Local FlavorDon’t pronounce it, "Bah-ha-bah" unless you are actually from Maine. The natives don’t find it funny. As John Steinbeck reported in Travels with Charley, they may even give you faulty directions to get even. Only 5,000 people live in Bar Harbor, but the town…Read More

Local Flavor
Don’t pronounce it, "Bah-ha-bah" unless you are actually from Maine. The natives don’t find it funny. As John Steinbeck reported in Travels with Charley, they may even give you faulty directions to get even.

Only 5,000 people live in Bar Harbor, but the town swells with fair weather visitors. No surprise, the town formerly known as Paradise claims Eden as its main street and thrives on the tourist trade. Peeking into Bar Harbor’s shops and restaurants it’s obvious that cosmopolitan visitors influence the sophisticated selection of goods and services here. Still, the lingering memory of Rusticators, early vacationers content to take a room in a good natured home when hotels were non-existent, managed to leave the area with an aura of relaxed elegance even by today‘s standards.

It would be difficult to be stuffy in Maine where lobster fishermen, shipbuilders and locals run the show in the shadow of glorious, Cadillac Mountain. Acadia National Park’s rugged, unspoiled landscape simply wouldn’t accommodate pretense and Bar Harbor obviously won’t tolerate chain outlets, tacky t-shirts or franchises. This careful stewardship results in an environment that seems to have popped out of an idyllic past, landing intact and authentic in the twenty-first century.

Where in the World?
Bar Harbor is located off Maine‘s craggy southern coast on Mount Desert Island, of which Acadia National Park comprises about half its acreage. Former rusticator, John D. Rockefeller, Jr., purchased 11,000 acres of land on the island and between 1915-1940 oversaw the building of the famed "carriage roads" offering 57 miles of vehicular-free stone roadways for bikes, snowmobiles, hikers and carriages. Rockefeller subsequently bequeathed the land and its amenities to the park services and encouraged many of his wealthy neighbors, Morgans, Fords, Vanderbilts, Carnegies, to do the same. Now millions of visitors annually enjoy the National Park Services’ gem in the ocean, the furthest most eastern point in the United States and the highest point on the Atlantic coast north of Rio.

History
If Maine seems a bit different from the rest of New England, it could be due to the fact the area came close to being called New France. In 1604 Samuel de Champlain explored the region finding native inhabitants who had successfully fished, farmed and crafted birch canoes for some 6,000 years prior to his arrival.

Long before the landing at Plymouth Rock, a European settlement was established at the mouth of the Maine’s Kennebec River in 1607. However, the timing was unfavorable and a particularly harsh winter forced colonists to retreat the following year. Undaunted, French Jesuit missionaries jumped onboard, heeding the call to spread the holy word in the wild, and in 1613 established the first French mission in the New World. It was destroyed by the British shortly afterward.

Over the next 100+ years, territorial disputes between England and France made the area in-between undesirable for settlement. A veritable Gaza strip, only Antoine Laumet, who had ambitiously given himself the title Sieur de la Mothe Cadillac, seized opportunity by taking land no one else seemed to want in hopes of building a grand estate on the glorious granite dome of Mount Desert. He and his wife lasted only a short time in the conflict-riddled lands before moving on to found the city of Detroit. Hence, his name became synonymous with luxury vehicles and the highest peak on the eastern seaboard, Cadillac Mountain.

Following the American Revolution, settlers poured into the resource rich area and prospered. In the mid 1800’s painters from the Hudson River School glorified the local landscapes, resulting in a bourgeoning tourist business as people flocked to the area’s natural beauty. During the "gilded age" Bar Harbor, like Newport, offered summer seaside pleasures for the well-to-do during an unparalleled age of opulence and ostentation not to be experienced again. The stock market crash of 1929 brought the party to an end and the fire of 1947 rang a death toll to the homes of the lavish past when most of the grand "cottages" burned to the ground. As a result, Acadia National Park seems even more remote and unspoiled today.

Love at First Sight
I first traveled to Acadia Park in the late ‘80’s and hiked the 7K trail to the top of Cadillac Mountain during an unseemly hot spell. The views of thousands of islands speckling Maine’s rugged, craggy seacoast, of great granite boulders and tall timberlands, were strong enough to call me back.

This time around, fall foliage season beckoned. Honestly, I’d have climbed the mountain again, were it not for unseasonably cool temperatures, brief shore time, the wrong shoes -- okay, I admit it. I’m sixteen years older than I was my first time ’round these parts, and I just wanted to take the civilized route and drive the park loop, have a nice lunch at Jordan’s Pond and still have time to shop downtown Bar Harbor.

