Vacation like the Obamas in Maine

Rumors swirled for days about where the Obamas would stay in Maine. In the end, the first president to vacation on Mt. Desert Island in 100 years chose to be everyman instead of elite man on his July 16-18 family vacation. Here's how you can duplicate the Obamas' getaway:

STAY The Obamas stayed two nights at the Bar Harbor (Maine) Regency Holiday Inn (also called the Holiday Inn Sunspree Bar Harbor). The 278-room hotel is pretty standard - the fourth-floor Vanderbilt and Dupont suites have kitchens and elaborate Queen Anne furnishings ($300-$500 a night); an ocean-view room can go as low as $219 a night (207-288-9723, barharborregency.com).

EAT At Stewman's Downtown (207-288-0346, stewmanslobsterpound.com), the adults had lobster ($28) and the girls had shrimp baskets ($21). The first family also dined at Havana (207-288-2822, havanamaine.com), and the Claremont Hotel (800-244-5036, theclaremonthotel.com).

RIDE The Obamas toured Frenchman Bay in a noncommercial National Park Services boat. You can take a two-hour coastal sightseeing cruise from one of the many boat tours offered in Bar Harbor (about $27). Got more time? Do a whale-watch tour, which lasts about 4 hours.

SNACK At Mt. Desert Island Ice Cream, owner Linda Parker served Obama a single scoop of coconut ice cream ($3.75) and was promptly sold out of that flavor for the rest of the week, after tourists wanted a cone just like the president had (207-801-4006, mdiic.com).

TOUR The Obamas visited Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park, climbed the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, hiked near Southwest Harbor and rode bikes at Witch Hole Pond. You can do all these things except climb the lighthouse, which is a Coast Guard officer residence. Vehicle admission to the national park is $20. The Obamas didn't swim in the icy Atlantic off Sand Beach, but it's a must-do for many visitors.