Favorite Restaurants, Hikes & Activities
Little Notch Bakery & Cafe
A great place to grab pastries, sandwiches, salads, and pizza. Open 10am - 7pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday.
Eat-a-Pita & Cafe 2
Outdoor cafe serving breakfast, lunch, & dinner. Open 8am - 9pm Tuesday – Sunday.
Harbor Table
Great apps, salads, and brick oven pizza right in downtown Southwest Harbor. Lots of outside seating in the back. Open 5pm - 10pm Monday - Friday.
Milagro Coffee
Coffee, pastries, and bagels. A short walk from downtown Southwest Harbor. Open 6:30am - 12pm Tuesday - Saturday.
Beal's Lobster Pier
Great lunch or dinner spot right in Southwest Harbor! Walking distance from all the Southwest Harbor hotels. Waterfront seating that looks out over the harbor. Full lobsters, lobster rolls, or (Carolyn's favorite) lobster grilled cheese!
Thurston's Lobster Pound
A fun lobster pound restaurant in Bass Harbor (~10 minute drive from Southwest Harbor). Double deck seating that looks out over the harbor. Go and grab a delicious lobster roll or do the full spread (steamed lobster, mussels, corn, coleslaw, & a Maine root beer)!
Bar Harbor
Bar Harbor is the largest town on the island. It's located on the other side of the island (~25 minute drive from Southwest Harbor). Lots of fun restaurants and shops to explore. If heading to Bar Harbor, we would recommend planning to spend at least a half a day there. Carolyn's recommendation: Try the lobster mac n' cheese at Side Street Cafe! Kellan's recommendation: Try any of the ice cream shops! And "lobster tracks" ice cream flavor!
Flying Mountain Trailhead & Valley Cove
This is where Kellan proposed to Carolyn! Short and easy hike, but one of our favorites! You can hike the mountain and end up in Valley Cove or you can take the flat, short fire-road directly to Valley Cove. Take a dip in Valley Cove ... if you dare go in the cold Maine ocean!
Acadia Mountain Trailhead
Moderately difficult hike. Stunning views that look over Somes Sound! Just a few minutes from downtown Southwest Harbor.
Beech Mountain Trailhead
Easy to moderate difficulty hike. Overlooks both Long Pond and the barrier islands (ocean). There is an old fire tower at the top of the mountain that is occasionally open to the public. One of the Roberts' favorites!
Wonderland Trailhead & Ship Harbor Trailhead
Two similar trailheads right down the road from each other! Mostly flat trails that lead right to the rocky shoreline. These shorelines are uniquely distinguished by the giant "dancing" rocks. On a clear day, you can see out to the barrier islands. A must do walk!
Long Pond Trailhead
A walking trail around the biggest "pond" on the island. Relatively flat walking trail. Lots of great swimming spots for those that can't bear the cold Maine ocean!