Acadia National Park — Bar Harbor, Maine
As a New Hampshire resident, I often look to the tranquility of Maine for my summer getaways. At the top of my family’s destination list is often Bar Harbor. Not only does it have that quaint New England tourist town feel with gift shops and hole-in-the-wall ice cream shops, but it also has some stunning views at the coastline and atop Cadillac Mountain at Acadia National Park. If you’re looking at Maine for a summer getaway, here are my tips for a successful week at Bar Harbor.
Included here:
- Where to stay
- Where to eat
- When to start the day
Where to stay
There are a few hotels close to the downtown Bar Harbor area, such as the Quality Inn on Kebo Street. These are convenient if you’re looking to stroll around downtown without having to worry about driving through busy streets or paying for parking. However, if your stay is during peak busy season, the nightly rate can be a little high. This is why I recommend looking for a nearby AirBnB. During my last visit, my family stayed at an AirBnB cottage in Ellsworth, which is about 30 minutes from Acadia National Park. This allowed us to have a quiet and peaceful evening at the cottage while also being close enough to Bar Harbor at an affordable rate. On average we spent $100 per night and during the same week the Quality Inn was about $200 per night, so we were able to put that saved money towards going out to eat each night.
To sweeten the deal of staying 30 minutes from Bar Harbor, Ellsworth has several lobster shacks and seafood restaurants. My favorite was The Lobster Pound. And if you’ve forgotten some essential items, like flip flops, batteries, hats, sunscreen, etc. there is a discount store called Marden’s in Ellsworth as well.
Where to eat
As I mentioned above, if you stay outside of Bar Harbor there are a number of great seafood restaurants, including The Lobster Pound in Ellsworth. In downtown there are delicious cafes, pizzerias, and eateries on every corner. Got a hankering for ice cream? Try Mount Desert Island Ice Cream or Udder Heaven.
Whichever restaurant you choose, be sure to bring an appetite. I have been more than satisfied with all of the places I’ve tried so far!
When to start the day
If you plan to drive through Acadia National Park, I recommend getting there when they open. There are many lookouts and spots to stop and take photos, but as the park gets busier the spaces to park become hard to find. There were a few lookout areas that my family had to forego because we couldn’t find a parking spot. One of my favorite photo opportunities is Thunder Hole — in the morning, the shots you’ll get with the sunrise are amazing. Once you reach the summit of Cadillac Mountain, you’ll have ample area for picnicking (please be friendly to the environment and take away any trash!). On your way up and down the mountain you’ll likely be sharing the road with bicyclists, so don’t forget to watch out for them as well.
For a day at the beach or a day downtown, I also recommend starting early. If you’re staying at an AirBnB outside of town you can pay for parking in the downtown area. Or — if you are visiting when school is out of session, Emerson Junior High School near the Quality Inn usually has a few available parking spots for free, and is in easy walking distance to the downtown shopping area.
As always, when you plan your trip to Bar Harbor make sure you make your family an itinerary and mark some places you want to check out (such as mini golf, Oli’s Trolley, or the scenic railroad). Even a small amount of planning can help when you want to have a stress-free vacation! And don’t forget to put extra butter on your fresh Maine lobster!
