What’s on Your Bar Harbor Bucket List | Geddy’s
WHAT’S ON YOUR BAR HARBOR BUCKET LIST? Be Sure To Add These Top Four!
Visiting Bar Harbor this Summer?
Be sure to add these top four spots, and activities, to your travel plans! Check-out our suggestions of some of the most popular things to do in Bar Harbor, Maine.
1) Mount Desert Island
Take a tour of Mount Desert Island (“MDI”), which is the largest island off the coast of Maine. The island was named by French explorer, Samuel de Champlain, after its barren mountain top terrain.
With a year-round population of 10,615, MDI is comprised of several quaint New England towns, including Bar Harbor, Mount Desert, Southwest, and Tremont. Explore some of the seaside villages that make-up these towns – Northeast Harbor, Somesville, Bass Harbor (Bass Harbor Lighthouse) and Seal Harbor.
2) Acadia National Park, Maine
One of the most beloved national parks, Acadia National Park (“Acadia”) is the top pick of tourists visiting Bar Harbor. In fact, the park attracts 3.5 million visitors annually. Acadia offers spectacular panoramic views of the island from the summit of Cadillac Mountain, the tallest mountain on the east coast.
In addition to the breathtaking vistas, enjoy biking the famous carriage roads; jogging scenic Eagle Lake; walking stunning Ocean Path; taking a dip in the frigid Atlantic Ocean at Sand Beach; trying to stay dry at Thunder Hole; and, hiking tranquil Jordan Pond. Of course, be sure to stop-off for warm popovers and hot lobster stew at Jordon Pond House afterwards. Soak-up the amazing view, overlooking the pond and surrounding mountains. Don’t leave Bar Harbor without visiting Acadia National Park!
3) Downtown Bar Harbor
Bar Harbor is a vibrant New England coastal town of diverse restaurants and fun shops. Walk along charming Main Street towards the picturesque waterfront. Sit on a bench in Agamont Park, overlooking the lively harbor. Watch the sail boats, lobster boats, seagulls, and locals and visitors playing Frisbee in the park. Take a walk along the Shore Path for stunning views of the coastline of Frenchman Bay and the grand estates of yesteryear, when Bar Harbor was the summer residence of east coast High Society. At low tide, walk across the famous sand bar, of which Bar Harbor is named, to Bar Island. The tides change quickly. So, be careful not to get stranded on the island.
Visit the Bar Harbor Historical Society to learn about Bar Harbor’s fascinating history and the Great Fire of 1947, which forever changed the town’s fortunes. Stop-by Abbe Museum to learn about the history and the culture of the Native people of Maine, the Wabanaki. Browse Sherman’s, the oldest bookstore in the State of Maine, for interesting finds and summer reading. Enjoy a scoop of lobster ice-cream … yes, lobster ice-cream at Mt. Desert Ice Cream, or settle for more classic flavors, such as chocolate or blueberry. Take-in a movie, or a live performance, at the historic Criterion Theater. Be sure to get a balcony seat.
4) Frenchman Bay, Bar Harbor
Enjoy the quaint New England town of Bar Harbor by water. Take a tour of Frenchman Bay on the historic Margaret Todd Schooner, part of the Downeast Windjammer Cruise Lines, directly across from Agamont Park. Go whale watching and puffin watching with the Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co. Rent Kayaks from Coastal Kayaking Tours and explore the waterfront at your own pace.
Want to learn more about Maine’s famous crustacean, the lobster, or other sea creatures? Be sure to visit Dive-In Theater with Diver Ed for a fascinating education on local sea creatures … or take a trip on Lulu’s Lobster Boat for lobster boat rides and Bar Harbor tours.
Of course, don’t forget to add Geddy’s to your bucket list. Be sure to check-out Geddy’s live lobster tank. See and learn about this famous delicacy, the Maine Lobster. Also, visit Geddy’s Down-Under, the gift shop below the restaurant, for fun and unique t-shirts and local gifts. Geddy’s is located on Main Street in downtown Bar Harbor, steps from the town pier and across from Agamont Park.
For additional suggestions on Bar Harbor, be sure to look at the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce’s website too.
Enjoy your Bar Harbor adventure … and experience, first-hand, what makes “Bah Hahbah” a favorite travel destination!
Cheers for now, 🙂
Heather
www.geddys.com