If you’re planning to hike or otherwise explore the famed Acadia National Park, you’re probably planning to stay in Bar Harbor. This utterly quaint seaside town is full of everything you’d expect from a marine-focused tourist locale: ice cream shops, tourist boutiques, historic homes, museums, and restaurants with an ocean view. There’s even an old lighthouse!
Aside from visiting Acadia National Park, there are tons of ways to get out into nature in Bar Harbor, from SUPing on Frenchman Bay to walking the land bridge to Bar Island. If you’re keen to learn more about the area’s cultural heritage, you can explore the Abbe Museum, home to artifacts from the local Wabanaki people. Those interested in getting up close and personal with the area’s unique marine wildlife can go whale watching or lobster fishing.
Are you looking for things to do in Bar Harbor, Maine? Perhaps you’re curious to see if it’s the spot for your next American vacation. So pack your hiking boots, lobster eating bib, and appetite for cultural curiosities, and prepare to watch on for our top picks in this perfect all-season destination.
Acadia National Park
In 2021, almost 5 million people visited Acadia National Park. If you’re staying in Bar Harbor, be sure to include at least a day in the park in your tour itinerary. The park features incredibly lush forests, pristine lakes, rivers, and ponds, towering, snow-capped mountains, and a wild, rugged coastline. You can bike or hike the many well-managed trails, swim or fish the lakes and streams in the summer, or drive the scenic old carriage roads. If you’re a keen wildlife spotter or bird watcher, you’ll be more than impressed with the amount of wildlife the park supports, too!
Lobster Fishing
What would Maine be without the lobster? It certainly wouldn’t be as popular of a destination as it is today. Lobster fishing was once one of the most significant economic drivers in the area. While commercial fishing operations continue, tourists can sample a taste of Old Maine by heading out into the harbor on a lobster fishing tour. You’ll learn how to catch your lunch from experienced local fisherpeople and all about the lifecycle of the lobster from on-board scientists.
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Whale Watching
Possibly one of the most majestic sights in the world is a whale breaching the water. And if you’re lucky, you might get to see one of these incredible creatures do that in Maine! You can book a boat tour that will take you and your family out onto the chilly Atlantic Ocean, where you have the chance to spot all kinds of whales—humpbacks, minke, and finbacks, among them. If whale watching is on your bucket list, be sure to book your Bar Harbor vacation in late summer or early fall, when the whales are nearby.
Frenchman Bay
Bar Harbor lies in a beautiful cove called Frenchman Bay. The sparkling waters of this picturesque beach make for the perfect romantic getaway. Stroll the oceanside walkways hand-in-hand, stop at a bay-facing cafe for coffee and cake, or patrol the souvenir shops and boutiques with your girlfriends. For the more adventurous, Frenchman Bay is perfect for watersports, including SUPing, sailing, fishing, waterskiing, and, of course, swimming. We highly recommend booking a table at a restaurant with enormous windows for dinner and stunning sunset views.
Downtown Bar Harbor
If you’re looking for somewhere to enjoy a tipple after the sun goes down, Bar Harbor doesn’t disappoint, either. The downtown area has an array of quality bars and pubs that cater to locals and tourists alike. In fact, if you’re there in the summer, the area will likely be buzzing with excitement! We recommend Leary’s Landing Irish Pub for craft beers and Maine blueberry cocktails, Finback Ale House for the happy hour and dinner specials, and Cottage St. Pub for the outdoor seating.
Northeast Harbor Village
Northeast Harbor Village sits a little around the coast from Bar Harbor and is well worth visiting in the daytime or the evening. The village is relatively upscale since it has been a summer retreat for some of America’s wealthiest families for generations. The town itself is the picture of quaint, with rambling historic homes, tree-lined streets, and a harbor filled with yachts. The town is easily walkable, so it’s the perfect place to visit with young kids—so long as they’re patient shoppers or mini foodies.
