Frederic Edwin Church / Public domain
Our 10 Best Things To Do In Bar Harbor, Maine is a helpful guide in narrowing down the best things to do while in Bar Harbor. Most people spend only a few days to up to a week when staying in Maine, so ten things to do is more than enough and won’t let you feel confused. Additionally, a few things on this list contain multiple items to keep you as busy as you want to be in this most beautiful part of the United States. I first visited Bar Harbor, Maine when I was a young kid from the Bronx. It was a transforming moment in my life. The beauty was overwhelming to a city kid. I have continued to go back continuously over the past forty years.
Bar Harbor, Maine is about many things and there are very similar reasons why people travel to Bar Harbor. Standing at the top of that list is the seafood, specifically the lobsters, oh yeah that wonderful delicious Main Lobster. It’s everywhere you go in Bar Harbor and it’s served in many different ways. Secondly, it’s the breathtaking scenery that overwhelms everyone that visits Bar Harbor and keeps them coming back throughout their lifetimes. From the beautiful wildlife, the national parks, the quaint little town, and the air that feels so good to breathe, there are many reasons why you should make the trek to Bar Harbor Maine. It is a paradise in the North East.
# 10 – Land Bridge to Bar Island
Want to experience the parting of the seas? Well, maybe not that dramatic, but close. We open up our 10 best things to do in Bar Harbor, Maine article with the great Land Bridge to Bar Island. This land bridge is only available to use to cross the Harbor at low tide. It is part of the wonderful Bar Harbor trail. Just make sure to time your crossing because the once high tide comes back in, that land crossing will be under 12 feet of water. Now you know why they call it Bar Harbor.
# 9 – Lighthouse Boat Trips
I love cruises, as long as they’re not too long. There is just so much time I can take on a small boat. That’s why I love the Bar Harbor Lighthouse Boat Trips. It’s not too long, but long enough to give you an incredible viewing of some of those historic and wondrous Bar Harbor Lighthouses. There are many small companies that offer lighthouse cruises in Bar Harbor. Most of them have been in business for a long time. Or, you can take a celebrity cruise to Bar Harbor.
# 8 – LuLu Lobster Boat Tour
There are boat tours in Bar Harbor Maine that are basically just Scenic tours like the lighthouse tours then there are boat tours that focus on our favorite reason for visiting Bar Harbor, Maine….. Lobsters! Lulu lobster boat tour is a great one to take a ride on. Friendly boat captains demonstrate how lobsters are caught, where to find them, and what to do once you catch them. This is a great experience for kids to get to see these lobsters fresh out of the water alive and very energetic. The colors on some of these lobsters are simply stunning. If you’re looking to get out on the water and get as close to the lobsters’ natural environment as you can get, the LuLu Lobster Boat Tour will take you there.
# 7 – Whale Watching
Another great reason for visiting Bar Harbor Maine is the opportunity to get to see some of Nature’s biggest creatures…….. Whales! You’re not going to find one on the shore… hopefully not. The easiest way to spot some whales and get as close as you can possibly get to these amazing creatures is by booking a trip with the Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company. The excitement of seeing one of these beautiful whales up close is simply overwhelming. If you’re in Bar Harbor Maine, this is a must.
# 6 – Museums
Every city, and every town has usually at least one museum, Bar Harbor Maine has multiple museums. By far Bar Harbor’s most popular museum is the Abbe Museum. At the museum, you find some very interesting artifacts made by Bar Harbor’s native Wabanaki tribe. Many of the items found at the museum go back hundreds and thousands of years. While in Bar Harbor you will also want to visit The George B. Dorr Museum of Natural History and the Bar Harbor Historical Society Museum.
Photo:AbbeMuseum / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
# 5 – Museum in the Streets – Self-Guided Museum Tour
This self-guided tour defines museums in the streets as not actual museums but rather spectacular points of interest within the town of Bar Harbor, Maine. Self-guided tours is anchored simply by a map that is just handed to you and is very easy to follow. The map will take you to all historical points of interest that define the history of the town of Bar Harbor Maine. This is easily one of the best things to do in Bar Harbor, Maine.
# 4 – Criterion Theater
The legendary Criterion Theater is a historic theater located in the town of Bar Harbor, Maine. The theater was built in the 1930s. While it retains its famous art-deco theme, it has been fully updated with all modern sound equipment so that you may enjoy first-run movies as if you were sitting in a modern AMC Theater. Yet, AMC Theaters cannot match the vintage surroundings and beauty of a 1930s type theater that you get at the Criterion. Plays, concerts, and movies are all featured at the spectacular historic theater.
# 3 -Thunder Hole
Thunder Hole, located in Acadia National Park is one of Bar Harbor’s great natural wonders. The reason this natural wonder is called Thunder Hole is because of the loud thunderous sounds that waves make as they are rejected by this small cavern based in a very small rocky inlet. As thunderous sounds of a wave are bounced back out of the Inlet, a huge spout of water is shot into the skies making this a spectacular experience.
# 2 – Main Street Shops
There are always at least a few people in the family that goes on vacation that loves to shop. Those who love to shop won’t be disappointed in Bar Harbor, Maine. One of the best things to do in Bar Harbor, Maine is to shop. There are so many great places to shop along Main Street in Bar Harbor, Maine that are a far cry from the mall chain stores that people are so bored with. Start out at the wonderful Fair Trade Winds store, and then make sure you take a peak inside places like Bark Harbor, The Bar Harbor Tea Company, Cool As A Moose, Willis Rock Shop and so many more.
# 1 – Acadia National Park
We close out our Best Things to Do in Bar Harbor, Maine list with the grand finale of Acadia National Park. We could actually do a top 10 list of things to do in Acadia National Park as this is one of the most spectacular places in the United States. However, instead of just writing about it, we want you to see it, to experience it, to live it. Just watch the video below and you will be knocked out of your chair.
10 Best Things To Do In Bar Harbor, Maine article published on BigCityReview.com© 2023
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