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Got the winter blues? Cabin fever setting in? Need to get out of the house and get the blood going?
Acadia National Park just might be the cure. Winter is a terrific time to take in the rugged beauty of Mount Desert Island. In fact, without the traffic and hordes of visitors that swarm the park during the peak season, Acadia becomes a peaceful getaway, allowing you to enjoy nature’s solitude.
As in the summer, there are a host of activities to be enjoyed there during the winter. Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, ice climbing and ice fishing are all possible. The park’s 45-mile carriage road system is suitable for the expert and novice cross-country skier.
A good place to start is the trails around Eagle Lake, which offer splendid views of the lake and surrounding hills and mountains. Once you’ve strapped on your skis or snowshoes and breathed in the rich pine air, head out on the trail and take an immediate left. Cross beneath the stone bridge and a view of Eagle Lake unfolds. Going straight or taking a left will put you on a trail skirting the shore.
Acadia’s beauty is heightened after a storm. The park is blanketed with fresh white snow, evergreens bow gracefully under their heavy load. At times, the only sound you will hear is the swooshing of your skis or the swashing of your snowshoes as you move along the trail. The silence is broken only by the occasional passer-by or the distant buzz of a snowmobile jetting across the lake.
If you have enough time, bring a thermos with hot chocolate or soup for a break at a scenic spot. Total distance around Eagle Lake is roughly 6 miles, which will take considerably less time on skis than with snowshoes. To finish the loop on snowshoes, it is best to start out earlier in the day, leaving yourself ample time and daylight. But if you find you can’t finish the loop, no worries, simply turn around and head back in the direction you came.
If You Go…
How to get there:
From Bangor, take Route 1A to Ellsworth and Route 3 through Trenton. Cross the Thompson Island Bridge, bear right and follow Route 198 to Somesville. At the gas station, continue left on Route 198 a short distance. Turn left on Route 233. The Eagle Lake parking lot is after the stone bridge on the left.
What to bring:
Warm layered clothing suitable for the weather conditions is a must, as is water and a snack. Bring extra socks and a change of clothing if you plan to go out afterward. A watch is helpful if you go later and need to gauge when sunset is.
Other activities in Acadia:
Snowmobiling and ice climbing also are allowed in specific areas of the park. Ice fishing is allowed on lakes and ponds with the correct licenses. For rules, regulations and further information on these activities, call Acadia National Park at 288-3338 or visit www.nps.gov/acadia/
Where to eat
Now that the fresh air and exercise have helped to restore your spirits, check out some of the fine area restaurants braving the winter. We decided to splurge on a meal at Cleonice Mediterranean Bistro on in Ellsworth. Cleonice is located at 112 Main St. down the street from The Grand Auditorium. Entrees range from $18.50 to $21. For reservations, call 664-7554 or visit www.cleonice.com.
Cleonice offers an eclectic mix of food from Italy, Greece, Turkey and Spain. Chef Rich Hanson uses locally produced ingredients that make his dishes truly delicious and unique.
The atmosphere is as unique as the food with its dark wood paneling, high ceiling and mirror-backed bar. After a day on the trails, this is a place to treat yourself to a glass of wine, beer or spirits paired with an order off the tapas menu, such as Spanikopita (Greek spinach pie) or the 4-Season Farm Spinach Salad with chevre, bacon, onions and toasted hazelnuts. These small dishes, which originated in Spain, can be ordered as appetizers or meals and range in price from $2.50 to $8.50.
If tapas alone aren’t enough, the dinner menu is teeming with fish, lamb and vegetable dishes sure to satisfy your palate. The Puttanseca cod filet is a tasty mix of cod, capers, olives, garlic and tomatoes and in this writer’s opinion goes well with a glass of Heineken beer.
Bon appetite.
Aaron Plourde can be reached at aplourde1979@yahoo.com.
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