Trouble is, there are no car rentals in Bar Harbor.

What to do? By the time we tendered from the cruise ship anchored in Bar Harbor, hiked up Eden to Testa’s and accepted the unbelievable news that Bar Harbor had no Avis or Hertz, we found that the last tour arriving back to the ship in time for our departure was overbooked. Typically the Park Services route buses would offer many options and continuous service through the park but that service ended just days before our arrival.

Hanging Out in Town
"That’s okay," Sweetie encouraged, "I’m happy to just look around town."
Although I appreciated his attitude, I couldn’t stop gazing upward at the mountain that had beckoned me back to Bar Harbor. I’d bragged about that view one too many times and now it haunted me.
"Oh," I sighed, "I did want you to see the views from up there."

It was not to be. I resigned myself to fate and soon enough felt downright happy to be strolling the unique retail therapies provided for just such disappointment. In no time at all I was feeling rather chipper, realizing we’d happened upon that merriest of occasions, the end-of-the-season close-out sales. Cashing in on the shopkeepers’ eagerness to board up before heading to Florida for the winter season, we scooped up armloads of bargains.

Soon, it was time for lunch.

What may have otherwise rolled out as a perfect day in the crisp, sunny autumn weather gracing Bar Harbor was interrupted once again by the sight of the mountain, that persistent reminder of my dashed dream, of stopping at Jordan’s Pond for lunch. Shaking it off, we wandered further a field off Eden, seeking to avoid our shipmates who had stopped at the first al fresco venue they encountered. Tourists! We, taking the road less traveled, found a perfectly respectable but decidedly low-key lobster shack called Maine Street Restaurant, where giant lobsters and all the trimmings weighed in at about $12 and blueberry crisp was so delicious we briefly considered relocating to Maine.

This moment of triumph over finding the best lunch spot overcame my disappointment temporarily. Yet I’d lost the desire for any more shopping, and what else was there to do without wheels? Perhaps we’d go back to the ship early -- an unthinkable suggestion on such a beautiful day, but I had to learn to accept disappointment.

Or did I?

Just as we rounded the corner of the docks and our waiting tender, Sweetie spotted what would become the day’s redemption. Rattling down the street was the Spirit of Acadia, Oli’s Trolley offering one hour tours of Acadia, Bar Harbor and Cadillac mountain.

We jumped aboard in the nick of time as the seasoned entertainer/driver/guide launched into his fascinating spiel, filling us in on Bar Harbor‘s history, the unique flora and fauna of the area and the prominent citizens who summered here. Even Jackie Kennedy’s parents owned a surprisingly modest bungalow!

Up the mountain Oli’s Trolley chugged as the driver regaled us with lore and legend. At Cadillac’s peak we had the chance to brave the ferocious, chilly winds and take a short hike where long-promised views were the payoff.

After snapping more photos we raced back to the bus to ward off chill.
"There you go! You got your wish," Sweetie said.
"We have to come back."
"Okay. Jordan's Pond, this summer?"
"Deal."

Normally, we are campers. But we did not want to camp in a tent on our honeymoon. This time, we went for luxury and enjoyed a stay at the centrally located Bar Harbor Inn (Newport Drive, PO Box 7, Bar Harbor, 207/288-3351, www.barharborinn.com).…Read More

Normally, we are campers. But we did not want to camp in a tent on our honeymoon. This time, we went for luxury and enjoyed a stay at the centrally located Bar Harbor Inn (Newport Drive, PO Box 7, Bar Harbor, 207/288-3351, www.barharborinn.com). The hotel is located on the harbor (great views) and within easy walking distance of downtown Bar Harbor (Main Street), with many restaurants/shops and the island explorer station. We were very happy with the quality of this hotel. The staff was helpful, there was a good restaurant with a view of the harbor, and our room was outstanding.

Here, again, we splurged. We went for the honeymoon suite. The room was two stories. The first floor had a living room complete with fireplace and a full bathroom with Jacuzzi tub. The second floor had the bedroom, a second bathroom, and a balcony overlooking the harbor. It was nice and peaceful here during our stay (the crowds apparently moved out over Labor Day weekend). Everything was very clean, and there were the typical perks for honeymooners like complimentary wine. There was a continental breakfast included in the building next store, with a good selection of cereal, cakes, bagels, and fruit--also juices and coffee. You could enjoy your breakfast on the porch overlooking the harbor. If you are on your honeymoon or making this trip a special occasion, a stay at the Bar Harbor Inn is well worth the money.