Land Bridge to Bar Island
Have you ever wanted to walk on water? Trotting across this natural land bridge between Bar Harbor and nearby Bar Island might be the closest you get! The “bridge” is actually a rocky sand bar that gets revealed for about three hours at a time when the tide goes out. The sand is firm enough that visitors can walk, bike, or jog across to the island at the other end, so long as they remember to return within the three-hour window. If you want to make it a day trip, pack a picnic lunch and wait on the island for the next time the tide turns.
Food Tours
Of course, one of the highlights for almost every visitor to Bar Harbor is the plethora of fresh, tasty food from the ocean and the land. While you could spend time researching restaurants and crafting your own foodie tour, we highly recommend booking with one of the many food tour companies instead. Though almost anywhere you eat in Bar Harbor will be tasty, going on a food tour will help you avoid those inevitable tourist traps. Though, of course, a lobster roll stop is a must!
Thunder Hole 85
Acadia National Park is home to many natural wonders, but one of the most magnificent is the so-called Thunder Hole. The “hole” is actually a tiny inlet carved into the granite by centuries of wave action. When the waves hit this gap, they surge upwards about 40 feet into the air, emitting a thunderous roar. If you time it right, you’re in for capturing the most dramatic photo of your entire trip. You can drive to Thunder Hole or jump on a tour bus, or it’s an easy two-mile hike from Sand Beach, heading down along Oceanview Path.
Abbe Museum 85
The original Abbe Museum first opened its doors way back in 1928 nearby Acadia National Park. Today, the institute features interactive exhibits and educational programs dedicated to the cultural heritage of the Wabanaki people. In 2013, the museum opened a second location right in downtown Bar Harbor, which the museum uses to host special events, workshops, and even archeology classes. If you’re visiting in July, book the museum’s Indian Market into your itinerary to shop for unique jewelry, art, and food. There’s also the Native American Festival in July.
Mount Desert Island
If you’re feeling extra seaworthy, why not pay a visit to Mount Desert Island. While much of the island lies within the protective borders of Acadia National Park, this charming locale also boasts several utterly lovely seaside villages like Southwest Harbor and Tremont. Here you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time to the days when lobster fishing was the lifeblood of the island’s families—because, for many here, it still is! Get up at the crack of dawn to watch the fisherpeople head out into the sunrise. Sample the seafood at one of the many fine-dining restaurants. Or take an afternoon cruise on the 4-masted Margaret Todd schooner.
Asticou Azalea Garden
If you haven’t yet had your fill of nature, we encourage you to visit the more manicured Asticou Azalea Garden—part of the Bar Harbor Land & Garden Preserve. Spreading out over 2.5 acres, Asticou features numerous native azalea species (of course) alongside other local plants. There’s a Japanese zen garden to chill out in, the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Garden, preserved as a time capsule of early American landscape design, and the intensely natural Little Long Pond, with its meadows, marshes, and crystal clear streams.
Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse
For their trip itinerary, fans of marine architecture will want to schedule a visit to Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse. This charming structure was built in 1858 and still stands on the coast of Mount Desert Island in Acadia National Park’s southwest. The light inside still operates, signaling to night-traveling ships with three red flashes and one second of darkness. While you can tour the grounds and admire the lighthouse exterior, visitors can’t go inside since the U.S. Coast Guard still staffs the building. Go at sunset for unbeatable ocean views—though expect crowds.
George B. Dorr Museum of Natural History
If you’re looking for family-friendly activities that’ll keep the kids entertained indoors for a bit, head to the George B. Door Museum of Natural History. This museum is a veritable celebration of all things natural in Maine. There’s an interactive tidal pool bustling with live wildlife like hermit crabs and starfish and exciting dioramas and artifact displays that invite the touch—such as whale bones, animal skulls, and real fur. College of the Atlantic students run the museum as part of their education curriculum.
Do you think this is a comprehensive list of things to do in Bar Harbor, Maine? Or would you add some places, events, or sites we’ve missed? Debate the not-to-be-missed areas and share your secret scenic spots in the comment section below. If you want to watch more videos like this one, head over to the ViewCation channel and subscribe. Hit that notification bell while you’re there. Oh, and don’t forget to give this video a thumbs up and share it with your friends and family.