That’s right, Lamoine just 30 minutes from Bar Harbor is the most affordable lodging in the Acadia area, beats all Mount Desert Island prices hands down. Ocean frontage with twice as much room as you’d get in Bar Harbor and a view of Cadillac Mountain just across Frenchman Bay.
Just yards from from the SeaCat’s Rest stairs lead to the beach where you can dig clams, pick up mussels, fish for mackerel or just stroll the beach. We have kayaks available and many guests kayak down to Lamoine State Park, which is just a short distance away.
Lamoine is so close to Acadia National Park but has yet to be discovered so come and visit us but only tell your friends. SSHHH 
Ya gotta stop at Sand Beach!
Sand Beach is a must when you visit Acadia National Park. If you don’t go for a swim you at least must stick you toes in the water. Big waves, beautiful vistas and huge boulders make this spot a popular attraction. There is a wonderful hiking path along the ridge next to the beach. Stay on the path though as there is some mighty poison ivy along the north shore. Plan to bring your pails and shovels. This is the only sandy ocean beach for 50 miles. Of course there are plenty of other beaches in and around the park. Fresh water swimming is available at Echo Lake in Acadia and right here in Lamoine we go to Blunts pond, just up the road. Look for the gravel road just before you can see the pond through the trees. Park and access at Bloomfield Park.
How does the lobster get to your plate? It takes dedicated lobstermen and lobsterwomen and many lobster pots to make a living. Right in front of SeaCat’s Rest there are lobster floats from at least 5 fishing folks. It’s a daily ritual as they go by, checking their traps and putting out new bait to catch this tasty seafood.
Locally in Maine you can get the soft shell lobsters at a good affordable price. This summer, roadside sellers were charging under $4/lb! These are lobsters with new shells and they don’t ship well, so we eat them here at home. Many seafood places around here will cook them for you.
If you are here at SeaCats’ Rest, we have a giant pot so that you can bring home the live lobsters and have a homemade feast. Throw in some seaweed from the shore for extra flavor – just like local restaurants do. Add mussels and clams from the local water and you have a seafood feast. Ask us how and we will be glad to teach you.
Today we took a fifty minute road trip to the Medieval Tournament at Fort Knox. Fort Knox, near Bucksport, is about the closest Maine gets to the ambiance of an old world castle, with its dry moat, sprawling battlements of native granite and high river bank placement. The first question any visitor asks is, “Is this where they keep the gold?” The answer is no. This Fort Knox, unlike the gold depository in Kentucky, was built in the mid 1800’s to safeguard the mighty Penobscot River from invading British Canadians. It is located across the river from the town of Bucksport, in the shadow of the new cable-stayed Penobscot Narrows Bridge. More can be learned about Fort Knox and the new bridge at the excellent Friends of Fort Knox website.
The Medieval Tournament was sponsored by the Friends of Fort Knox and the Society for Creative Anachronism, a wonderfully silly group of people who began in Berkeley, California in 1966, and who have the goal of recreating the Middle Ages through dress, music and activities. Think Monty Python and the Holy Grail. I had no idea there was such a group in Maine! In fact, there are four “shires” in Maine, Malagentia, Hadrian’s Keep, Endewearde and Smithwick. Fort Knox happens to be in the shire of Endewearde, the members of which were the primary organizers of the events.
Upon entering the fort grounds we were transported to a different time as we encountered a defender adjusting a giant crossbow. Never mind that it was built with a leaf spring from a truck and that it shot arrows rendered harmless with PVC pipe and foam rubber, those details are easily overlooked when we saw the fine wooden construction and the convincing dress of the adjustor. Just before the entrance to the fort were situated two large round tents. The inhabitants explained that the raw cotton swelled to become waterproof in the strongest of downpours, and that no other waterproofing was used. The interior furnishings appeared authentic and finely crafted. I was informed by a tent dweller of the definitions of the terms Middle Ages, Medieval and Renaissance and the time periods involved.
I noticed as I entered the fort that every SCA member wore a different costume. There appeared no common theme or slice of time; I later found out that each member is assigned (or perhaps chooses) a specific date and location within medieval Europe to research and create the proper dress from. Members therefore must become proficient garment makers and most work hard to use authentic materials like linen and cowhide. One member confessed that in reality most people of the era were given a tunic as a baby and added strips of cloth as they grew. By the time they were adults they were often dressed in rags as linen was so expensive. The SCA members clearly avoided the rag look and were proud of their garments. A fashion show later in the day gave them a chance to show them off and explain their research.
Under the ramparts were tables exhibiting battle gear, food of the era, musical instruments and personal possessions. None of these tables had things for sale, a nice break from the usual festival. This was really a labor of love! I can’t remember a single pitch for money besides the parking fee. Still, it would have been nice to have a snack or a drink…
The rest of our visit revolved around listening to music groups, watching dance demonstrations, archery, spirited swordplay and other duels and combat. The combat involved men and boys dressed in armor whacking at each other with swords and quarterstaffs. This created quite a din and some minor injuries occurred! It was apparently judged, with winners and losers, but it was all in good fun. It’s a good idea to bring folding chairs. Fortunately the weather was stunning, as it often is in September in Maine.