One of our favorite things about this trip was the food. Do not leave Bar Harbor without sampling the seafood. This is as fresh as it gets. A Mt. Desert Island tradition is the Lobster Pound. Pay a set price (usually…Read More

One of our favorite things about this trip was the food. Do not leave Bar Harbor without sampling the seafood. This is as fresh as it gets.

A Mt. Desert Island tradition is the Lobster Pound. Pay a set price (usually around $15 or $20, depending on market price of lobster) and get a whole lobster with butter for dipping. The "shore dinner" also includes side dishes. You eat the lobster outside, cracking and snapping away, with lobster flying everywhere. My husband enjoyed the lobster pound at Southwest Harbor- Beal’s Lobster Pier (207/244-3202). You will need a car to get there. There are many other lobster pounds--including many closer to Bar Harbor and the east side of the island. Try one of these for a closer option.

Restaurants: There are many restaurants along Main Street. Many of the restaurants we ate at during our trip, we found just by walking around and finding a menu that looked interesting. We did not eat at one bad restaurant during our trip (and we ate out almost every meal!). Here are some of our favorites:

Café This Way (14 Mt. Desert St., www.cafethisway.com) had very good food and vegetarian options. The desserts were probably the best we had on this trip. The pecan-crusted swordfish is highly recommended. Breakfast is also popular here, with many creative choices. Dinner prices are moderate, with entrees in the $20 range.

Havana (318 Main Street, 207/288-2822, www.havanamaine.com) is an upscale establishment with a Latin flair. Food was delicious, and the atmosphere was clean and refreshing. There are two sections to this restaurant. You walk on a wood-plank deck to get to the second half. This is where we sat. The area seemed to be more secluded and personal than the main section. Prices were expensive, with entrees in the $30 range. You should make reservations.

Thirsty Whale (Main Street close to the harbor) is a low-key restaurant with tasty food at low prices. This restaurant was recommend to us by our kayaking guide for its great soup in a bread bowl. My husband loved the seafood bisque.

Ben and Bill’s ice cream (66 Main Street, Open March-December 9am-10pm and April-August 9am-12am). This ice cream is delicious, and there is a wide range of flavors (including the famous lobster flavor that we were not adventurous enough to try). You can sample anything you like. Definitely stop here for a cone while you’re walking around downtown Bar Harbor.

There are 130 miles of hiking trails in Acadia, giving hikers endless areas to explore. The island is bisected by the Somes Sound, so hiking trails are divided into East Side Trails and West Side Trails. The east side contains Park-Loop Road and…Read More

There are 130 miles of hiking trails in Acadia, giving hikers endless areas to explore. The island is bisected by the Somes Sound, so hiking trails are divided into East Side Trails and West Side Trails. The east side contains Park-Loop Road and many of the mainstream attractions. It is therefore more crowded. The west side trails are much less traveled. Trails range in difficulty from easy to strenuous. Whether you are looking for an easy, flat hike or a strenuous mountain climb, you can find it here. The best thing to do is stop by the Hulls Cove Visitors Center on your arrival and pick up a map. Trails are listed along with their difficulty and a brief description. Some popular trails include the Great Head Trail (easy). This trail includes a stop at Sand Beach, the ruins of a 19th-century tea house, and some views of the shore. The Jordan Pond Loop Trail could include a stop for popovers and tea.

The west side has the Wonderland trail, which is very easy and accessible. Kids will enjoy this trail. It has some very cool-looking old trees covered in moss. It really does make you feel like you are in a "wonderland". For a little bit of solitude, avoid these trails, as they are the most frequently selected. We took our map and just headed out, exploring as we went. This way we passed only two or three other groups in the course of a day. Some of the most beautiful views are on less-traveled paths but involve a climb to a summit. The carriage roads also offer hiking options. There are so many possibilities that the best thing to do is consult the hiking trail map from the Hulls Cove Center. Get an idea of what you’d like to see, then ask a ranger for his or her suggestions. Rangers are an invaluable source of information. Another great tip for hiking in Acadia is to make use of the Island Explorer. The Island Explorer makes it very easy to day hike in Acadia. It runs along many hiking trails. If you get tired, you can hop on and head back. You can also skip from one trail to another in this way. Probably the most convenient part of this system is that you can hike a straight path instead of a loop and pick up the Island Explorer at the end to take you back to your home base. Very nice.

