The Cadillac of Maine Mountains

Article and Photo By Eric H.

Cadillac Mountain, at Acadia National Park on Mt. Desert Island, Maine, isn't close to being the highest mountain in New England, but the experience of being there will bring your Maine travel experiences to new heights.

Only 1,532 ft. high, Cadillac Mountain could seemingly be slam-dunked by Boston Celtic Kevin Garnett, but its modest height is all you need to view the unusual mix of ocean and mountains that have made Mt. Desert Island and its prized jewel, Acadia National Park, so famous for its natural, spectacular scenery. Cadillac Mountain, in fact, is one of 17 mountains on Mt. Desert Island, and is the first place in the United States to view the sun rise from Oct. 7 through March 6, according to AcadiaMagic.com

At the opposite end of the day, the sun sets are truly magical -- many times with blazing orange skies gradually fading into a sense of quiet, nighttime Maine solitude. This time of the day brings out some of the best views of the mountains, Bar Harbor, and the Cranberry Islands -- it's like one of those paintings that seems too dramatic to be authentic. The day time brings some scenic splendor, too, as the ocean, the inland scenes and skies offer such deep color and personality that it makes you wonder if the places where we live are dulled by all the pollution.

If traveling to Acadia National Park, we highly recommend Cadillac Mountain as a "must-see." The drive up is about 3.5 miles and there are also hiking opportunities. Whatever mode you decide to arrive, Cadillac Mountain is an instant Maine memory!

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Reveling in Coastal Maine's Sounds of Silence

Article by Eric H.

Clifton Dock in Northeast Harbor, Maine, will never get press headlines as a tourist destination. It was never meant to be that way, thankfully, for those who are less interested in being a tourist and more interested in becoming part of the fabric of this region.

Clifton Dock -- a grand representation of pristine Mt. Desert Island near Adacia National Park -- offers one nothing more than a dock, Maine coastal water views, boats in the water, a weathered red bench and refreshing salt-sea air. If this scene could be translated to wealth, we'd be millionaires. Gone is the traffic, the souvenir shops, the expensive tourist attractions, the neanderthal six-pack crowds and people "who want to be seen" that many times impede the very reason we try to "get away': to attain some sense of peace and relaxation.

Just as an actor learns to play his part, there are travelers who become so ensconced in their role of visiting a new area that they consider these destinations part of their inner soul. Clifton Dock corrects our "travel set point" - that is, bringing us back to a place that was excitingly natural in our formative years and even more exciting now after years of over stimulation in our out-of-control, ever-growing suburban environment. This begs the question a wise friend once exclaimed: why do we say we're returning to civilization when this is civilization?

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