Admire the glorious sights of Frenchman Bay while paddling a kayak among the forested Porcupine Islands that lie just offshore. Your tandem kayak will be a breeze to maneuver, especially after a few helpful hints from the guide. Be sure to ask about the amusing mnemonic that makes it easy to remember the names of the five islands within the Porcupine archipelago, each of which has its own distinct features. The coast of Burnt Island looks like charcoal ashes, Long Island is the lengthiest and Bald Island was once deforested for grazing livestock. The guide will also provide enlightening commentary about the local geology, history and wildlife, which is considerable. You can expect to see harbor seals, porpoises, cormorants and bald eagles, whose giant stick nests can be seen high in the trees. Another highlight is viewing the opulent summer “cottages” on Frenchman Bay built by the likes of the Rockefellers, Carnegies and Vanderbilts.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Paddle a tandem kayak among the naturally beautiful Porcupine Islands in Frenchman Bay.
• Look for seals, porpoises and birds such as majestic bald eagles.
• Pass lavish “cottages” that wealthy industrialists built during the Gilded Age.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Follow a circuitous road through Mount Desert Island and stop along the way at breathtaking spots that inspired some of America’s most gifted 19th-century landscape painters. The road winds through stunningly beautiful Acadia National Park, which adherents of the Hudson River School art movement painted in a style that Romanticism heavily influenced. Acclaimed artists such as Thomas Cole, Thomas Moran and Frederic Edwin Church were all captivated by the natural wonders, which look much the same today as they did in their time. You will pause at Sieur de Monts Spring, the overlook at dramatic Schooner Head and at serene Jordan Pond, a sheltered glassy lake that ancient glaciers carved out of the landscape. You will also drop by precipitous Otter Cliff and Otter Cove, which offers sweeping views of the sea and inland. At each stop, the guide will provide entertaining anecdotes about the artists that captured these majestic landscapes on canvas.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Drive along the spectacularly scenic Park Loop Road that winds through Acadia National Park.
• Pause at naturally beautiful spots that inspired some of America’s greatest landscape painters.
• Stop at coastal viewpoints, an inland lake and precipitous seaside cliffs.
• Hear enlightening commentary about the artists that painted Mount Desert Island.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Hear enlightening commentary about the British overseas territory of Bermuda on a scenic drive to a resort in Somerset Village, where you will indulge in a traditional English tea. The British influence will be apparent most everywhere you go, beginning with the Royal Naval Dockyard. It was established as a British base of operations between Nova Scotia and the West Indies after the English were defeated in the American Revolution, and it was used militarily until abandoned in the 1980s. Bermuda’s first settlers were British – although they arrived inadvertently after being shipwrecked in 1609 – and the self-governing archipelago still follows a parliamentary system based on the United Kingdom’s. Heydon Chapel is perhaps the earliest reminder of England’s presence as it was built in 1620. You might contemplate all that you have seen and heard about Britain over a spot of tea, scones and cakes at the waterfront Willowbank resort.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Settle in for a wonderfully scenic drive and hear commentary that highlights the attractions.
• Recognize Britain’s deep influence in Bermuda, which is still a British overseas territory.
• Enjoy the quintessential English experience – a traditional tea with cakes and scones.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

