Day 7 - Oceanarium and Bass Harbor Lighthouse

As we planned out our week, we knew today was going to be our wettest day.  The rain started the night before and was coming down pretty heavy through the early morning hours.  We planned to be up and going around 9 am, but it was hard to get motivated. Finally, it started to let up, so we headed out to the Oceanarium and Lobster Hatchery.  As we pulled in, we were a bit skeptical on what we would do here as the place looked like a small house with a couple other little buildings on the property.  Nothing special and quite honestly a little run down. But this place was hopping, people were showing up here looking for something to do indoors, so it was crowded.

I have to say we were pleasantly surprised.  They had a touch tank with several sea creatures (sea cucumbers, sea urchins, sea stars, horseshoe crabs and moon snails).  We also had a talk on lobsters and the laws that help protect them.  Apparently, Maine Lobsters are the only species of lobsters that have claws!  We also saw the lobster hatchery and learned about how they develop.  Lobsters can produce 3,000 - 6,000 eggs, but only 1% of them actually survive.

After lunch (and the USA vs. Germany soccer game), we tried to do a tour and tasting at the Atlantic Brewing Company, but again, because it was raining, the place was packed.  We had to either wait over an hour to get a tour or do something else.  So we decided to head back to the park Welcome Center to check out the Acadia video and pick up a few souvenirs.  Then we drove down to the Bass Harbor Lighthouse.  This lighthouse is still used by the Coast Guard and a family still occupies the house.  I can't imagine having random people walking all around my house all day, but that is exactly what these people experience in the summer.  We took a short trail down by the water and got a classic Acadia snapshot of the lighthouse.  Definitely worth the 30 minute drive to the southern end of the island.  Fortunately the weather wasn't too bad today and we were able to enjoy the awesome view.

The next day was supposed to be sunny and a perfect 77 degrees.  Looking forward to a fun day of hiking and kayaking and staying dry!

View of Bass Harbor Lighthouse from the rocks below it.