Bar Harbor Adventure

It's an outstanding property! This is a real post and beam house that is built on a cliff. There's a water view from the upstairs... a private beach that faces east. It's a great place to sit in the morning and watch the sunrise. It  is located on about three acres of land. Although it's only a two-minute drive from the main road, it's extremely quiet. We saw lots of birds, a red fox, some chip monks that live under the stone stairs, and even caught sight of a few deer. It's only three-four miles from the center of Bar Harbor, and one mile from the Acadia National Park visitor center. If you're staying for five-seven days, it's worth the weekly rental price.

It has great food... the best desserts I have ever had in Maine and outstanding service. The atmosphere is very casual. Definitely call for a reservation (even if it's only an hour in advance). Otherwise there can be quite a wait. This is a local favorite... that should tell you something.

Bar Harbor Bike is the best place to rent a bike. It's close to the park entrance. We asked a few locals and this was the place that all recommended. We did check some other places out, but B.H. Bike seemed to have the highest quality bikes and the most savvy employees.

These guys were great. They're located in Southwest Harbor... only about 14 miles from downtown Bar Harbor (less than a 20-minute drive). They have their own private parking, so you don't have to be subjected to the unfriendly Bar Harbor 2-3 hour parking regulations. Not only did the reservation desk personnel, guides, and driver know about kayaking... but also they seemed to know all about the hiking, biking, restaurants, etc., and were able to make recommendations based on our needs and experience. We took their advice about several hikes and restaurants... and they were "spot on." Their sea kayak tours paddle on the quiet west coast of Mt. Desert Island. Our kayak guide was outstanding. These guys were recommended by National Geographic Explorer Mag... and the tour was fun, educational, and provided us with a chance to see the "wild coast" of Maine. We saw seals, eagles, and other interesting birds. Our break was taken on a beautiful deserted island. This is a great way to spend a half day. Even if you're not experienced kayakers (like us) you should have a great time. Don't be fooled into kayaking in Frenchman Bay (in Bar Harbor). It's a very busy harbor without much wild life.

This was our first sea kayak tour. We selected this tour because we saw it while walking through downtown Bar Harbor. The reservation clerk didn't seem to know much about kayaking, but we signed up anyway. Big mistake! The tour was in Frenchman Bay... busy, noisy, crowded, etc. The kayak guide didn't seem very interested in providing any information about what we were seeing. But, other than the onshore hotels and cars, we really didn't see much. We seemed to be dodging wakes from other power boats, and the wind and current made this a difficult experience. I wouldn't recommend these guys.