Bar Harbor is located on Mount Desert Island off the Atlantic coast of Maine. Ben Harbor, which is 268 miles north of Boston, covers 45 square miles and is made up six villages. With its wide variety of outdoor and cultural events, the town attracts millions of visitors every year.
History
The Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce has put together a self-guided walking tour that will take you in a circle around the town. On the one-hour walk you can view 25 historical sites, many of which are on the National Register of Historic Places, including St. Savior's Church and a 1910 post office.
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Dining
Seafood dinners in Bar Harbor are often delivered by a fisherman or lobsterman directly to the restaurant and then your plate. There are more than 100 restaurants in Bar Harbor covering many kinds of food. You can even dine in a lighthouse at Seal Harbor beach. If you want to eat as much local fare as possible, check out the Eden Farmer's Market held on Sundays from May to October in the YMCA parking lot at the junction of Main and Park Streets. There's also the Acadia Farmer's Market, which is held on Fridays in July through October next to the Town Hill Fire Station in Bar Harbor.
Outdoor Activities
Because of its island setting, sailing and boating are among the most popular activities in Bar Harbor. And as home to Acadia National Park, the Bar Harbor area has many opportunities for outdoor activities. Acadia has 55 miles of biking trails and more than 120 miles of hiking trails. You can bike, canoe, kayak, swim, golf, rock climb and hike. In the winter, you can cross-country ski, snowshoe or ice climb. There are also guides who will teach you how to rock climb and take you sailing or whale watching.
Lodging
Mount Desert Island has several campgrounds with RV facilities. If you don't want to rough it, other lodging options include a small, intimate bed and breakfast, a family-owned motel and a harborside hotel and spa.
Events
Bar Harbor events include the Acadia Birding Festival in mid-June where unique Maine birds like puffins, Arctic terns and warblers under the guidance of bird experts. The festival also includes catamaran tours that go 20 to 30 miles offshore to view whales and birds at sea and canoe and kayak trips that explore the bays and estuaries around the island. The Legacy of the Arts festival is a free weeklong event in late June that showcases local and nationwide artists at galleries, parks and shops throughout Bar Harbor. The festival also offers demonstrations and hands-on workshops, plus home and garden tours and concerts. Bar Harbor celebrates the Fourth of July with a blueberry pancake breakfast, seafood festival, lobster races, a parade and waterfront fireworks.
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