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Real Planes Come to Bar Harbor Airport

This past week the MDI Islander newspaper reported that Colgan Air was introducing new, larger planes for routes between Boston’s Logan Airport and Bar Harbor Airport (BHB). ("Larger planes are now in service at airport") The larger 34 seat Saab turboprop planes replace the smaller 19 seat flights the airline has been operating.

The Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport (BHB) is located in Trenton, on the mainland side of the bridge that connects Bar Harbor with the rest of the state. The single runway airport’s terminal is reminiscent of the ‘80’s television show Wings. Car rental counters flank a single check-in desk and an almost non-existent security lane leading to the runway. The airport survives on the influx of private jets that makes the airport one of the busiest in the state for the summer months, fueling rumors among locals of everyone from John Travolta to Martha Stewart arriving in town.

Growing up, most flights I took left from Bangor International Airport, about an hour drive from downtown Bar Harbor. After moving to the Boston area I took advantage of flights to Bar Harbor on several occasions, typically for last minute situations when I needed to get home quickly. While the closer airport is more convenient than flying into Bangor, the 19 seater flights left little to be admired in the way of comfort. I remember flying up on a brutally cold January day several years ago. Prior to take off, the flight attendant carefully rearranged the three passengers on the turbo prop aircraft ensuring proper weight distribution. After a bumpy take off, I enjoyed a clear view along the entire coast of Maine, marveling at how cold the iced over bays appeared below me.

Most people consider the Bar Harbor and the Acadia region to be a driving destination. Clearly, driving along the coast of Maine is a highlight of any summer vacation. But Bar Harbor has emerged as an excellent car free destination. The free Island Explorer bus service provides regular connections between the airport and downtown. Once in town, tourists can use the Explorer for transportation throughout the Acadia National Park, including most popular hiking trails, beaches, and campgrounds on the island. Rent mountain bikes at one of several locations in town and you can spend a week exploring the park’s carriage paths without ever visiting a gas station.

It will be interesting to see if the introduction of largely planes will lead to an increase in passengers flying to Bar Harbor.

More Information and Resources:
The Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport (BHB)
Island Explorer
Maine Coastal Flight Center
Scenic Biplane & Glider Rides Over Bar Harbor

Fourth of July on the Coast of Maine

Small town life and a sense of community comes alive in Bar Harbor on the coast of Maine

Sirens approach from the distance. My wife and I hurry into the street, already filled with people rushing for a view. As we approach the corner, the steady thumping of a bass drum becomes audible as the annual Fourth of July parade approaches.

Nestled between the mountains of Acadia National Park and the rocky coast of Maine, Bar Harbor is an idyllic New England town. For most of the year, the village is a sleepy community of fewer than 3,000 residents. However, each summer, starting with the Fourth of July, the population swells to ten times the year-round population as day trippers and tourists flood the region to enjoy the festivities. Each year, my wife and I return to my hometown to join the excitement.

Day Trip: Rockport Massachusetts

Rockport Massachusetts offers an in-person view of classic images of the New England coast a short drive north of Boston

Covering the tip of Cape Ann, an hour north of Boston, Rockport is the definition of picturesque.  The coastal community has attracted a steady stream of artists since the mid 19th century when it was home to one of the original artist communities on the New England coast.  Generations of painters have made this stretch of rocky coast and worn fishing shacks icons that represent how many people imagine New England.  Today, the town has an gallery filled downtown along the town’s small harbor.

Escaping to the New England Coast

Enjoying the first warm day of the year in Marblehead on Boston’s North Shore

“I love the change of seasons.”  Each year New Englanders repeat the phrase ad nauseam in an effort to convince ourselves that the long winters are worth it.  But then, each year, there comes that first warm weekend day of the spring and the phrase seems truly justified.  Dressed in fleece pullovers and sandals everyone rushes to coastal towns for our annual first glimpses of the ocean.