Acadia harbors 57 miles of crushed-stone carriage roads. These roads were built for horse-drawn carriages. They were constructed between 1913 and 1940 under the close supervision of John Rockefeller. Today, they are used for hiking, horseback riding, and biking (no cars).…Read More

Acadia harbors 57 miles of crushed-stone carriage roads. These roads were built for horse-drawn carriages. They were constructed between 1913 and 1940 under the close supervision of John Rockefeller. Today, they are used for hiking, horseback riding, and biking (no cars). Forty-five miles of the roads are open for this purpose.

The sights along the trail are beautiful. There are cliff-side overlooks, lake views, and even 17 hand-laid stone bridges - each one unique. We did some biking on the Carriage Roads. You can rent bikes in Bar Harbor at Acadia Bike & Canoe (48 Cottage St., 207/288-9605, www.acadiabike.com, opens at 8 am). We reserved by phone, and the price per bike was $16 for the day. This included a helmet, lock, and map. (Note: Walk-ins are charged $3 more) The service was wonderful, and the bikes were in very good condition. You should call ahead on a summer day to reserve a bike - this is a very popular activity in Acadia.

From Cottage Street, you can ride a short distance to the carriage road entrance, or you can hop on the Island Explorer and pick up the carriage roads from another point (each Explorer has space for two bikes on the front). We biked the Eagle Lake and Witch Hole Pond Loops. We would recommend them both. Beavers are known to make an appearance in Eagle Lake at sunset. These trails would also be good for families, as they are relatively flat.

We also biked the Jordan Pond/Bubble Pond Loop. These sections had great overlooks. They were more strenuous and probably not the best for families. We had a blast biking on the carriage trails. That particular day was the tail-end of hurricane Frances, so needless to say, we had the entire trial to ourselves minus a few brave hikers. On a nice day in the summer, however, the carriage trails can get extremely crowded. Get an early start for a more vacant path.

Along the carriage roads, you’ll find the only restaurant in Acadia Nat’l Park: Jordan Pond House (11:30am to 8pm, Park Look Road, 207/276-3316). We ended our very wet bike tour here for some tea, hot soup, and popovers. The service was friendly, and they were very nice to seat us given that we had been biking in the rain for several hours. The popovers were warm and delicious. They are served with homemade jam and tea. The prices are somewhat high (given that popovers are made from flour, milk, and eggs), but a stop at Jordan Pond House is an Acadia tradition and the popovers and jam are really very good. You can pick up the Island Explorer from the Jordan Pond House.

A gorgeous waterfront; plentiful hiking trails; delicious seafood; and long, relaxing days define Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. Acadia borders alongside the town of Bar Harbor (the two are located together on Mount Desert Island off the coast of Maine). We spent a…Read More

A gorgeous waterfront; plentiful hiking trails; delicious seafood; and long, relaxing days define Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. Acadia borders alongside the town of Bar Harbor (the two are located together on Mount Desert Island off the coast of Maine). We spent a week here this past September on our honeymoon. Why Acadia? We were looking for something with a nice mix of outdoors activity, great cuisine, and a splash of luxury (it WAS our honeymoon after all) - and somewhere a bit closer than Hawaii. Acadia and Bar Harbor turned out to be the perfect choice. It is also very geographically convenient for honeymooners from the East Coast.

Right off the bat, let’s talk about one of the most important things - when to go. Just by chance, we scheduled this trip perfectly. We found out shortly after we arrived that Acadia and Bar Harbor are a zoo in the summer months and remain that way until Labor Day. We arrived midweek a few days after Labor Day and the place was empty. We felt like we had the whole town (and hotel) to ourselves. All the shops were open, the weather was still wonderful, and there were no crowds - a winning combination. We also heard that October, with the change of colors, is beautiful and not all that crowded either. Winter is difficult here because many businesses are closed due to the weather. The locals told us stories about how school children sometimes get stranded on Mount Desert Island in the winters and often spend the night there. To sum things up, the fall season (after Labor Day and onwards) is really a wonderful time to visit.

