naturalist's notebook

I read all the reviews but when we went, I felt no lure? I guess I'm not very worldly even though I am very well traveled.

The Naturalist's Notebook seems to have taken a page from the TARDIS-- it's a lot bigger than it looks from the outside and is full of nooks and crannies that hold beautiful surprises. Be sure to look past the façade of books that take up the first room. Go to the sea room in the back (painted with local sea creatures), down to the prehistoric area, and up to the very colorful second story.

This little store in Northeast Harbor is like discovering a treasure chest of all kinds of things artistic, scientific, poetic and creative.

I’m not sure how this place can survive, but it was a cool store to visit. We visited the Annex in Northeast Harbor and it was a small, and apparently seasonal, shop that seems like it’s part museum, part bookstore, and part art supply store. It also offers a fun photo opp: a cabinet you can crawl into and pose with your head inside a bell jar under the caption “human specimen.” As another reviewer mentioned, I felt compelled to purchase something to support this place, although there was no external pressure to do so and it was easy to find something. There’s a lot of stuff crammed into a small store and it was fun to look around. I really wish we’d found the apparently larger main store.

It's so cute the way it is set up like a museum my five year old and 15 month old loved and loved being able to touch and use the stuff. They also have art classes for kids. Pretty awesome!

Like walking into your coolest science teacher who is married to your funky art teacher's work-in-progess idea of what a bookstore could be. Rooms in an old house colorfully turned into a section of the Dewey decimal system in the science section of the library. Felt like I owed buying a book as a thank you and to make sure they keep going. Easy to buy a book as there are only 10 to 15 titles per room. Nice section on Acadia, too. Stop here, visit the Seal Cove beach down the hill at low tide for great rock collecting.

We spent about an hour and a half poking around in this odd little shop on a rainy morning with our two teenage boys. It is like a shop that perhaps I imagine a huge science buff owns, as it is full of interesting science facts, displays, and hands on activities. I think 6- 10 year olds would really enjoy some of the items here. There is a lovely section on the island flora and fauna also. Definitely most unique shop I have ever been to!

This shop was so much fun to browse. Cards, games, art supplies, and natural science trinkets and projects. Great for unusual gifts and for children - we will definitely return.

Discovered this store off the beaten path when my daughter was younger and we still stop in when we visit the island. It's not only a bookstore and place for toys and gifts about the natural world, but also a bit of a museum with creative, educational displays lovingly crafted for all ages. Topics and merchandise cover anthropology, marine life, astronomy, the earth, sun, moon, the brain, endangered species and more. My daughter still has a beautifully illustrated animal encyclopedia from there. Enjoy exploring both levels and all the nooks and crannies.

So creative, great for kids, amazing selection of books and various gifts, all nature themed which is super for this deep breather/tree hugger! Also had a neat display of outer space, brain, and other teaching vignettes that were super.

My husband and I took our 12 and 8 year old daughters. We were there for almost 3 hours and could have stayed there longer. The girls did some activities and enjoyed the interactive displays on the moon, farms, the brain, the sun, the planets and more. My husband enjoyed browsing the book collections. This is quite a unique concept and I recommend a stop there. My daughters would love to go back. I would too.

If you are looking for a rainy day activity (or not..), this bookstore is a wonderful place to spend time. There are many books about science for children from the very young to high school age about biology, astronomy, geology, and other endeavors, presented in an orderly, easy to understand way.

For a truly unique and creative shopping experience, with a plethora of unusual gifts to choose from, and knowledgeable owners/proprietors - this place is a must!

We found this store just driving by. It is a wonderful place to visit. Lots and lots of books and such a variety of ideas on birds, fauna and even puzzles. I could go back and find things I had missed the first time. Definitely recommend a visit. Much more interesting than the tourist trap shops of Bar Harbor.

The Naturalist Notebook is well described by its owners as a shop and exploratorium. It's an immersive experience that excites humans of all ages. Given that the scope fo the Notebook is the entire history of the known universe, there is bound be something that connects with every person who comes in. I love wondering around and making discoveries on my own and seeing my travel companions engrossed with their own interests. Perhaps most wonderful of all are the shop's curators. Pamelia, Craig, Virginia, Eli, and Haley. Definitely strike up a conversation with them while you are in!