Carriage Rides in Acadia National Park, a trip into the past
Written: Aug 28 '03 (Updated Sep 24 '08)
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Pros: A feel of what the good ol days of horse and carriage was like.
Cons: Can get a bit pricey for a family.
The Bottom Line: This is something everyone should try at least once in their lives. It was a relaxing ride through beautiful terraine.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: Horse Stabling and Carriage Tours in Acadia |
For many years my wife and family have been enjoying all Acadia National Park and nearby Bar Harbor have to offer.
A BIT OF BACKGROUND
Much of what is now Acadia National Park was owned by the Rockefellers and other wealthy people of the time. The same was true of Bar Harbor in the late 1800's and until 1947 as it was the place where the rich and famous had their summer "Cottages". A major fire in 1947 destroyed many of these huge homes.
One of the ways people traveled at the time was with horse and carriage. To ride through the beautiful grounds of what was then private and later public lands was one of the "things to do" at the time.
A GIFT
Fortunately for us, most of the landscape in the park remains the same as it did in those days of long ago. We are also very fortunate as to the forsite and gift from John D Rockefeller Jr and other family members. I also read that George B Dorr a man who greatly influenced how the park lands were to be taken over from private ownership and made into public lands was also instrumental in the carriage paths. One of the Mountains on the island is named after him. Dorr Mountain. Another gentleman by the name of Charles W. Elliot was also very involved.
Rockefeller knew that the days of the horse and carriage were over and that future generations would never have the experience of riding this way. He and other family members, as a gift to all of us, started building carriage roads and granite bridges through what was to become Acadia National Park. The construction started in 1913 and continued till 1940. In a Bar Harbor, Maine destination give away magazine I read that "these roads are considered the best examples of broken stone roads in America today. The 16-foot-wide road surfaces include three layers of rock, stone culverts, wide ditches, and 6-to-8 inch crown built to survive Maine's weather extremes and provide extra drainage".
The paths I traveled on were obviously well maintained. You could see the attention that was given to how the path followed natural lay of the land and incorporated grand views too. It was said that John D personally helped in the work at times. It was a very special project to him.
This gift can be experienced through carriage rides that continue on the same paths he built.
WILDWOOD STABLES
Just off the Park Loop Road near Jordan Pond and the Jordan Pond House are the Wildwood Stables. This is where arrangements can be made for the rides and is also where they depart from. Reservations are recommended, but can be done over the phone.
The complete name of the business is Carriages in the Park-Acadia National Park's Wildwood Stables. This is actually now run as a concession of the Department of Interiors, National Park Service.
Just park your car or RV and look at the barn area and stables. Most of this was also built by Rockefeller. We are reminded of this through a series of old pictures in the office area. Take time to study some of these pictures. I found them interesting. The people there are also very knowledgeable about the stables. They know their history and also their horses.
We signed up a day before. We saw a group just coming off a ride. I heard one woman saying that her driver/guide was excellent and full of information. We hoped for the same.
The grounds are lovely and very well kept, however,you can't go into the barn area. Years ago we could. more on that in a bit.
There are rest rooms available. There was no food or snacks there.
Wildwood Stables also boards horses. I didn't get any info on that at all.
PRICES and TOURS
Day Loop Tour
There are a few different options available for the rides. We took the shortest, ha, and least expensive. This was the Day Mountain Loop Tour that lasted one hour. Prices were
adults 13-61 $16.00
62 and up $15.00
Children 6-12 $8.00
and Children 2-5 $4.50
This ride goes out three times per day. 11:00AM-2:00PM and 3:45PM
Other Tours
Two other tours were the same price. One was the Bridges Tour and the other The Sunset Ride to Top of Day Mountain. These have you out for about two hours.
The first takes you around to see some of the 16 different and all unique granite bridges. It also stops at one of them giving a little free time for pictures and exploring.
This leaves at 9:30 AM
The sunset Tour leaves at different times due to changing sunset times. I can safely tell you that it takes place in the very late afternoon or early evening. I think I may have really gone out on a limb with that info.
This ride that goes to the summit of Day Mountain makes a stop up there for the magic moment of sunset and photo taking.
