Things To Do
Acadia National Park
Acadia has something for everyone, and it is a must-see in Bar Harbor whether you are a first-time or returning visitor! Take a drive along Park Loop Road, make stops for Thunder Hole and Sand Beach, where we took our engagement photos! Take a walk along the Ocean Path or Jordan Pond. The Jordan Pond House Restaurant offers famous blueberry popovers and lemonade. For a bird's-eye view of Sand Beach, check out the Great Head Trail. Some of our other favorite hikes are The Beehive Loop and The Bubbles. The Beehive trail is for the daredevil! Although a short hike, it is very steep on the way up; you are practically climbing along sturdy metal rungs at some points. Because it can get crowded, we advise giving it a go earlier in the day for the best experience. You don't want to miss sunrise on Cadillac Mountain; it is absolutely worth the early wake-up! Hike Cadillac Mountain for more of a challenge, or reserve a permit ahead of time and drive up to the summit.
Bar Harbor
You truly can’t go wrong with any of the shops and restaurants downtown! Village Center Road has a variety of fun souvenir and gift shops. Our breakfast favorite is 2 Cats. For coffee and sandwiches, we suggest Village Green Cafe, Acadia Perk, Choco Latte Cafe, and, a little off the beaten path, Mother's Kitchen. Lobster and blueberry anything and everything at Side Street Cafe and West Street Cafe. If you are looking for sunset views and live piano, make a reservation at Bar Harbor Inn Reading Room for dinner. Don’t miss a coastal Maine sunset. Grab a sweet treat from Ben & Bill's Chocolate Emporium and sit on the green at Agamont Park for unforgettable views! Some of our favorite places to check out are The Yellow Bowl Vintage & Antiques, In The Woods, and Maine’s Own Treats (Trenton, Maine).
Ellsworth
1A relics is a place Ben and Anna look forward to stopping at when passing through Ellsworth on the way home. It might be our favorite antique store ever, and it's quite the hidden gem! You could spend hours exploring all the treasures they have. If you are staying in Ellsworth and looking for a meal close by, Provender Kitchen + Bar is fantastic!
Boothbay Harbor
Another quintessential coastal Maine town along the Harbor. If you are looking for an activity, might we suggest a boat ride on the Eastwind Schooner! The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens are beautiful and are home to five giant trolls. Go on a scavenger hunt to find them all!
Freeport
Freeport is the perfect halfway stopping point for when you’re starting to get a little tired (and hungry) behind the wheel. A favorite in Anna's family is Harraseeket Lunch & Lobster Company, which offers the best lobster meal around (open until 4pm and cash only). Another great option is Linda Bean's Maine Kitchen & Topside Tavern (yes, this restaurant was in the L.L. Bean family). Speaking of L.L. Bean...Don't miss the L.L. Bean campus, which has tons of shopping and activities! There are so many outlet stores to choose from for shopping in Freeport! When Anna went to sleep-away camp, there was a trip day to Freeport every summer where all the girls would go crazy for gear at the Cool As A Moose store.
Portland
Shops, food and other sites! Some of our favorite spots are The Portland Head Lighthouse and Fort Allen Park.
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is one of our favorite places along the coast, as we visited here quite a few times while Ben was at UNH. We recommend spending a couple hours walking around the downtown area. Ben's personal favorites for a bite to eat are Barrio Taco, The Goat and Surf Portsmouth.
