My husband and I started visiting the Bar Harbor region in 1986. We come back every couple of years, with our kids now, because we love the area so much. Each place we rent for the week has unique characteristics that make it different from the previous. Aspen Cabin is the perfect spot for those looking for peace and quiet. The cabin was extremely clean, very well appointed, and aesthetically pleasing. The views from the back of the house, of the pond (it is more like a small lake) and the mountains, are stunning, especially during sunset. There is a nice well maintained yard area with beautiful cinnamon ferns and evergreens bordering. There are only a handful of homes on this pond and the week we were there, none of them were occupied. We had the whole pond to ourself, heaven. During our stay we saw multiple porcupines on the drive in and out of the property, loons (their cry in the evening is magical), a bald eagle at the far side of the pond, and a very cheeky couple of squirrels who were annoyed by our presence, lol. This property is close to Schoodic Peninsula, but a little bit of a drive to Bar Harbor, so take that into account when planning your day. There is an 87 mile gravel multi-use/bike path, the Down East Sunrise Trail, not too far from the property that we biked a few days. We had our street bike and trike, so the going was a little rough, but the rides were beautiful. One direction we rode through some marshy bogs with osprey nests and beaver lodges. The other direction took us to a scenic old steel bridge crossing a beautiful river with small white water cataracts. The trail can be used by walkers, bike riders, horseback riders, and ATV riders. Hybrid or mountain bikes would be better for this trail. A few caveats about the cabin. First, it is a drive to get anywhere, that is why it is so wonderfully quiet and relaxing when on property. Second, the upstairs master is at the top of a steeper than normal staircase with shorter than normal treads and no banister to grab for the upper 1/3 of it. Some with mobility issues would find it difficult to navigate. The main level bedrooms would be a better choice. Third, this property is managed by Shasta, who was more than willing to help us with any issues we experienced during our stay. I can’t say enough about how nice it was to experience that level of commitment to making our stay comfortable.
