Bar Harbor, Maine

Bar Harbor Maine is the largest town on Mount Desert Island. Bar Harbor drives its name from the famous sandbar that connects Bar Island to mainland at low tide. See to the left what happens when one scores a great, free parking space and leaves their car on the sandbar too long.

The majority of Acadia National Park is also located on Mount Desert Island. Acadia National Park is one of the country's busiest National Parks. There is a small section of Acadia Park located an hour from Bar Harbor on Schoodic Point.

Acadia is without compare as the Mountains truly meet the Sea here and offer one of the most spectacular settings on the entire East Coast (if not the most spectacular)!

Bar Harbor, being the largest town on Mount Desert Island (home of Acadia National Park) is often thought of as synonymous with the Park but guests can also stay in charming Northeast Harbor, Southwest Harbor, Bass Harbor, Otter Creek, Seal Harbor or Somesville.

Mount Dessert and Bar Harbor Maine offer an endless array of activities for everyone. Some of the must see and dos in and around Acadia National Park include: a visit to Sand Beach, Thunder Hole and Otter Cliff. A drive up Cadillac Mountain for sunrise or sunset and a scone at the Jordon Pond House. Tour the stunning gardens at Asticou or take a boat ride out of Northeast Harbor.

On the ocean and land, visitors and guests can tour the island on their own, or let experienced Maine guides show them the way.

For cyclists, there are 55 miles of carriage trails that lace their way through Acadia. Bike beside crystal clear lakes and spectacular mountains. Or take a bus or trolley tour and let someone else show you the way.

There are local companies and registered Maine Guides expert in the wildlife and the history of the area; there are also walking tours of Bar Harbor.

Rent a kayak or canoe and tour on your own or better still in the company of Maine Guides and explore Mount Desert Island's fascinating coastline. Or set sail with one of the professional crews in search of whales, seals, seabirds, the stories of the cottage era, or simply relax under billowing sails of a Maine Tall Schooner.

For the culturally inclined, Bar Harbor offers two celebrated music festivals offering everything from string orchestras, through chamber music, to jazz. Local bars and clubs host a range of bands and solo artists that complete the musical mix.

If you are planning to visit in the winter, the carriage trails make for excellent cross-country skiing, the park loop road is a haven for snowmobilers, and the trails under their coating of white take on a fresh new look. Acadia's peaks and cliffs also offer new workouts to the experienced in this most challenging of seasons. Ice climbing routes abound and trails show a true wild side. Bar Harbor offers a vast array of excellent lodging and hotels.