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A Maine Vacation in Greenville (Moosehead Lake), Bar Harbor & Bangor
By Beth Hooe Gilbert
Published: August 21, 2009

Maine is a breathtaking state and in many ways some parts remind me of my home state of West Virginia. The Moosehead Lake region, for example has the same lush fir trees, beautiful mountains, and winding roads. Moosehead Lake is one of our favorite destinations when we vacation in Maine. The lake is spectacular and the flyers say it is "the biggest lake east of the Mississippi that is contained in just one state." It is definitely large. On the drive into Greenville, you can see the lake come to life as you top the hill that descends into Greenville, and it is a spectacular sight as it comes in to full view. Greenville has grown by leaps and bounds since we first discovered the well kept secret of Moosehead Lake. Not surprisingly, it seems to be a popular vacation destination for many now.

While in Moosehead, we enjoy renting a waterfront property and spend our days swimming and fishing. Most waterfront properties have a small pebble or sand beaches that are excellent for swimming, though the water is always a bit chilly when you first dip your toes from the pier! Never fear, the warm Maine days of summer make the chilly water feel refreshing. It's great to take out a small raft or inner tube and read or soak up the sun's rays. It is very relaxing and puts you even closer to the amazing loons that inhabit the lake.

It is so much fun if you are able to take or rent a boat on Moosehead Lake for the fishing. We always plan ahead and purchase our fishing license on-line and get an updated regulation book before we even arrive. There are few things more tranquil than floating on the lake watching the loons bob in and out as families of ducks swim by your fishing poles. If you do not have a boat, sitting on the shore or a dock is just as much fun and you can catch just as many fish. It seems that the majority of the fish that made it on to our hooks were trout and salmon, though we were told that there were many small mouth bass as well. I have also been told that the ice fishing is fun too. I have never had the pleasure of experiencing Maine in the winter, but I hope to do that some day very soon.

Aside from being on the waterfront, the town of Greenville offers many other outdoor activities such as biking, bird watching, and moose cruises. Greenville also offers a steamship tour of the lake that is very nice. The town ofGreenville itself is very charming with many quaint shops run by local merchants.

Just a short 126 miles (give or take) is the beautiful coastal town of Bar Harbor. It is about a 2 1/2 hour trip from Moosehead Lake and so worth the drive. It is busy, but old-fashioned in its charm and there is so much to do and see. My favorite thing about Bar Harbor is the fact that it's on the ocean. While in Bar Harbor, the whale and seal watching tours as well as the puffin cruises are a must see for us. We never miss the opportunity to visit and/or stay in Bar Harbor on our trips to Maine, and I am sure that in our brief stays we have yet to scratch the surface of all Bar Harbor has to offer.

Nestled next to Bar Harbor is Acadia National Park. The scenic drive through this park is incredible. There are many places to stop on the driving tour. Our favorite things to do there is to stop at the sandy beach for a swim and a hike. There are actually many places to stop and hike with views that will take your breath away. We found a wonderful place to stop where we could climb out and sit on the rocks and watch the local fishermen drop their lobster traps. It was something to see when they brought their traps back out of the water filled with lobster. The drive up Cadillac Mountain is a must see too. You really need more than one day in Acadia to truly appreciate everything it has to offer.

And finally, about an hour from Bar Harbor or an hour and half from Greenville we try and stop by Bangor. It is a lovely city and home to Stephen King. He has a beautiful house in the heart of the city. There are great restaurants and shopping. They also offer theaters, museums, mini golf (they have real golf too), and beautiful parks with hiking and waterfalls! The University of Maine is a short drive to Orono if you would like to see the attractive campus home to the University of Maine Black Bears!

No matter where you live and no matter your interests, Maine has so much to offer and even more to see. Its tranquility and beauty alone make it worth the drive, and every year that we venture north to revisit its beauty we see that the secret is getting out as many more vacationers make Maine their home away from home. Be kind on your visits and keep Maine the stunning paradise that it is and has always been.

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Copyright 2009. Beth Gilbert is a freelance writer. She loves the the outdoors and a good ghost story. She has been published in Ghost! Magazine, FATE Magazine, and is a 'Friendship Author' for Lifesgift. Ms. Gilbert is also currently writing a novel for young adults. She lives in West Virginia with her husband and two sons.