Bar Harbor Best Bets

Last Updated on September 12, 2023 by

Bar Harbor is certainly the best known and most popular town on Mount Desert Island (MDI). In fact, it is not uncommon for tourists to refer to the entire island as Bar Harbor. In truth, there are more than a bakers dozen other towns on the island. Mount Desert Island has been continuously inhabited since at least the 1600’s. Initially, by Passamaquoddy and Penobscot tribes and eventually giving way to the first hotel being built in Bar Harbor in 1855.
The 1850’s also saw a wealth of famous artists arriving in Bar Harbor via the Mount Desert Ferry to set up residence to capture the island’s beautiful mountains and seascapes. The late 1800’s also witnessed the arrival of ‘rusticators’ such as Joseph Pulitzer, the Vanderbilts, and John D. Rockefeller. It was this robber baron class who originally constructed their ‘cottages’ along the coast, firmly entrenching Bar Harbor as a destination vacation. Fortunately, during this same period, Boston native George Dorr began to work with Rockefeller and others to consolidate land on the island to create Acadia National Park.
While the rich and famous, such as Martha Stewart and Dick Wolf (Law and Order among others) still lay claim to some of the best real estate on the island, there is still more than enough left for the hoi polloi to enjoy.

So, what does Bar Harbor have to offer for a visitor to the island? Naturally, as any travel guide will tell you, it depends on how long you have. We have listed our favorite things to do along with a suggested amount of time for each activity. Combine any or all of them to decide how much time you should spend. In general, I would say an absolute minimum of 2 days here, one for Bar Harbor and one for Acadia National Park. But, as you will see going through the list, a long weekend would be better, and give yourself at least week if you are a hiker.

Fall Foliage

Although not an activity per se, if you have an option for when to visit Bar Harbor, try to make it a point to visit during fall foliage season from mid-September to mid-October. If this is your only visit to the New England area, Bar Harbor has magnificent ‘tree peeping’ opportunities.

Acadia National Park

For many, Acadia is the highlight of any trip to Bar Harbor. The National Park encompasses 47,000 acres spread over three distinct areas. Mount Desert Island contains the bulk of the land, but Schoodic peninsula and the Isle au Haut are also designated part of the park.
Even if you are not a hiker, Acadia has many highlights to enjoy. The Park Loop Road, a highlight in itself, will take you to such notable spots as Thunder Hole, Sand Beach, and Jordan Pond. For more information, head to our Acadia National Park post. We would recommend and absolute minimum of one day to enjoy the Park Loop Road with a stop at Jordan Pond to enjoy their famous popovers. Use a second day to walk the Carriage Trails, visit a lighthouse, or take a short hike. If you are a hiker, there are about 160 miles of trails just begging to be explored.

Pro Tip – If you are travelling during peak season (June – September), consider leaving your car at home and riding the Island Explorer. It is completely free and has a variety of routes that will take you to virtually every highlight on the island as well as numerous pickup spots in and around Bar Harbor. Traffic is heavy and parking is limited, so do yourself a favor and let someone else stress over those things.

Get out on the water

There are numerous ways to enjoy Bar Harbor, but getting out on the water is one of the best. You have plenty of options, from a kayak tour in Frenchman’s Bay, to a whale watching tour, to a lighthouse tour. There are several tour companies, with a long list of options to choose from. No trip to the Maine coast would actually be complete without experiencing some time out on the bay. Our four hour harbor cruise took us to several lighthouses, a seal beach, and several whale sightings. Most of the tours are a half day minimum, leaving you some time to explore town and enjoy an excellent meal or do some shopping.

Perhaps one of the most interesting ways to enjoy the water is to take the mail ferry from Stonington to Isle au Haut. It is a 48 minute boat ride to the island of 65 full time inhabitants. There are an additional 18 miles of trail to explore in this very remote section of Acadia National Park.