This event was great fun and while not under-attended, it was definitely not crowded. Some of the visitors even got into the spirit by dressing in unusual, if not authentic garments and a wide range of ages were present. An added bonus would be a trip to the top of the bridge’s observatory, which is open from 9 AM to 5 PM and costs an extra $2-$2.50 beyond the Fort Knox admission, which is $3 for Maine residents and $4.50 for non-residents. Parking for both can be found by taking a sharp left before crossing the bridge from the west (Belfast) side or right after crossing from the Bucksport side.
Today the Common Ground Fair starts, and the
big news is there will be organic coffee. Well known for featuring only Maine food, the fair has forbidden coffee being served at the fair because – well, you cannot grow coffee in Maine. However, this year, they have bowed to the pressure of the crowd, and it will be available. Also new they will not be selling bottled water. The water at the fair is great to drink – so bring your own container!!!
As always, the fair strives to totally recycle as much as possible, so, be prepared to minimize your footprint on the planet – bring your own bags to carry your new treasures and enjoy the wonderful handmade crafts, exhibits and organic products made on Maine Farms. My favorite is the fiber goods, warm hats and mittens for the next season. See the Lama and Alpaca and cashmere goats. The fair website is the best place to check out the schedule. This is a wonderful event for all age groups.
Don’t forget the animals – poultry, rabbits, sheep, horses, goats, cows and of course the “boarder collie sheep herding” competition. Our daughter grew up attending this fair and it sparked an interest in how things are made. She ended up learning how to spin yarn, knit and crochet even though we lacked those skills. The fiber producers at this fair are amazing. It’s part of growing up in Maine and it’s part of the creative economy.
Chuck Weber moved to Lamoine
from Pennsylvania to escape the heat, too-long growing season and real estate developers. Here he has become our local grower and purveyor of organic produce, which is certified by MOFGA, the Maine Organic Farmers and Growers Association. His favorite word about what he does is respect. Respect for the environment and the consumer.
This doesn’t mean Chuck can’t get a little riled, like July of ’09 when he suffered through a month of rain only to have a moose get tangled in his electric fence, and a bear tear through his struggling strawberry patch on the same night. Four greenhouses help to extend the season and manage the weather uncertainty, so he usually has greens when there’s snow on the ground. He’s the guy to get your non-big box vegetable plantings from in the spring and his potted flowers sell out quickly. I know Chuck always has something interesting growing like Czech black peppers or dinosaur kale, but he’s reluctant to give a detailed list of what he grows; it’s always changing. He almost always has heirloom tomatoes, green beans, and cucumbers in the summer, strawberries in the late spring, broccoli, beets and Brussels sprouts in the fall. Leeks are a passion, and greens are almost always growing.
Chuck hasn’t time to sit in front of the computer, so if you want to buy his produce, call in an order. He often parks a farm wagon at the Grange Hall parking lot at Lamoine Corner (where Rt. 184 makes a sharp turn) where he sells produce on the honor system. Chuck’s veggies can also be found right in Bar Harbor at the Reel Pizza parking lot, 33 Kennebec Place. There you will find the Bar Harbor Green Market on Wednesdays from 9 am to 1 pm from May 21st to October 29th. He welcomes calls at (207) 667-7081, and will prepare your order for pick up.
Looking for good food near Acadia National Park in Maine?
Featuring local foods is a specialty for many of Bar Harbor restaurants. Havana, Red Sky, Mache, Asticou Inn all feature local foods on their menu. Local food is a great option: fresh taste, high nutrition, low carbon footprint. All good for the planet and you.
If you are camping out or staying where you can cook your own meals you can find great local foods at farmers markets, local food markets such as the Blue Hill Coop, Alternative Market in Bar Harbor, John Edwards Market in Ellsworth, A&B Naturals in Bar Harbor, Sawyers Market in Southwest Harbor and Pine Tree Market in Northeast Harbor. Local food is affordable and fresh. Seek food in season for the best bargains. And don’t forget the many fresh seafood markets!
Maine schools have joined together with local farmers to supply schools with local foods. Mount Desert Elementary, MDI High School, Lamoine Consolidated School, Deer Isle Stonington High School, and the College of the Atlantic all get food from nearby growers.
Take home some local foods like jams and jellies to help you remember your vacation all winter long.
According to DownEast Magazine reader’s poll, we have three of the most beautiful harbors right here in Acadia. Bar Harbor, Southwest Harbor and Northeast Harbor all showed up in the top ten according to the magazine-number two, five and six respectively.. Make sure you get to all three spots during your stay. Filled with sailing vessels old and new and the working boats of the waterfront, these beautiful vistas will be among your most remembered.
Also on the list, two harbors within a days driving list – Winter Harbor, number nine (on the Schoodic Peninsula – part of Acadia National Park) and Camden Harbor – which came out as the number one Harbor in the state. As a side trip, think about visiting the international film festival in Camden Maine. It starts on October 1, through October 4th. Show casing the best in non-fiction film, the festival is in it’s fifth year. More information on schedule and times can be found at www.camdenfilmfest.org.
Along route 1, Camden Maine is worth a visit just for the harbor view. Make sure you visit the top of Mt. Battey on your way down to Camden. You have to see the view from the tower at the top. It’s incredible. Alright, it’s very walkable too in a few hours, but if time is an issue, you can drive up too. Afterwords it’s worth the drive across route one to walk the shore-line. Stroll along Camden harbor to the park on the south edge. I think it’s the harbors south east orientation that provides a special light for the harbor.