The prices for these two tours
Adults 13-61 $22.00
62 and up $21.00
Children 6-12 $9.00
Children 2-5 $6.00
Two Hour Jordan Pond House Tour
Now I didn't pay much attention to this one at the time but in hind site I think it's a great one and the one I should have taken.
This tour takes you along the carriage roads to the famous Jordan Pond House. This is a must stop for anybody visiting the Acadia/Bar Harbor area. They are noted for their afternoon Tea and Popovers on the lawn or in the restaurant. We make a point of doing this every time we visit the area. It is a charming and, I might add, delicious way to spend an hour or so. This tradition has been going on long before we joined it. The restaurant opened in 1889 and aside from a devastating fire in the 1970's has continued on through all these years.
This combination carriage ride and tea and popovers is the "perfect fit".
The price of the carriage ride does not include the restaurant bill, however, seating is prearranged. I hope to write a review of the Jordan Pond House soon. I am just waiting for it to be entered into the Epinions data base. Hopefully, that will happen very soon. I will give some prices for the restaurant then. If you can order the Lobster Stew, do it! It is absolutely one of the most heavenly tastes you can imagine.
OUR TOUR
We opted for the 11:00AM ride. The carriages can carry up to 14 people. We had 12 in ours.
I don't know how the seating is arranged but somehow we were the first called and got the very front seats. Our two girls 14 and 16 rode in the front seat with the driver. My wife drove one of my daughters crazy trying to get a perfect picture of my daughters pony tail and the horses tails.
It is a bit of a step up to the carriage. Most people had no problem.
Just a quick note. Wheelchair accessible carriages are available. You must call ahead.
After all were aboard we set out onto the paths. This is a very quiet, aside from the horse hooves and wagon wheels, ride. To my surprise our driver didn't say a word unless we asked him a question. He was a very friendly fellow who was actually driving his own personal animals, two Belgium horses.
We did find out the horses weighed in at nearly 1600 pounds and they were pulling two tons of weight! Hey I hope he didn't mean I was that extra weight?!
The ride went through mostly fir and spruce forests. It was relaxing just moving along. I don't know how excited my kids were, but my wife and I enjoyed the hour very much.
The driver stopped a couple of times along the road and gave the horses a break. They go out three times per day with a couple of hours off to feed, water, and rest.
I was disappointed in that we did not get any commentary. None of the brochures say you will get any and I suppose it may be difficult with the noise and the distance from the people in the back to the driver. I did remember the woman from the day before saying how interesting her driver was though.
I am happy I took the ride, I probably won't run out to do it again soon, however, I do advise trying it. It certainly can take you back in time. There was a moment on the ride when the people behind us started singing an old folk tune. I enjoyed hearing their voices and seeing the forest around me.
We did get a couple of peeks of the ocean. There really were not any views of vistas on this ride. The sunset one does promise that.
OTHER OPTIONS
For some serious prices you can have private carriage rides for couples and small groups. Different hours, lengths of rides, and paths are offered.
No HORSEBACK RIDING
These stables do not offer any horseback riding. Many people walked away disappointed after asking. I remember when we first used to come to the park it was available.
They also had a pony at the time that they saddled up and we could take to an open area and take our son for rides. That was our first son. He is now 28 years old and married five years. He and his wife chose Acadia National Park as their destination for their honeymoon.
Acadia National Park is awesome! Take a couple of hours out of your day, step back in time, and see it as others did years ago.
other reviews in Maine by popsrocks
Bar Harbor What a great seaside town!!
Acadia National Park My favorite place in the world!
Carriage Rides in Acadia National Park
Whale Watching from Bar Harbor
MAINE, great coastal towns and so much more.
other places of interest by popsrocks
NEW YORK CITY
US VIRGIN ISLANDS
National Parks Passports
http://www.epinions.com/content_76095131268
National Parks System
http://www.epinions.com/content_2708004484
Everglades National Parks http://www.epinions.com/content_75027549828
Grand Canyon National Park http://www.epinions.com/content_77646302852
Bryce Canyon National Parks http://www.epinions.com/content_77562220164
Recommended:
Yes
Tour type: Group
Tour length: One Hour
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