See how Bar Harbor has changed over time by visiting key landmarks that tell the story, beginning with the intriguing exhibits at Abbe Museum, you will gain an understanding of the indigenous Wabanaki people, the fabulously rich who built Gilded Age mansions in the late 1880s and how the Fire of 1947 – which burned for nearly a month, often out of control – instigated the rebuilding of the city that stands today. To add texture to the story, you will also see some of the historical buildings that reflect different architectural trends, including the Art Deco-designed Criterion Theatre, the Victorian-style Shore Path Cottage and St. Saviour’s, a 19th-century American Shingle-style church that boasts the largest number of Tiffany stained-glass windows in Maine. Urban oases such as the Village Green and seaside Agamont Park have also been prominent elements in Bar Harbor’s layout, which pays homage to the past while embracing the future.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit landmarks that show how Bar Harbor has evolved over the centuries.
• Delve into Bar Harbor’s fascinating past by browsing Abbe Museum.
• Recognize how the architectural trends have changed since the opulent Gilded Age.
• See greenspaces that have played important roles in Bar Harbor’s history.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Enjoy a panoramic drive along Bermuda’s picturesque southern shore with stops along the way at the most alluring attractions. After crossing the world’s smallest drawbridge, you will travel past a lengthy nature reserve in surprisingly bucolic Somerset Village, around the Great Sound and on to Gibbs Hill Lighthouse. Climb the spiral staircase of this whitewashed beacon – the world’s oldest cast-iron lighthouse – and you will be treated to 360° views of southern Bermuda. As you will notice while pausing at some of the loveliest beaches that rim the southern shores, they feature pink sand. The magnificent pastel hue comes from a combination of white limestone sediment and red single-cell organisms called foraminifera. Pastels also dominate Hamilton, Bermuda’s winsome capital, especially along Front Street. The colors beautifully complement the harbor’s turquoise water. During free time in Hamilton, you might shop in the one-of-a-kind stores or simply meander about enjoying the stylish ambiance.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See the considerable highlights in southern Bermuda, both natural and manmade.
• Cross the world’s smallest drawbridge and stop at the world’s oldest cast-iron lighthouse.
• Pause on occasion to admire the naturally beautiful pink-sand beaches along the southern shores.
• Enjoy free time in Hamilton, Bermuda’s wonderfully traditional capital.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Bermuda’s ultimate all-inclusive, family-friendly catamaran experience! Join us onboard the Restless Native, Bermuda’s iconic pink catamaran for a day of adventure filled with sailing, snorkeling, sun and rum!

This tour has it all, sailing, swimming, snorkeling, paddle boards, kayaks, freshly baked cookies and bottomless Rum Swizzles! A great way to see the island from the water both above and below!

After a scenic sail we will drop anchor in a picturesque shallow cove with a nearby coral reef. Guests can then enjoy the bay however they see fit, swim, snorkel, explore by paddle board or kayak, hang out in the water on a swim noodle or just relax onboard and enjoy the sun! Throughout the tour the crew will be serving up bottomless Rum Swizzle drinks Bermuda’s signature cocktail as well as baking our famous fresh chocolate chip cookies directly onboard!

All of the guides are Bermudian born and raised and love sharing their insights with our guests! To top off this great day, while you are having fun, you are also helping others. A portion of your trip’s proceeds go toward cancer research, with contributions being made to the Bermuda Cancer & Health Centre. What a win-win for everyone! This is a beach site with limited snorkeling, which may be unavailable depending upon weather. Swim locations vary depending upon weather conditions. Guests should consider their physical fitness level and medical history when determining whether this tour is appropriate. Guests with cardiac conditions, asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, other heart or respiratory conditions or any other medical condition should take particular caution when selecting a tour with snorkeling/swimming elements.

Admire the natural beauty and charming villages along the “quiet side” of Mount Desert Island, which French explorer Samuel de Champlain named for its bare mountains. Not far out of Bar Harbor, you will enter Acadia National Park, the first national park created east of the Mississippi River. Be sure to look for birds along the way, as species ranging from bald eagles to scarlet tanagers live here. Ahead lie the palatial summer residences of Seal Harbor, the so-called “cottages” owned by the immensely wealthy. Northeast Harbor is another destination that is picture-perfect, especially with its many sailboats, yachts and lobster boats. You will be treated to a different waterfront perspective as you drive along Somes Sound, a deep lengthy waterway that an ancient glacier carved out of the landscape. Although not technically a fjord because its topography isn’t extremely vertical, the sound resembles the fjords commonly seen in Norway.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Behold the quaint villages on the island’s “quiet side.”
• See lavish summer “cottages” once owned by the likes of John D. Rockefeller.
• Look for wildlife in Acadia National Park.
• Drive along a sound that resembles a Norwegian fjord.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Snap selfies at the most photogenic spots in and around Bar Harbor, many of them iconic attractions that define the city. To ensure the best possible results, a selfie expert guide will offer tips so you can capture just the right angle, lighting and composition for every shot. Your pictures will be ideal for posting on social media and sharing in other ways.

