The Top 5 Reasons to Visit Bar Harbor, Maine Now
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There’s something magical about Bar Harbor, Maine. A legendary vacation destination on Mount Desert Island and gateway to Acadia National Park, it possesses a rich history and culture unlike any other. The natural beauty that surrounds Bar Harbor is punctuated with ocean cliffs and rocky beaches, glacier‐formed lakes and valleys, unobstructed mountain vistas, and boreal forest.
Mount Desert Island’s picturesque coastal communities and colorful people are as varied as the island’s scenery. Bar Harbor offers four seasons of adventure, from hiking and biking to snowshoeing and cross‐country skiing in winter. During the fall, leaf peepers come from all over to experience the explosion of color. These are the top five reasons why Bar Harbor, Maine should be on your bucket list.
1. THE CUISINE & COCKTAILS
Established in beautiful downtown Bar Harbor, Maine, Salt & Steel sources the freshest local produce, meat and fish from Maine’s master purveyors to ensure a unique and exciting experience. The sommelier has carefully cultivated an extensive list of wines designed to perfectly complement your meal, while a full bar prepares classic cocktails to enjoy. For your artisanal cocktail fix, we recommend trying the Ladder 47—concocted with Four Roses bourbon, sarsaparilla syrup, smoked to order and arrives to your table revealing a fragrant puff of smoke. For something different try the Maracuya Lima. Maracuya, meaning passionfruit, is the star of this take on a Pisco Sour. Shaken with an egg white for beautiful texture and foam, this cocktails is as wonderful to drink as it is to look at!
Showcasing the best of Maine’s bounty, favorite dishes at Salt & Steel include Leek Ash Crusted Venison Tenderloin with savory pear butter, wheatberry, onion soubise, and hazelnut, Walking Through Acadia with roasted maitake mushrooms, local Japanese knotweed, Fiore sherry vinegar, hazelnuts, and tarragon “moss,” Sea-cuterie with beet-cured salmon, scallop mortadella and pastrami tuna loin, Olive Oil Poached Halibut with parsnip purée, locally foraged fiddlehead ferns, oven dried Kalamata olives and lemon gelée, as well as Hake Bolognese with house-made pasta, San Marzano tomato, house-cured hake sausage, and garlic breadcrumbs.
Take the time to indulge your sweet tooth and enjoy one of many decadently prepared desserts such as Gorgonzola Dolce Panna Cotta with brown butter granola, honey poached mission figs or Maine Grains Cornbread with blueberry cream cheese mousse, wild Maine blueberry compote and walnuts.
2. THE ART
The Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor is a museum of Wabanaki art, history, and culture. The first and only Smithsonian Affiliate in Maine, the Abbe’s intention is to be inclusive, collaborative, and mindful of cultural history and works closely with Wabanaki people to share their stories, history, and culture with a broader audience.
Source: Abbe Museum
The Abbe Museum has over 70,000+ collections consisting of nationally recognized artworks by Wabanaki artists, including the largest and best-documented collection of Maine Native American basketry in any museum. The museum holds the largest and best-documented collection of Maine Native American basketry in any museum.
3. THE SHOPPING
Walk through the downtown villages surrounding Acadia National Park and you will experience a window shopper’s paradise. Discover Maine’s famous gemstone, the dazzling and elusive watermelon tourmaline, bring home a coveted sweetgrass basket woven by one of Maine’s finest Native American artisans, or remember your trip with a sunny watercolor painting of the Porcupine Islands.
Source: Visit Maine
Many shops are open all year long but no matter when you visit you're sure to find something original in Bar Harbor and its neighboring towns.
4. THE GARDENS
At the Wild Gardens of Acadia you can see over 400 native plant species in thirteen sections designed to represent natural plant communities found within Acadia National Park. Habitats such as mountain, heath, seaside, coniferous forest, and nine others are represented.
The gardens serve as a living field guide and educational resource to familiarize one with native vegetation. All plants are labeled and grouped by habitat. The gardens are open seasonally every morning until dusk. There is no additional fee to view the gardens; you only need your park entrance pass.
5. THE HIKING
The “Crown Jewel of the North Atlantic Coast,” Acadia National Park protects the natural beauty of the highest rocky headlands along the Atlantic coastline of the United States, an abundance of habitats, and a rich cultural heritage. For half the year, this mammoth mountain, known as Cadillac Mountain, is home to the first rays of daylight to touch the United States, and the perfect place to catch the sunrise year-round.
Source: Acadia National Park
Considering the sheer scale and beauty of the mountain (it’s the tallest on Mount Desert Island and the Atlantic Coast), it’s no wonder why it attracts so many visitors. Acadia National Park may appear small on a map, but the park encompasses nearly 50,000 acres along the Atlantic Coastline of Maine—including Mount Desert Island, Schoodic Peninsula, Isle au Haut, and other outer islands. 60 miles of coastline, 33 miles of scenic motor roads, 45 miles of carriage roads, and more than 150 miles of hiking trails provide numerous ways to explore the park.
WHERE TO STAY IN BAR HARBOR, MAINE
Yellow House Inn offers guests a peaceful seaside respite just steps away from dining, shopping, galleries and sightseeing along the waterfront of downtown Bar Harbor, Maine. The thoughtfully curated accommodations blend together the charm and intimacy of a traditional bed and breakfast with modern touches and amenities of a boutique hotel.
Yellow House Inn is ideal for travelers looking to experience the true essence of Acadia National Park and Coastal Maine in a serene setting that promotes adventure, wellness, relaxation and most importantly, feels like home. Book below to reserve your room at the lowest price, guaranteed.
Note: This information was accurate when this article was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
