Nov
08
What should we do in Bar Harbor, Maine on Mount Desert Island near Acadia National Park on our vacation?
By
We are going this late spring or early summer.
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4 Comments
November 8th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Try tripadvisor. com, a free site for more info. on Bar Harbor, Maine. Just type that into the search box there and you will find reviews for hotels, attractions, and restaurants in the area. You can even leave your own reviews when you get back. Good luck.
November 8th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
The first thing you must do is to try sea kayaking. It is absolutely beautiful and the only way to get really close to the coastal islands.
I suggest going with Acadia Park Kayak Tours. We have been out with them and a few other companies in the area, including most of the ones in Bar Harbor, and they they are our favorites by far. They limit their group sizes to six people or less. All the other outfitters will take at least twelve and maybe even more making it more like a cattle drive and less like a tour. We also felt the most comfortable and stable in their boats. Check out their website at http://www.acadiaparkkayak.com
You should check out the Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor. It is the only museum in Maine that focuses on Maine’s native American history and has great exhibits. Last summer it had a newly built birch bark canoe on display.
Our favorite places to eat are Eden Vegetarian Cafe and Cafe This Way. Both of these places will blow you away. Eden uses only local and organic produce and Cafe this Way uses mostly local and organic produce as well. Don’t worry about having to be a vegetarian. Cafe This way has chicken and and fish dishes and the food at Eden will make anyone a fan of vegetarian food.
The island is littered with bad overpriced ice cream stores. just because the ice cream store has a big flashy store front on Maine street doesn’t mean its great ice cream. The best ice cream on the island is also the cheapest. Check out the two small locations of Mount Desert Island Ice cream.
If you are in town on Wednesday or Sunday morning check out the farmers markets. It is in the YMCA parking lot on Sunday and in the Reel Pizza parking lot by the town green on Wednesday.
Be sure to check out all of the great free ranger led programs in the park. You can pick up a schedule of them in the free park newspaper or see the same schedule on the park’s website.
There is more great hiking in the park than you will be able to do but don’t miss out on hiking up Beehive Mountain or up Dorr Mountain. There is a lake on the summit of the Beehive and Most of the hike up Dorr is lined by beautiful granite steps.
I am sure you won’t be able to miss sand beach or thunder hole because everyone will tell you to go see them but just in case you also heard it here.
On you way into Bar Harbor you may want to check out Bird’sacre wildlife sanctuary in Ellsworth on route 3. This is one of those gems that most people miss because it is not widely advertised.
November 8th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
i agree with the sea kayak tour–you’ll see seals, eagles, mountain views, etc…
drive the Park Loop Road around Acadia
rent bikes and go on the carriage trails (you’ll know what they are)
stay away from the whale watches –the seas are too rough and you NEVER see whales (i know from experience)
-i would suggest doing a Puffin/ lighthouse combo tour (puffins are atlantic sea penguins that live on an island off acadia
–go to the bar Harbor Whale Museam or to the Mt Desert Oceanarium on the rainy days (there will be plenty of rainy days)
–do a local microbrewery tour on the rainy afternoons
–do a hike in acadia (my favorites are Sargent Mountain, Flying Mountain but there are many others)
…this should keep you busy for awhile
November 9th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
I agree with Bub regarding tripadvisor.com. I have found it to be an invaluable resource on two recent vacations in Maine and one oversees.
As for what to do in Bar Harbor, along with the other great suggestions, I can’t rave enough about my experience this past summer in watching the sunrise on Cadillac Mountain. One word of advice – something that never, ever occurred to me until I was on top of the mountain in total pre-dawn darkness – bring a flashlight. You will need one as you climb over the rocks, looking for the perfect perch from which to watch the sunrise. I have a few photos on my site if you are interested; just click the Cadillac Mountain link on the NavBar.