Acadia National Park is composed of two primary locations. The more familiar of the two is Bar Harbor Maine. The second location is Schoodic Point, which is in a separate driving location and not reached via Bar Harbor. The Schoodic Point location, was up till a couple years…Read More

Acadia National Park is composed of two primary locations. The more familiar of the two is Bar Harbor Maine. The second location is Schoodic Point, which is in a separate driving location and not reached via Bar Harbor. The Schoodic Point location, was up till a couple years ago, a Naval site for the Armed Forces and covered the coast through Radar vigilance. While the Naval Base did take a good portion of land, they shared the site with Acadia National Park and this site is composed of rocky shores with huge boulders and rocks carved and shaped by the sea. It is a spectacular site and unfortunately most tourists never make the trip to see such a wonder and primal site. On the drive out to Schoodic Point there is a dirt road accessed only on the drive in, which if taken by a car with a decent underbody clearance, will take you up a rather rugged road, past the Warden's house and up to the top of Schoodic Head, the highest point one can access by car.

Getting out at the top of Schoodic Head and making one's way a short distance through the trees, one comes to an opening which looks down on Bar Harbor and the Porcupine Islands and other Islands in the area. It is a grand view and on a clear day the view is limitless. After a careful descent back down the rutted road, one comes back out onto the roadway which continues on to Schoodic Point. There are a number of turn outs where one can get out and either enjoy the view or even have a picnic on the great boulders overlooking the water before one actually reaches the Point. When you get to the Point, it is next to impossible to describe is awe-inspiring beauty. Huge rocks and formations outsize human beings, making those walking on the rocks seem almost doll size. Depending on the weather, a clear day will enable you to literally see forever. At times I have heard folks saying they thought they could see the coast of Spain. Not likely but it gives an idea of the vastness of the ocean and the Point.

Seagulls make their home around the rocks hoping to share discarded scraps of lunch and occasionally some startled child's cracker as one of these birds swoop down to take it from the child's hand. These white and gray scavengers are more than people friendly or at least not scared off by the presence of people. In past years, many people would bring bread to feed the seagulls, which could easily be accomplished by just holding a piece of bread in an outstretched hand with less than a short wait to have a seagull show up flapping wings as it balances itself in the air and takes your offering. If they notice that you have brought a loaf of bread, it is not uncommon for them to form a waiting line of sorts to come in one after the other for their tasty trophy provided by the visitor. It has in recent times been suggested that people not feed the seagulls as a steady diet of bread puffs them up and leaves less room for fish. So if you visit, bring some fish and you'll be golden, at least until your supply runs out.

When you can make yourself leave such a wonderful site, you'll continue out on the one way drive which brings you along more coastline, forested areas and eventually you will come upon a rest site, dock and fire pits called of all things, Blueberry Hill. I'll leave it to you to decide if the song is in any way related to the site. It is a great site for a picnic as well, so you have a number of choices. I would suggest as you finish your drive out of this part of Acadia Park that you take some time to explore the little town of Winter Harbor, complete with it's own Five and Dime Store, for those of you who can remember such places.

Your trip back from Schoodic will pass through a number of beautiful and scenic towns that will tempt you to stop and check them out. There are also some historic stops along the way and I would consider picking up some travel guides for the area in Ellsworth before you actually make the journey from there toward Schoodic.

Frenchman's Bay is particularly beautiful and worthy of some photos should you wish to have some memorable and can't fail shots at any time of the day. The actual drive back to Ellsworth if taken without any stops will average about 45 minutes. When you arrive in Ellsworth, and you have no choice but to go through Ellsworth to get to either part of Acadia National Park, I would recommend taking the time to explore, both the downtown street and the shopping centers. Now if you are from what we call away, you may be more used to huge shopping centers, and you won't find those here, but there are some more well-known to the area stores, like Remy's at one of the Shopping Centers while downtown boasts specialty shops, a theater, and restaurants. Back to the drive from the downtown past Dunkin Donuts to Route 3 which heads towards Bar Harbor. This road will be heavily traveled in summer and fall and has two larger Shopping Centers, mentioned before, as well as several motels and bed and breakfast stops, in this Ellsworth area.

A great place to eat is Jaspers Restaurant, with its Lobster Pie, or a little further drive to the Hilltop House, passing the Chinese restaurant which also has great food. You'll also pass a Pat's Pizza, which is a historic entity, with the first Pat's Pizza being founded in Orono, Maine more than 60 years ago. While this is not the original Pat's it does have the same great Pizza and Italian dishes. Don't panic if you think you have missed out on a place to stay, because the road to Bar Harbor is literally Motel Row and as long as you are traveling by Thursday, you should be able to find some accommodations. Weekends seem to start on Thursdays, and I personally would secure accommodations prior to my visit at least for the first night. On the drive down you will pass the entrance for Acadia National Park and the Loop Road and Cadillac Mountain. If it is around sunset time, take the loop road that will have a fee involved, and drive up Cadillac to view the sunset.

