What is There to do on Rainy Days?

No one wants it to rain on their vacation but let’s be real, this is Maine, it’s going to rain at some point!  If you find yourself with a rain filled day while staying at Acadia Yurts, there are still plenty of fun things to do…

1.      Visit our Wellness Center and Nurture Yourself Acadia Yurts has plenty of self-care options available for you such as massage therapy, an infrared sauna, float therapy or a yoga class.  If you see rain in your weekly forecast, think about scheduling ahead because many guests want to come in on rainy days!

2.      Borrow a Board Game/DVD/Puzzle from our RED Barn We provide these items, free of charge, so that you can entertain yourself during a rainy day.  We do not provide DVD players so you would need to bring a device/laptop with you.  Many families report they cannot remember the last time they played board games or put a puzzle together.  It’s fun and different from today’s norm.

3.      Drive the Park and Sightsee from the Comforts of Your Car Things get very quiet on rainy days but there is still plenty to see/experience.  Watch the waves crash on the rocks while driving to Park Loop Road or head to Schoodic Peninsula; a less traveled part of Acadia National Park about a 1-hour drive from here.  Consider taking a trip that way; it might not even be raining there!

4.      Art Waves – just a short drive away (about a 10-minutes), they offer a multitude of classes most days of the week with various mediums, topics, art, fitness and more.

5.      Head to the Atlantic Brewery and Mainely Meat get a brewery tour and taste some of MDI’s most popular beers.  Hungry?  Grab some delicious BBQ next door (Town Hill location).

6.      Go to a Museum

a.      Abbe Museum (Bar Harbor) – Native American

b.      Seal Cove Auto Museum (Seal Cove) – Antique Automobiles

c.       George B. Dorr Museum of Natural History (Bar Harbor) – Coastal Maine Wildlife

d.      Wendell Gilley Museum (Southwest Harbor) – Bird Carving

e.      Maine Discovery Museum (Bangor) – Children

7.      See a Movie – The Criterion Theatre & Reel Pizza Cinema are two wonderful, and distinctly different, options to see a movie in Bar Harbor.

8.      Chicken Barn in Ellsworth – it’s an enormous consignment shop on the far edge of Ellsworth with an entire floor of old books.  You could likely spend hours in this place and come home with something unique.  This is a quintessential Downeast Maine favorite.

9.      Window Shop our Local Boutiques – like many small towns, we have many talented artists, jewelers and craftsman/women.  Use this time to find that special something for that special someone.

10.  Have a Delicious Meal – stay in and make your own meal or taste test your way around the Island, sampling all the delectable treats Maine has to offer: Lobster, Clam Chowder, Crab Cakes, Fried Scallops, Halibut, Whoopie Pies, Blueberry Pie, etc.! 

11.  Relax and Rest – if your lives are like our lives, then you are constantly on the go.  We believe rain can be Mother Nature’s way of telling us to rest and relax.  Take these moments to slow down, grab a book from the RED barn lending library and chill.  Many guests report the rain on the yurt roof (or Tiny House tin roof) is calming and enjoyable.  Napping is also highly encouraged at Acadia Yurts 😉

These are just a few of the rainy-day activities that can be enjoyed while on Mount Desert Island.  If there are others you’ve discovered and would like to add to our list, then we’d be happy to hear them!

What Family Friendly Activities are there on MDI?

Acadia National Park is a very family friendly vacation destination and Acadia Yurts is too!  Here are some family friendly hikes/activities to consider during your time here.

1.      Diver Ed’s Dive in Theatre – Join Diver Ed aboard the Starfish Enterprise for the most entertaining and memorable experience of your Maine visit. This interactive, underwater (for Diver Ed, anyway) adventure is for all ages.

2.      Reel Pizza Movie Cinema – Dinner and a show at Reel Pizza.  Sit in comfortable chairs/couches with tables/tv-trays for pizza and watch one of today’s popular movies.  Check website for show times and films being shown.

3.      Junior Ranger Program – Many families have reported this was one of their child’s favorite activities during their trip.  Choose from courses like Wild Things or Super Sand Sleuths.  Visit the National Park website for more information.

4.      Take the Mailboat to the Surrounding Islands – Get out on the water and see MDI from a different view while exploring the nearby islands!  If you are heading that way, consider lunch/dinner at Islesford Dock Restaurant.  The Mailboat leaves from the Southwest Harbor & Northeast Harbor marinas.

5.      Tidepools – Visit Seal Cove Pond, Wonderland, Ships Harbor, Seawall, etc. to walk, explore the water’s edge, peak in the tidepools and see what’s living underneath the seaweed!

6.      Nature Cruises – Weather and season contingent but getting out on the water and learning about the critters is always a home run.  Tours include whale watches, nature cruises, puffin tours, etc.

7.      Camp Beech Cliff – They often have climbing wall hours available for both a family friendly and indoor option.

8.      Art Waves – Just a short drive away (about a 10-minutes), they offer a multitude of classes most days of the week with various mediums, topics, art, fitness and more.

9.      Register for Acadia Quest – Put on by the Friends of Acadia, Acadia Quest is a series of outdoor experiences in Acadia National Park that encourage youth to explore, learn, and protect national parks and other conserved lands and waters. Visit the ANP Welcome Center or the Friends of Acadia website for more information.

10.  Acadia Fun Park – Located on Route 3 in Trenton, the Fun Park features a ropes course, go karts, water slides, zip line, mini golf, an arcade and an aerial ropes course!  Fun will be had by all!

These are just a few of the family friendly activities that can be enjoyed while on Mount Desert Island.  If there are others you’ve discovered and would like to add to our list, then we’d be happy to hear them!