Getting here:
From downtown Bar Harbor, look for the signs to Route 233. You will pass by the northern shore of Eagle Lake and the Park Headquarters. Route 233 terminates near Somes Sound. Continue on Route 198 and Route 102. Get a map for more details.

Description:
While driving along the Park Loop Road may seem adequate for most of visitors, if you have a day or two to spare, you can catch this scenic route that passes through rustic harbor towns, pristine lakes and green forests. About half of the journey passes through areas not designated as the national park, mainly because the existence of human settlements.

Towns like Somesville (at Somes Sound), Southwest Harbor and Bass Harbor are pretty much true-to-form of the coastal Maine. People may say that these are the real New England towns, unlike the more upmarket Bar Harbor. The people in this settlements probably do not rely as much on tourism brought by up Acadia National Park as they do toward maritime industry such lobstering and fishing.

My first stop was at Echo Lake which claims to be the only lake that is opened for public swimming. Nonetheless, in May, the water was still fairly cold but one could find peace and solace here along the tranquil lake shore.

Continuing my journey further south on Route 102, I passed through the fishing town of Southwest Harbor. At the end of this town, I took Route 102A southeast to Seawall. Here you can find the proverbial no-man's zone where specially adapted organisms live. The rock basins are located on a tidal zone - that means pockets of sea water are trapped in the many tide pools due to the level differences between low and high tides. It is almost like a natural aquarium where you can see marine animals thrive in their tiny world. I could see saltwater algae, small fish and sea snails going about their daily business.

A journey west on Route 102A from Seawall brought me to Bass Harbor Head lighthouse. This lighthouse is the only one on the proper landmass of Mount Desert Island. This lighthouse is located on the southernmost point of the island, a natural guidance for the incoming vessels. The other 3 lighthouses are on Bear Island, Baker Island and Egg Rock.