If earlier in the day, but past 2pm, I'd leave the loop road for a full day and head to Bar Harbor. It's a great seasonal town with lots of restaurants to meet any taste and hotels and motels as well. On the trip there you will also pass the docking area for the Cat which is the Catamaran that makes the trip to Nova Scotia and back daily. Reservations are needed if you decide to take your vehicle with you, but you can usually get tickets to travel without car without too much difficulty. Before the Cat, the trip used to take 6 or more hours each way. The size and safety of the Cat has shaved the time in half.

Well, traveling on a fairly short way now you reach Bar Harbor, which will take several days to thoroughly explore if you like a variety of shops and shopping experiences. There is also several museums, especially the Abbe and the Wabanaki Museum which shows the 12,000 plus history of the Penobscot Wabanaki Indians of the area. To do the visit to the area, one must not forget that there are other destinations to visit on this peninsula which also boasts Northeast Harbor, where Martha Stewart purchased a home. Southwest Harbor, Thuya Gardens should be a must see for any plant lovers, Wendell Gilleys Bird Carving Museum is also a great stop to list but a few. I never tire of my visits to the area, which for me is generally about a two-hour drive each way.

If you are visiting from away and really want to do the area justice, I'd allow at least a week and then you can make plans for a return, because once you have been bit with this part of Maine, you have no choice but to return. It will beckon and you as I will find yourself longing again for a visit to this wonderful blend of nature and culture and dining.

We flew into the Bar Harbor Airport. We would probably not recommend this. The airport is small, and when I say small, I mean small. It was about the size of a large garden shed. US Airways flies here from Boston…Read More

We flew into the Bar Harbor Airport. We would probably not recommend this. The airport is small, and when I say small, I mean small. It was about the size of a large garden shed. US Airways flies here from Boston daily. The planes are the smallest of the small: maybe 10 seats, you can see directly out of the front windshield of the plane, no flight attendant, etc. This made me kind of nervous. I fly often, but this plane was very small.

Besides that, no matter where you are coming from, there will be a layover in Boston. This layover often has delays; since the planes are very small, the weather is a bigger factor. It will likely take you longer (and you will pay more) to go by this route than to fly into the larger Portland International Airport. You are probably better off doing this and then driving the rest of the way to Acadia. However, if you do decide to fly to Bar Harbor, the Island Explorer bus will get you to Acadia/Bar Harbor.

Super convenient and with frequent departures and destinations, the Island Explorer is a great way to get around the park. Beyond that, it’s FREE! It runs to Bar Harbor as well, so you can stay in a hotel here and have easy access…Read More

Super convenient and with frequent departures and destinations, the Island Explorer is a great way to get around the park. Beyond that, it’s FREE! It runs to Bar Harbor as well, so you can stay in a hotel here and have easy access to the park! Note that the Island Explorer service does not reach certain areas of Mount Desert Island, such as Southwest Harbor. For these areas, you will need a car. Service begins in late June and runs through Columbus Day. Most times of the year, Explorers run from 6:45am to 11pm. Visit www.exploreacadia.com for more information.

The best thing about the Island Explorer is the benefit it has for the environment. Cars and RVs line the streets in the busy summer months. All that pollution adds up. Do your part to save the park for future generations and make use of this wonderful service. If you want to drive into the park, leave your car at the Hulls Cove Visitor’s Center and take the Island Explorer from there. Also of note for those looking to rent a car, cars are available for rental from the Bar Harbor Airport. The Island Explorer can take you to the airport and you can pick up your car from there.

Window shoppers will be in paradise here. There are many locally owned shops lining the downtown areas of Bar Harbor, including Main Street and Cottage Street. Many shops feature the work of local artists. The style of many paintings is Edward Hopper-ish.…Read More

Window shoppers will be in paradise here. There are many locally owned shops lining the downtown areas of Bar Harbor, including Main Street and Cottage Street. Many shops feature the work of local artists. The style of many paintings is Edward Hopper-ish. I enjoyed the art very much. Outdoor stores are also plentiful in this area. We found some very reasonably priced quality outdoors equipment. There are also a fair share of shops catering to tourists (T-shirts, mugs, etc.), but all are tasteful.Close