Schoodic Point, the nearly three and a half square miles of Acadia National Park on the mainland, seems almost timeless and unchanging. The elemental beauty of this land has remained unspoiled only through a serendipitous mixture of effort and coincidence. Schoodic Point outpost actually began with the slow, steady development and settlement of heavy logging, farming, herding and fish processing. People and industries gradually abandoned the Point, and it nearly fell victim to extensive coastal cottage and resort development in the late 1800s. By several twists of fate, the land became preserved and integrated into Mount Desert Island's Acadia Park, which would soon be reshaped by John D. Rockefeller Jr. and the U.S. Navy. Join author Allen Workman as he charts a course through Schoodic Point's evolution, ecology, challenges and preservation.
“A thorough and engaging history of Maine’s rocky coast and its tough-minded people.”—Boston Herald “[A] well-researched and well-written cultural and ecological history of stubborn perseverance.”—USA Today For more than four hundred years the people of coastal Maine have clung to their rocky, wind-swept lands, resisting outsiders’ attempts to control them while harvesting the astonishing bounty of the Gulf of Maine. Today’s independent, self-sufficient lobstermen belong to the communities imbued with a European sense of ties between land and people, but threatened by the forces of homogenization spreading up the eastern seaboard. In the tradition of William Warner’s Beautiful Swimmers, veteran journalist Colin Woodard (author of American Character: A History of the Epic Struggle Between Individual Liberty and the Common Good) traces the history of the rugged fishing communities that dot the coast of Maine and the prized crustacean that has long provided their livelihood. Through forgotten wars and rebellions, and with a deep tradition of resistance to interference by people “from away,” Maine’s lobstermen have defended an earlier vision of America while defying the “tragedy of the commons”—the notion that people always overexploit their shared property. Instead, these icons of American individualism represent a rare example of true communal values and collaboration through grit, courage, and hard-won wisdom.
Acadia National Park is the most beautiful destination in Maine. This gorgeous, full-color travel guidebook reveals the highlights and hidden gems of both Acadia and Mount Desert Island. • The bestselling Acadia guidebook for two decades! • Over 400 five-star reviews for previous editions! Whatever your interests—hiking to the top of Cadillac Mountain, dining on fresh lobster in Bar Harbor, sailing past historic lighthouses — Acadia: The Complete Guide puts the best of Acadia at your fingertips. Beautiful color photos showcase the park's best destinations. Fascinating chapters on History,Geology, Ecology, and Wildlife reveal the story behind the scenery. Detailed color maps make travel planning easy. Written and photographed by Maine native James Kaiser, Acadia: The Complete Guide is the only guide you'll need.
Moon Travel Guides: Find Your Adventure Breathe in fresh coastal air, hike pine-filled trails, and discover a new kind of natural serenity with Moon Acadia National Park. Inside you'll find: Flexible, strategic itineraries for every season, from the best of Acadia in one day to a two-week road trip, designed for day hikers, campers, families, outdoor adventurers, and more The top experiences and unique ideas for exploring Acadia: Island-hop by sea kayak, see the tide surge at Thunder Hole, or embark on a whale-watching excursion. Pedal the park's famed carriage roads, ski fresh powder, or drive the scenic byways and admire the stunning fall foliage. Wiggle your toes in the warmth of Sand Beach, hike the rugged and remote Isle au Haut, or climb to the summit of Cadillac Mountain. Peruse the galleries in downtown Bar Harbor, take a dip in Echo Lake, and watch the sunset over a feast of freshly caught lobster Practical tips for hiking, cycling, kayaking, wildlife spotting, and more, plus essential packing and health and safety information Detailed hike descriptions with mileage, elevation gains, difficulty ratings, and trailhead directions Local insight from born-and-bred Mainer Hilary Nangle Honest advice on when to go and where to stay inside and outside the park, from forested campgrounds to historic inns Up-to-date information on park fees, passes, and reservations, plus strategies for getting to Acadia National Park Full-color, vibrant photos and detailed maps throughout Coverage of gateway towns, including Bay Harbor, Northeast and Seal Harbors, the Southwest Harbor, Tremont, and islands near Mount Desert Recommendations for families, seniors, visitors with disabilities, and traveling by RV Thorough background on Acadia's wildlife, terrain, culture, and history With Moon Acadia National Park's practical tips and local know-how, you can experience Acadia your way. Exploring the rest of Maine? Try Moon Maine or Moon Coastal Maine. Hitting the road? Check out Moon New England Road Trip. For full coverage of America's national parks, check out Moon USA National Parks: The Complete Guide to All 59 National Parks.
For more than twenty years, the Insiders’ Guide® series has been the essential source for in-depth travel and relocation information—from true insiders whose personal, practical perspective gives you everything you need to know. Boasting a cosmopolitan city and family vacation hot spots, as well as outlet shopping and a national park, the Maine Coast has it all. This authoritative guide takes you along the Pine Tree State’s magnificent coastline, from its beautiful sandy beaches and resort communities to its rocky cliffs and tiny fishing villages. Inside you'll find: • Countless details on how to live and thrive in the area, from the best shopping to the lowdown on real estate • Not-to-be-missed attractions, including the fantastic Marginal Way footpath between Perkins Cove and Ogunquit; the Portland Museum of Art; the outlets at Kittery and Freeport; and Portland Head Light • Comprehensive listings of restaurants, accommodations, and annual events • Sections dedicated to children and retirement
From inland peaks and forests to the bold and rocky shore, Maine provides habitat for more than 400 species of birds--roughly half of the species that can be found in all of North America. That wealth of birdlife, coupled with spectacular scenery, has ranked the state high on many birders' lists, and few have observed its loons and puffins, owls and eagles, more thoroughly than Liz and Jan Pierson and Peter Vickery. The Piersons, who have been birding together for more than twenty years, coauthored A Birder's Guide to the Coast of Maine in 1981. Deciding it was time to revise and expand the scope of that book, the Piersons spent two years in the field doing research and enlisted the help of another longtime Maine birder - avian ecologist and author Peter Vickery. The result is this fascinating and comprehensive new guide, which covers both coastal and inland areas of the state. Want to see a Willet? Need a Green Heron to cap off a bird list? Salt marshes are the place to look. Where are the best spots to watch hawks? Try York's Mt. Agamenticus or Popham Beach State Park. Broken down by region - from the waters of Biddeford Pool to the mountains of Baxter State Park - this handy book offers birders an in-depth look at the birds characteristic to the various ecosystems found in Maine. It also provides a timetable for birding as well as easy-to-follow directions to the best sites. An invaluable resource, A Birder's Guide to Maine deserves a spot next to the binoculars in any birder's backpack.
