, indoors and outdoors

Acadia Byway travels through Acadia National Park and the historic villages of Bar Harbor and Northeast Harbor on Mount Desert Island. Along this route, the rugged Maine coast and old-growth forests remain much as they were when the island was described by Samuel de Champlain in 1604. Connected to the mainland by a bridge, Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park are among the most beautiful places in New England. Travelers can bike on miles of interconnected carriage roads. This byway follows Route 3 into Bar Harbor, then follows the park loop road thereafter. Visitors looking to avoid summer traffic can enjoy the Acadia Byway aboard the free Island Explorer buses .

Spend a night under the stars at Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island, and everything will come into perspective. The night sky is an endless source of entertainment and beauty, and the clear, dark Maine sky allows stargazers a breathtaking view of constellations. The Seawall Campground picnic area near Manset is an almost magically scenic stargazing spot: See the Milky Way and ocean meet. Discover the brightest stars in the sky, the "hidden" location of hundreds of black holes, and Messier 13, the famous faraway destination of a human attempt at intergalactic contact. Bring your best telescope, or get a rotating star map from the Acadia gift shop.

Kisma Preserve in Trenton is a home for wild animals. A basic visit involves a tour of about one hour with a knowledgeable guide. The preserve also offer special opportunities for personal animal encounters, private behind the scenes tours, group visits, photography, camping and more. You may be about to meet a wolf during daily socializing or exercising routines. (Reservations required.) Or, come and meet a black bear and make his or her day by bringing a favorite treat. 207-667-3244

There is much beauty to see at Acadia Nation Park. A good way to start is to get an overview of the whole landscape by jumping aboard the Island Explorer bus. This is not a tour – it is public transportation for the park and neighboring villages that runs from late May to Columbus Day. Take a bit of time to ride the bus with others going about their daily lives or on vacation. You’ll get a glimpse of what you may want to see more deeply, and know exactly how to get back there later. "A wonderful service. Best way to get around. Fun to ride," said a visitor from Texas. 207-667-5796

Do you want a gift for yourself or a friend that hollers “Maine!”? A&E Stoneworks, a member of the “Maine Made" quality assurance program, is a wife-and-husband team that makes cool housewares from ROCK: black Maine slate, freshwater pearl granite & Maine beach stones. Items include cutting boards, ornaments, clocks, some other kitchen wares. The artworks are real Maine stuff: tough, natural, understated, beautiful. Find A&E Stoneworks at The Rock and Art Shop in Bangor, Bar Harbor and Ellsworth; Maine Gathering in Camden; Monkitree in Gardiner; Minka in Kennebunkport; and Lisa Marie's Made in Maine in Bath and Portland.