Friendly Group Travel
  • Home
  • Sedona and Santa Fe
  • River Cruises
  • Blog
  • In the News
  • About
  • eNews sign-up
  • B2B
  • Forms
  • Contact
  • Trip Prep

Friendly Travel Blog

Bar Harbor, Maine - 10 Fun Things to Do

8/21/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
by Marcia Simon, APR, CTA
How can a town originally settled as “Eden” be anything but beautiful, comfortable, and as welcoming as the nature that surrounds it? Such is the lure of Bar Harbor, Maine.
 
At the footstep of Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor attracts millions of visitors every year – from hikers, bikers and boaters to artists, musicians and people who enjoy fresh lobster, casual fine dining, local craft beers and warm hospitality.
 
Here are 10 Fun Things to Do in Bar Harbor:
  1. Leave your car parked and hop aboard the free Island Explorer, the continuously running shuttle around Mount Desert Island, with primary stops at Bar Harbor’s village green, the Acadia National Park visitor center and main park destinations. The shuttle has room for a few bicycles, too.
  2. Rent a bike. The Island Explorer Bicycle Express is a free bicycle shuttle with a trailer that runs continuously from about 9:30 am to 5 pm daily throughout the summer until Columbus Day. It stops at the village green and at the Carriage Road by Eagle Lake in Acadia. Get rentals through www.acadiabike.com or www.barharborbike.com.
  3. See a comedy show at Improv Acadia, but book in advance because shows sell out.  
  4. Sit outside at the Bar Harbor Inn’s Terrace Grille and enjoy a bite and a drink, watching the changing ocean landscape and the relaxed pace of visitors milling about the waterfront. Watching the fog hug the small outer islands is equally as beautiful as the colors of light on the boats at sunset.
  5. Go for a sailboat ride. The Margaret Todd, a 151-foot schooner, sails Frenchman Bay three times a day including sunset. Depending on wind conditions, the ride is one and a half to two hours long. Bring a sweater or windbreaker; it can get cool on the water, especially as the sun goes down.
  6. Ride Oli’s Trolley. Various narrated tours are available both around Bar Harbor and at select stops in Acadia National Park.
  7. Stop in at Jordan Pond House, a lovely casual restaurant in Acadia National Park that offers indoor and outdoor seating. A popular stop for popovers and tea, or a more leisurely full meal with wine, beer or cocktails, this restaurant sits at the head of Jordan’s Pond and offers wide open views.
  8. Have a rainy day Plan B. It’s part of island life. Either gear up in your wet weather attire and carry on as usual, or nestle in with a good book and a seat with a view of Mother Nature doing Her thing.
  9. Buy a t-shirt. Browsing the shops is fun and you’ll find lots of witty and classic styles of t-shirts, sweat shirts and hoodies.
  10. Put on your walking shoes and follow the sounds of music, whether a bluegrass band at Paddy’s Irish Pub, a town ensemble performing in the gazebo on the village green or a solo singer/guitarist outside on the patio at Bar Harbor Beer Works, home of the giant warm pretzel with coarse ground mustard and beer cheese dips. You never know what music will pop up throughout town. July is the Bar Harbor Music Festival with a mixed bag or performers, leaning toward the classical and chamber music style, but dotted with jazz, bluegrass and more at locations throughout the island.
 
For the remainder or 2018 and part of 2019 road construction is ongoing for a half mile near a strip of hotels and the park entrance on Route 3. The inconvenience is minor compared to the rewards of the improvement plan, which will add paved bike lanes, new sidewalks and safer crossings to the water.  
 
For help planning your visit to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park, email [email protected] or call 860-399-0191.

Marcia Simon, APR, CTA, is a travel writer, IATA-accredited travel advisor and principal of MSE Public Relations - creating small group travel experiences and unique promotional opportunities for brands, products, destinations and – above all – travelers. Everyone gets added value.

Share

 
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Marcia Simon, CTA, APR, has been exploring new places since she was 17 years old and traveled around Europe on a Eurailpass with her best friend. Decades later, she still considers travel the best investment of time and money she's ever made for herself and her family.

    Categories

    All
    Client Reviews
    COVID
    Destinations
    East Coast USA
    Europe
    Mindset
    New England
    Savvy Travelers
    Scandinavia
    Travel Tips And Hacks
    Tropical
    West Coast USA

    Archives

    April 2025
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    December 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    September 2022
    June 2022
    February 2022
    October 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    March 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    November 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018

    RSS Feed

SIGN UP NOW FOR OUR NEWSLETTER WITH TRAVEL TIPS, IDEAS AND SPECIAL OFFERS
Picture
[email protected]
860-399-0191
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
  • Home
  • Sedona and Santa Fe
  • River Cruises
  • Blog
  • In the News
  • About
  • eNews sign-up
  • B2B
  • Forms
  • Contact
  • Trip Prep