Things To Do
Park Loop Road
A scenic 27 mile loop will take you by famous Acadia sights such as Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, Jordan Pond and Otter Cove (where we got engaged!). Lots of hiking and walking trails leave from this road as well, so it's a nice way to spend a day seeing the sights!
Hiking in Acadia
Acadia National Park has a wide array of hiking trails for all comfort levels, from gentle walking along the ocean to scaling granite cliffs with the help of iron rungs affixed to the rocks. A few favorites are the Champlain North Ridge Trail, Cadillac West Face Trail, The Ocean Path, and Jordan Cliffs Trail.
Atlantic Brewing Company
Try some family beer before the wedding! The production brewery and BBQ restaurant are about a 15 minute drive from downtown Bar Harbor and the pilot brewery and local-focused restaurant are right in the downtown.
Cadillac Mountain
Cadillac Mountain (1529 feet) is the highest point on the eastern seaboard, the first sunrise in the USA every year and the only mountain on the island with a road to the summit. Reservations are required to drive up, so plan ahead or take one of the four trail options (North Ridge, South Ridge, West Face, or Gorge Path) and hike to the top!
Sea Kayaking
Bar Harbor is located in a bay protected by a multitude of small islands, making it a great spot for sea kayaking or paddle boarding. The ocean is pretty chilly, though, so plan your swimming for lake beaches!
Explore the Shops
Bar Harbor has lots of creative and fun shops and artisans in the walkable downtown. There is sure to be something for just about everyone. We got Brady his giant squeaky lobster at Bark Harbor!
Mount Desert Island Ice Cream
Best ice cream on the island. We may or may not have gone there almost every day while we were in Maine this past summer.
Carriage Roads
Acadia National Park has over 45 miles of crushed stone car-free roads perfect for biking, walking, jogging. Several places in Bar Harbor rent bicycles and there is a free shuttle bus to popular starting points from downtown Bar Harbor.
Whale Watching/Nature Tours
Take a boat out off the island to see whales, seals, puffins, lobsters, you name it! Many options for boat tours of all kinds including sunset tours or ranger-led tours.
Canoeing, Kayaking, and Paddle Boarding
If you want to combine some boating with some swimming, rentals are available right on the lake at Long Pond. Pack a picnic and paddle out to your own private swimming spot!