1. Main Stay Cottages
City: Winter Harbor, ME
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (207) 963-2601
Address: 66 Sargent St.
Description: On the way down to the Schoodic section of Acadia, these five cottages each offer guests a different experience. The 150-year-old Boathouse, for example, is one of the original structures in Winter Harbor, a small, weathered gray building on pilings right over the water. It offers views of Mark Island Light from the deck and a queen bed, kitchenette, and gas fireplace to keep you cozy inside. Ledgelawn Cottage is a more contemporary option, about 20 feet from the water, with one bedroom, a living room/kitchenette, and water views. For the best experience, though, reserve the Molasses Pond Cottage, which is down the road in Eastbrook, right on the water with its own private beach. It features two small bedrooms, a kitchenette, and endless entertainment in the Down East woods.
2. Grindstone Neck Golf Course
City: Winter Harbor, ME
Category: Golf
Telephone: (207) 963-7760
Address: 106 Grindstone Ave.
Description: There isn’t much unpleasant about this grindstone. Duffers have been whacking them here since the 1890s, when the rusticators used to summer in the exclusive enclave of Winter Harbor. Pause for a moment before you tee off, and you’ll see why they came—the scenery is extraordinary, looking out at the waves and islands of Frenchman Bay and the mountains of Acadia. Water is ever present. Par is 36 for 3,095 yards, and the course has a reputation as being fairly challenging, with tight bluegrass fairways. The fun begins each morning at sunrise, from early June through September, and tee times usually aren’t necessary.