One hundred and ten miles northeast from Portland, is reached by the
PORTLAND, BANGOR AND MACHIAS STEAMBOAT LINE, whose boats make connection
with the trains from Boston and the White Mountains. They are staunch
and seaworthy, and finely equipped; and the trip along the shore, past
the thrifty villages, and among the picturesque scenery, is full of
delights.
The island of Mount Desert lies quite near the mainland, with which
communication is had by means of a bridge which crosses at Trenton. In
shape, the island is quite irregular, and is about eighteen miles long
by twelve wide. It is nearly divided in two by Somes Sound, and its
shores on all sides are indented by picturesque bays and inlets. The
greater part of its surface is covered with mountain peaks, some
thirteen in number, the highest, Mt. Green, rising fully two thousand
feet above the sea. High up among these peaks are several beautiful
lakes, which, with the streams that flow from them, abound in trout.
[Illustration: BAR HARBOR, MOUNT DESERT ISLAND.]
The first landing point, approaching from Portland, is SOUTHWEST HARBOR.
Here are several excellent hotels, and the scenery in the vicinity, and
accessible by pleasant carriage drives, is beautiful and picturesque.
Green Mountain is reached from this point to good advantage by the
westerly slope, a carriage road leading to the summit, where a hotel is
located.
BAR HARBOR, fifteen miles beyond Southwest Harbor, is even more
picturesque and romantic in its location than the latter. The scenery
along the coast is bold and impressive, stupendous cliffs rising
abruptly to the height of several hundred feet. Bar Harbor is
plentifully supplied with hotels, and their facilities are often
utilized by the throngs of artists and pleasure-seekers who make summer
pilgrimages in search of the beautiful, the art galleries and studios of
the country testifying to the success of the former in transferring to
canvas the gems of scenery which have formed the basis of so many
studies and afforded so much delight.
In addition to the many “down-east” trips that may be made from
Portland, its nearness to some of the fine beaches of the Atlantic coast
is another of its attractions as an objective point for the tourist. Two
great railway lines connect Portland with Boston, and one or both of
them reach all the principal intervening seaside resorts.