As you walk and ride through Bar Harbor, you will pause at designated selfie stops that include:
• Otter Cliff.
• Jordan Pond
• Shore Path
• Village Green

HIGHLIGHTS

• Get ready to be blown away by the breathtaking views of Acadia National Park!
• Take inspiring selfies at the most photogenic attractions in Bar Harbor.
• Follow tips from your selfie expert guide to ensure the very best pictures.
• Learn the historical significance of the locales while enjoying their dramatic settings.
• Stand before precipitous Otter Cliff, a dramatic vertical wall of granite along the sea.
• Walk along the scenic Shore Path that hugs the rocky coastline.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Behold the natural beauty of Acadia National Park from atop Cadillac Mountain and the elegance of northern New England’s grandest Gilded Age mansion. Being the highest peak on the eastern shore of North America, Cadillac Mountain offers spectacular views of Bar Harbour and the islands just offshore. Tectonic and volcanic activity formed the mountain eons ago and until receding glaciers sheared off its top it was much higher. While taking in the panoramic views, you will learn about the area’s history and some of the most influential people that lived in Bar Harbour. Financier George Sullivan Bowdoin was among them and his 1903 La Rochelle is an extraordinary example of the opulence of the time. The 35-room residence sprawls over 13,000 square feet and features a grand wishbone staircase, intricate crown moldings and period furnishings. Your guided tour includes the rare privilege of viewing the third-floor servant quarters, followed by free time to explore further.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Follow a scenic road up Cadillac Mountain, the highest peak on North America’s east coast.
• Spend time exploring the summit and enjoying panoramic views of Bar Harbour and the islands.
• Tour the finest Gilded Age mansion in northern New England and explore it further on your own.
• Get a glimpse into the lifestyle of Bar Harbour’s ultra-wealthy, early 20th-century residents.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Drive the serpentine road that leads to the top of Cadillac Mountain and enjoy free time at the summit to take in the panoramic views. The mountain is the highest peak along the North Atlantic seaboard and the first place in the United States to see the sunrise from early October through early March. Its indigenous name – Wapuwoc – translates to “white mountain of the first light,” a reference to that distinction. As you ascend the mountain, the natural beauty of Acadia National Park will unfold. You will gaze out over pink granite cliffs and spruce woodlands. The higher you go the more spectacular the views, especially on a clear day. While walking about the summit, you will look out over Bar Harbour, the Porcupine Islands and Schoodic Peninsula. There is no better vantage point on Mount Desert Island. Later, you will enjoy magnificent views of the Victorian cottages and the Village Green in downtown Bar Harbor.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Follow a scenic road up Cadillac Mountain, the highest peak on North America’s east coast.
• Spend time exploring the summit and enjoying panoramic views of Bar Harbour and the islands.
• See some of Bar Harbour’s most historical landmarks while driving through town.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Enjoy beautiful views of Maine's famous rocky coastline as well as a visit to the charming coastal village of Kennebunkport, which gained worldwide exposure as the summer home of the Bush family. Located just 45 minutes from Portland, you’ll enjoy a scenic drive through Kennebunkport passing the stunning mansions that were built by wealthy sea captains and merchants in the 1700’s and 1800’s.

A stop will be made in the center of town at Dock Square to enjoy some free time to stroll the picturesque streets lined with shops, galleries, unique boutiques, antique stores, restaurants, and pubs. Your return route will take you past Walker's Point, and the Bush estate where world leaders often gathered when George H. Bush was president.

OVERVIEW

Visit several public gathering places downtown and come away with a better understanding of daily life and Portland’s heritage. The waterfront Cleeves and Tucker Memorial is a granite obelisk dedicated to Portland’s founding families and offers a historical perspective of the city, which was incorporated in 1786. Similarly, the bronze Our Lady of Victories statue in Monument Square honors the thousands of Portland soldiers and sailors that served in the Civil War. Being in the heart of downtown, the square is always bustling and a great place for people-watching. The ambiance at Lincoln Park is quite the opposite as this urban oasis is exceptionally tranquil. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its significance as a place of respite for downtown workers. Deering Oaks Park is equally serene and being much larger accommodates all sorts of recreational facilities. Even so, you can’t help but feel relaxed while walking its winding paths.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Behold a granite monument and a bronze statue that reflect Portland’s heritage.
• Pause at a downtown park that earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.
• Enjoy different perspectives of Portland: one at a serene park, the other in a busy square.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.