Set sail on the sea chasing whales; or just around Bar Harbor's Frenchman's Bay chasing sunsets on a 4-masted schooner. Play golf on the oldest course in the US. Shop 'till you drop in one of many galleries, antique stores and unique shops in downtown Bar Harbor, or dine in one of the area’s more than 50 restaurants offering everything from rustic lobster pounds to elegant 5-star quality fine dining.

The list of leisure time activities is endless.

Be in the heart of Acadia National Park, the crown jewel of Maine, and hike on one of the 120 miles of trails to the top of Cadillac Mountain, the tallest on the Eastern Seaboard. Be the first in the US to see the sun rise that day, or bike on more than 50 miles of carriage roads built at the turn of the century by John D. Rockefeller and dedicated to bikers, horseback riders walkers, and snowmobiles.

Aysgarth is located a short distance from Acadia National Park (use the free shuttle bus during the summer!), and is ideally located downtown in historic Bar Harbor to allow you to easily walk around and enjoy the island’s offerings. It’s near the Ferry to Nova Scotia, whale watching, deep sea fishing boats, scenic daytime and sunset cruises, puffin and dolphin cruises, kayaking, sailing, canoeing, biking, rock climbing, picnicking, walks along ocean beaches and lakes.

In town, there is an Art Deco movie theater, quaint craft shops, art, antiques, museums, and many gift shops. The waterfront bustles with shops, fishing boats, and is a frequent cruise ship port.

Autumn is the most spectacular season of the year. Luminous shades of red, orange, yellow, and brown replace the greens of summer as crowds dwindle and everything on the island becomes a little less hurried. Take a day for a hike in Acadia where you can sit upon a rocky mountain trail on a sunny and clear-blue day and eat a picnic lunch while enjoying the endless view of the ocean and the Maine coast. Take a scenic drive and watch the lobster fishermen go about their daily chores. Activity in Bar Harbor continues through October with far less rush than the summer months.

At night, sit on the deck, wrapped in a comfortable sweater, and look above for hours. The stars shine from above on crisp, cool nights, and you can enjoy the sounds of nearby Frenchman's Bay at Aysgarth.

Spend a Thanksgiving or a Christmas holiday at Aysgarth; or any other time you feel like making your visit to Bar Harbor a special occasion. Settle in with an enjoyable book and good friends, or take a walk on one of the park’s many carriage trails, within minutes of the cottage. Bring skis, skates, snowshoes, snowmobile, or take a drive around the island viewing all of its natural beauty in winter.

Just some of the activities available to you on the island and in the park

• Ocean Kayaking

• Hiking and Climbing

• Golf

• Skiing

• Horseback riding

• Bicycling

• Whale watch cruises

• See a movie in the Antique Art Deco Theatre

• Sample fare from one of the three area micro-breweries

• Puffin Cruises