Obama, family take weekend getaway on Maine coast

TRENTON, Maine - President Barack Obama and his family visited the coast of Maine Friday for his latest getaway from the pressures of Washington, one day after getting a double-dose of good news from Congress and the Gulf of Mexico.

Obama, his wife Michelle, and daughters Malia and Sasha touched down at Bar Harbor airport in a smaller version of Air Force One and were greeted by Gov. John Baldacci and his wife, Karen. The Obamas' dog, Bo, and staff had arrived earlier on a separate plane.

The Obamas planned to stay through Sunday, with much time spent enjoying the beauty of Acadia National Park, including its hiking trails and scenic coastal views. No public events were planned.

Obama's latest getaway from the Washington bubble he regularly decries came a day after the Senate sent him a far-reaching new banking and consumer protection bill that had been one of the president's top domestic priorities since taking office. It also came a day after BP managed to cap the well that has been spewing oil into the Gulf since April.

Despite two wars and an economic collapse crowding his plate, Obama's taken comparatively little time off.

According to a tally kept by Mark Knoller, a CBS News reporter long recognized by the White House as authoritative on such matters, Obama has spent all or part of 65 days on vacation, including days at Camp David. At this point in his tenure, George W. Bush had logged 120 days. That included 13 trips to his Texas ranch.

That hasn't stopped critics from complaining. GOP chairman Michael Steele, for one, has been scathing - calling it incredible that Obama goes on golf outings while oil flows into the Gulf.

The White House dismisses such gripes.