A Month of Fun: Tuesday, July 29
Go on a whale watch in Bar Harbor.
Go on a Whale Watch, Bar Harbor
Many visitors to Maine come to see the same creatures: puffins, moose, and seals. But these people are missing the boat, literally, if they don’t add whales to their tick-list. You can catch a whale-watch trip from several different locations along the coast, but one of our favorites is the three-and-a-half-hour trip offered by the Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company. The 112-foot-long catamaran, Friendship V, is one of the few boats that the U.S. Coast Guard allows to venture more than twenty miles from a harbor of safe refuge, giving captains even more freedom to search out the humpbacks, finbacks, and minke whales that use the currents off Mount Desert Island as a huge fast-food joint. The display that these deepwater leviathans put on is tremendous, whether they’re breaching clear out of the water or just showing you the unique markings on their twenty-foot-wide tails. On the way back to shore keep your eyes out for other wildlife, as you might spot seals, porpoises, and even a puffin or two if the sea is calm enough (do yourself a favor and stay outside in the fresh air, especially if you’re prone to seasickness). A new offering this summer is the evening cruise, allowing visitors to enjoy the whales as the sun sets over the hills of Acadia. 207-288-2386. www.barharborwhales.com
Views expressed in blogs are the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect either Down East's editorial stance or the views of Down East Enterprise. We ask that comments be civil; anyone who refuses to self edit runs the risk of being banned from commenting on Down East.com content.
Reader Comments:
I can't begin to express the glorious feelings I had during my trip out to sea, from Bar Harbor. Seeing the whales in their own territory,was so spiritual and simply mystifying. I'll never vacation anywhere else,other than the state of Maine.This was the third time that I traveled by car,to get to heaven on earth. One week stay wasn't nearly enough.
Fran from Maryland