Bar Harbor is the central location for sure but with that comes tourists, tourists, tourists! The Visitor Center for the park is located about ten minutes from Bar Harbor and I highly recommend going there when you first get here. Of course, it took me years! It is so very easy to get disoriented on this island. The island is really shaped like a big lobster claw and when you get that it does help. However, in the middle of the network of regular roads is the "park loop". There are several entrances around the island and this only helps to confuse you! So, getting your bearings at the visitor center to begin with might help.. or may-be not!
Bar Harbor overflows with restaurants and shops from funky to touristy. You can part with your money here easily. There are also art galleries, The Abbe Museum and The Reel. My favorite spots: the Bar Harbor Inn terrace for lunch looking over the harbor, Testa's for lunch and again you can see the harbor and Rupununi's for Jazz Brunch or a snack of Guiness and lobster bisque. I found out today that Rupununi is a river in the Amazon where the owner spent some time. I also found out today that there is a marathon here next weekend and there was a triathlon up until last year that was a run, kayak and bike. A new find a couple of years back, when Jen, Shelley and I were here was 2 Cats. They have a spectacular breakfast and you can also just go for coffee and enjoy free wifi... very much a coffee house atmosphere.
You will also want to go out on the Mary Todd... the sunset cruise is nice and you can bring your own beverages and snacks. When full sails are up it is really pretty spectacular and you can even help put them up! Bean Doran and I had quite a ride a couple years back when the winds were stiff (we were not which may have made it more scary) and they actually had to put the sails down. The first time I went on it... I was solo and dropped my favorite leather sheath of my jackknife overboard. I kept my self from going after it.. though I must admit retrieval was my first inclination... weird how your mind works in that situation.
There are also opportunities for whale watching, scenic and nature cruises and guided kayak trips to the Cranberry Islands. One of my first trips I did a day kayak out to the Cranberry Islands... we had a picnic lunch and on the way back put up spinnakers and let the wind take our kayaks home. I met some very nice folks and had a great day.
So your visit to the park needs to include some Bar Harbor time... even though I have come up here often - if you were here for months; you could never do everything that is available and this is what keeps you coming back!
Bar Harbor is the first Harbor on the island that I bring to you via this blog. There are three others to share: Northeast Harbor, Bass Harbor and Southwest Harbor.
More to come...
I will keep you posted!
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