Have a great meal and Eat Lobster

If Maine is known for anything, it is known for lobster. Much like a trip to Maine is incomplete without a day on the water, so too is it a missed opportunity to skip out on lobster. If you are so inclined, try it it in a variety of ways – boiled whole, lobster roll, lobster mac… If you are of an age, simply substitute lobster for shrimp in Bubba’s scene in Forrest Gump and you get the picture. Naturally, nearly every place in Bar Harbor is going to serve some version. Our personal recommendation is to head slightly out of town to Trenton and try any of the three restaurants just over the bridge – Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound, Downeast Lobster Pound, Gateway Lunt’s Lobster Pound. These are scaled down, bare bones places, but you can’t get any fresher or authentic. I have had lobster all over the world but I believe the secret as to why it is so particularly good here is because the lobster is boiled in native seawater. If, for some crazy reason, you are lobstered out, Bar Harbor has a host of options to satisfy your palate.

Hands down, our favorite place in Bar Harbor is not a restaurant, but the Rebel Lobster Speakeasy. It is intentionally placed, in true speakeasy fashion, slightly out of the public view, entered through the Maine Store on Mount Desert St. The owner is a font of local knowledge, and does his utmost to carry local beers and spirits to the exclusion of others. Pick any drink, you will not be disappointed. It also has the absolute best, most unique playlist I have ever heard. Come early, space is limited.

Our other top choices for dining include :

And, if you are willing to make the 10 minute drive north out of town, this nondescript building is the gift that keeps on giving:

Schoodic Peninsula

Schoodic peninsula receives less than 10 percent of all Acadia National Park visitor traffic. While less than an hour from Bar Harbor, it has a distinctly remote vibe. It is also the only part of the national park located on the mainland. There are a wealth of trails, some great picnic spots, a converted Naval listening post, and one of the best sunset views in all of the national park. Read our full post to learn all Schoodic Peninsula has to offer. We would recommend a full day here.

Walk Downtown

Bar Harbor boasts a Museum in the Streets, a self-guided walking tour of the downtown area. There are 26 placards placed in 2013 and an additional 20 placed in 2019. Be sure to make the Abbe Museum one of your stops. The museum is the first and only Smithsonian affiliate in the state of Maine. Also be sure to include the Shore Path.

Bar Island

The most notable thing about Bar Island is the timing. The tides eliminate the sand bar between the island and the mainland at high tide, stranding the unaware on the island for nine to twelve hours. While there are several warning signs posted, the actual tide chart is only a 9×11 piece of paper posted on the island’s bulletin board, lending the illusion the warning is more of a suggestion than a hard rule. You can always call for water rescue, but rumor has it costing somewhere around $400. Always a choice if you roll like that.

Anyway, the island itself is very small and the trail is a short, relatively small hill that is perfect to find a spot for lunch instead of fighting the crowds in Bar Harbor. The top of the hill opens up nicely to a view of the harbor and there are more than enough rocky outcroppings to sit for a spell before heading back into the crush of town.

Fort Knox and Penobscott Narrows Bridge

For a half day away from the hustle and bustle of both Acadia and Bar Harbor, take a short drive out of town and visit the Penobscott Narrows Bridge. The bridge itself is an award winning architectural design with an observation tower nearly 450 feet high at the top of one of its support towers. After that, take a short walk down to Fort Knox and tour the grounds of one of the best preserved examples of coastal defense fortifications constructed just prior to the turn of the 20th century.

Maine Sculpture Trail

If you’re feeling particularly adventurous and are in the mood for a road trip, try the Maine Sculpture Trail. Beginning in Bucksport and ending in Calais, this 200 mile route consists of 34 granite sculptures designed by artists from 16 different nations. If a 400 mile round trip seems a bit daunting, combine a shorter section of the trail with your trip to the Penobscott Narrows Bridge for a full day of sightseeing beyond the park. Beginning in Bucksport and continuing on to the Schoodic Peninsula, you will have the opportunity to visit a solid half dozen sculptures.