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

Who could possibly improve on this shop’s description of itself: “An Exploratorium and interactive shop for everyone who’s even a little curious about the last 13.8 billion years (give or take).” The Naturalist’s Notebook at 16 Main Street in Seal Harbor is a melding of science, art, and nature learning and activities zone (not to mention its fantastic gift shop). The Notebook offers 13.8-billion-year art workshops, book signings, talks and other special events. Fun for science lovers and all the rest of us, too.

You thought Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor were splendid in summer?? Come let this place dazzle you in the snow. The 45 miles of Acadia's charming carriage roads throughout the park are a cross-country skier’s or snowshoer's dream. Snowmobiles are welcome on the 27-mile Park Loop Road system (including the road up Cadillac Mountain). Mountain Guides Climbing School offers ice climbing courses for all levels. A more-sedate pleasure is bird watching and -photography. After a day of play, Bar Harbor’s restaurants, inns, and B&Bs are welcome, nourishing, and cozy. Plan a visit. Phone: 207-620-9074 [photo by Earl Brechlin]

Hill peninsula, Serving the Blue Hill peninsula, Blue Hill Wine Shop at 123 Main Street in Blue Hill says it offers, and we quote: “cracking good (if occasionally oddball) wines; thoughtfully selected Cheeses, pates, and cured meats; grocery items, local and imported beers and ciders; coffees and teas of quality and tobacco items…” along with good times, occasional music, and assorted foolery.” How could you not pay a visit? Open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Phone: 207-374 2161

Bartlett Maine Estate Winery at 161 Chicken Mill Pond Road in Gouldsboro is a small detour off the fabled road to Acadia National Park. At Bartlett’s, prize-winning wines are pressed onsite from native fruits. A relatively new offering is Rusticator rum, with flavors of vanilla, toffee, lime and banana. The tasting room, halfway between Ellsworth and the Petit Manon Wildlife Refuge, is housed in a hand-wrought stone building. Tasting room is from June to October or by appointment. 207- 546-2408.