The Waters off Acadia National Park

On By nationalparkswithtIn Maine

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When visiting Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island in Maine, there are lots of sights to see in Frenchman Bay and beyond. Marine wildlife, historic lighthouses and wildlife refuges are plentiful in the waters off the coast. The only way to see some of these things is by boat.

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When we visited in 2007, we took a fun, friendly and educational ride on Lulu Lobster Boat. We went out with Captain John on Lulu on a beautiful day in May. Captain John and his first mate kept us entertained with lore about the area, the seals we visited at Egg Rock and lobster fishing.
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The queasy among us were given seasick wristbands and no one was ill. We were also loaned binoculars at the seal watching point for better viewing. The tour lasts about 2 hours and was well worth it.
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Egg Rock Light , built in 1875, it is one of coastal Maine’s architecturally unique lighthouses, with a square tower projecting through the square keeper’s house. Located on Egg Rock, midway between Mount Desert Island and the Schoodic Peninsula, it is still an active aid to navigation.
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The light was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Egg Rock Light Station in 1988. The signal is automated and the island and light are owned by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. It is a bird sanctuary and not open to the public.
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Also in 2007, we took a whale & puffin tour with the Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company. The tour began off the shores of the Petit Manan Lighthouse. This light was built in 1855 and is still an active signal, automated and solar-powered. The island it is on is a wildlife refuge with an active breeding colony of puffins. It is not open to the public.
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Somewhere on our way to the next lighthouse, we saw a Humpback whale. Whales arrive in Maine towards the end of April and migrate south to warmer waters in October.
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Mount Desert Light is on an island 18 miles south of Bar Harbor. It was built in 1847 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.  The station is managed by the College of the Atlantic and is now used as a research station for their work on finback and humpback whales.
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To see my other Acadia posts, click here:

 

 

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Location: Mount Desert Island, Frenchman Bay

Designation: National Park

Date designation declared: Lights added to NRHP in 1987 & 1988

Date of my visit: May 2007

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17 thoughts on “The Waters off Acadia National Park”

  7. Pingback: Bar Harbor Shore Path – National Parks USA

  8. Baburek

    Drove two times through “Acadian provinces” in Canadian Maritimes but haven’t been in Acadia National Park in the USA.

    If there’s a third Acadia road trip to happen for me I would start it at Acadia National Park (that’s how I stumbled upon your post – thanks!) and continue all the way to Louisiana.

    Reply
      1. Baburek

        Got hooked on the history of Acadian people and with that trip would make a full circle, more or less.

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