For over a century, residents and visitors in the MDI region have enjoyed warm, personal care and state-of-the-art services. Today, this hospital provides a wide range of acute and primary care, rehabilitation services and educational programs all driven by community wants and needs. A recently released study shows that MDI Hospital performs better than 97% of hospitals nationwide in the care of heart attack and heart failure patients, and above the national average or better in patient satisfaction categories.

Mount Desert Island is a fascinating part of the Maine coast, with a year-round population of about 10,000. MDI is home to the Jackson Laboratory, a nationally recognized genetics research facility. Tourism remains one of the largest industries, but boat building, fishing and aquaculture are also key components of the MDI economy. College of the Atlantic, a four-year accredited college, is based in Bar Harbor.

If you have never visited this unique island, you are in for a treat. MDI is a microcosm encompassing the sea, the mountains, old and new growth forests, hidden villages, fantastic shopping, an abundance of dining opportunities, and the kind of scenery that makes memories to last a lifetime. MDI has it all ... mountains to climb, trails to hike, carriage roads to walk or bike, lakes and ponds for most water sports and an ocean with some of the best sailing waters to be found anywhere. The lakes, rivers, and oceans are perfect for sailors, kayakers, and canoeists.

The appealing town of Southwest Harbor combines people and lifestyles in a mix that has become more and more common in Maine's coastal areas, with working fishermen and their lobster boats mooring next to boat builders (such as the renowned Hinckley Company in Southwest Harbor's Manset region) and yachtsmen. Many gracious inns and hotels, some more than 100 years old, evoke a grander past.

The nearby town of Bar Harbor, largest town on MDI, encompasses a whopping 45 square miles, and is home to 4500 residents. This quaint coastal community is recognized as one of Maine’s most popular tourist destinations, offering numerous eateries and inns, stunning harbors, famous lighthouses, and many seasonal events and activities. Don’t forget, this is also a great spot to get some of the world’s best lobster, fresh off the boat, and cooked to order!

Families can enjoy living in one of several beautiful and tranquil rural communities, either on or near Mount Desert Island, all with very good schools. Your residential options may include a historic Victorian home in town, a country farmhouse, or perhaps even building your own home on some vacant land nearby. Yes, it can be expensive to live on the ocean, but homes of all prices can be found in Down East Maine.

Education is something that is taken very seriously in Maine. You would have your choice between eight K-8 schools, after the eighth grade everyone attends Mount Dessert Island High School, one of the accredited schools in Maine. You can rest assured that no matter where a child goes to school in Maine, they are going to get an excellent education. The National Education Goals Panel ranked Maine as having the best education system in America.

MDI is about sixty minutes from Bangor, where you can easily access the many services and amenities of Maine’s second largest city. With a metro population of over 100,000 people, four colleges, a large shopping district, theatres and fine dining, a symphony orchestra, an international airport, and one of the highest rated children’s museums in the country, Bangor can meet your every need. Cultural distractions there are plentiful there, and in nearby Orono (just fifteen minutes north of Bangor), home to the flagship campus of the University of Maine System, with over 10,000 students.

Acadia National Park represents 41,000 acres adjacent to the rustic, rock-bound coast of Mount Desert Island, plus a portion of the Schoodic Peninsula on the mainland, and some offshore islands. Here, you will find granite cliffs side by side with sand and cobblestone beaches. Glacier-carved mountains rise from the sea, cupping deep lakes in their valleys. Here, too, are meadows and marshes and dense evergreen forests. Everywhere the ocean makes its presence felt, whether by sight, sound, or smell.

Acadia is the second most visited national park in the country, with 3 million visitors each year. Many come to enjoy the diverse terrain accessible by over fifty miles of groomed carriage roads (for walking, riding, and skiing) and another 100+ miles of hiking and biking trails. The park also manages over 27 miles of paved motor roads. Lakes, streams and ponds abound. Hikers and rock climbers come for the natural challenges. There are 26 mountains in this National Park, highlighted by Cadillac Mountain, with an altitude of 1,530 feet. From October to March, Cadillac Mountain is the first place in the United States where you can see the sun rise.

Visitors to MDI can spot deer, or an occasional moose, beaver, fox, eagle, hawk, or peregrine falcon. In fact, over 270 species of birds have been identified on Mount Desert Island and in the adjacent waters. MDI’s unusual ecosystem enables plant species from zones as diverse as the tundra to the New Jersey Coastal Plain to thrive. For 5000 years, people from the Wabanaki Indians through to the visitors of today have recognized and respected the special beauty of this place. Now, you have the opportunity to make Mount Desert Island your home!

Maine offers many fun-filled ways to spend your leisure time. In addition to some of the most spectacular downhill skiing in New England, you might enjoy other winter activities such as cross country skiing, snow shoeing, ice skating, ice fishing or snowmobiling. During the warm seasons, you can enjoy hiking or backpacking on nearby trails, or perhaps fishing or hunting, rock climbing, or golf! If you prefer something a little more tame, try antiquing, nature photography, or perhaps browsing through some of our quaint local museums. There is truly something for everyone, in every season.