Things To Do

Momo's Cheesecakes

Momo's Cheesecakes is a self-serve 24-hour homemade cheesecake bakery that operates on the honor system out of Momo's garage. This is a great option if you want a snack as you pass through Ellsworth on your way to Bar Harbor or if you get a sweet tooth at 2am! All their cheesecakes are made from scratch in their licensed kitchen and they have over 60 varieties of cheesecake to choose from including gluten free options! Hannah's favorite is the raspberry and Bryan's favorite is the Reese's peanut butter cup. Park in their driveway and enter into their garage. The whole cheesecakes will be on your left and the individual slices will be in the coolers at the back. They accept cash, checks, and Venmo.

Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park covers over half of Mount Desert Island. Enjoy hiking, biking, and driving through forest and along rocky coasts on trails and roads throughout the island. Entrance fees and park passes are required at some areas of Acadia National park. You can buy a 7-day vehicle pass for $30. I recommend doing that before you come to speed stuff along. More information is here: https://www.nps.gov/acad/planyourvisit/fees.htm **If you plan to visit Cadillac Mountain on your visit, a reservation is required to drive to the top. Make your reservation early! https://www.nps.gov/acad/planyourvisit/vehicle_reservations.htm

Bar Harbor Bar and Bar Island Trail

At low tide, about twice a day, the namesake sandbar of Bar Harbor is exposed right next to The Harborside Hotel. Explore the bar and shallow waters for shells and other organisms, or walk the 1.9 mile trail on Bar Island, part of Acadia National Park. Be mindful of the tides if planning to attempt the 45-90 minute hike on Bar Island because the bar is only exposed for about 4 hours: about 2 hours before low tide until about 2 hours after low tide! Maine has 12' tides and the bar is covered by the ocean for much of the day. If you are caught on the wrong side of the bar when the tide comes in you will be waiting about 8-9 hours until the tide goes out again and exposes the sandbar again. Bar Harbor tide charts can be found here: https://www.usharbors.com/harbor/maine/bar-harbor-me/tides/#monthly-tide-chart

Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse

The cliffside Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse in Acadia National Park, located in the village of Bass Harbor within Tremont, Maine in the United States, marks the entrance to Bass Harbor on the southwestern side of Mount Desert Island. The lighthouse was built of brick in 1858 on a stone foundation, stands 56 feet above mean high water and is accessible by car off Route 102A. Parking is free and is open daily from 9:00 AM to sunset. We recommend taking the short trail past the bathrooms. This trail takes you to a stairway that lead down the ledge to view the lighthouse from the rocks below. Wear appropriate shoes because you will be walking on large bolders!

Cadillac Mountain, Acadia National Park

Cadillac Mountain has very beautiful views of Bar Harbor and Frenchman Bay. You will need a reservation and a national park pass to drive the Summit Road. Follow the link to make your reservation.

Park Loop Road, Acadia National Park

The Park Loop Road in Acadia National Park is where you will see many of its famous features, but beware that it can be quite busy! You will find Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, and Otter Creek as popular stopping points, but beautiful views can be seen along the whole stretch. I recommend taking Schooner Head Road down to a four-way stop. Go left to Schooner Head Overlook for a quieter site to view the cliffs and ocean. Straight at the four-way stop will take you to Great Head Trail with a beautiful 5-10 minute walk down a trail to Beehive Lagoon and a back entrance of Sand Beach. A right at the four-way stop will take you to the Park Loop Road entrance and if it is busy, usually puts you in a relatively quick line to get through the gates.

Sand Beach - Park Loop Road, Acadia National Park

Sand Beach is a beautiful, sandy beach along the Park Loop Road. Sandy beaches are very rare in Maine so it is a common attraction and is often very busy. I prefer to access this beach through Great Head Trail. Drive to the end of Schooner Point Road and take the 5-10 minute leisurely walk to the Beehive Laggon and cross the stream to the sandy beach. Depending on the height of the tide, you may need to get your feet wet at this entrance!

Thunder Hole - Park Loop Road, Acadia National Park

Thunder Hole is a small, natural inlet in the rocks that, on wavy days, catches the waves just right and creates a loud thundering clap and a spectacular spray of water that can reach up to 40 feet high. There is a walkway down along Thunder Hole and on calmer days you can walk right along the crevice to peer into it. On loud, wavy days the lower sections will likely be closed so you aren't washed away by the waves. TIMING IS KEY with Thunder Hole. Plan to arrive 1-2 hours before high tide to have the best chance to hear the claps of thunder. You can find the Bar Harbor tide charts here: https://www.usharbors.com/harbor/maine/bar-harbor-me/tides/

Things to do in Bar Harbor

71st Annual Art in the Park

An annual art show held in the park in the center of Bar Harbor showcasing local artists and photographers.