things to do in bar harbor

Bar Harbor, Maine

A colorful historic district, gorgeous surf-battered shorelines, and Acadia National Park out the back door

Stay at Acadia Pines Motel for easy access to the historic town of Bar Harbor and the rest of Mount Desert Island, home to Acadia National Park.

You’ll be minutes away from the infamous Ocean Drive, scenic attractions in Acadia National Park, and the fun artsy vibe on Main Street in Bar Harbor. Discover a variety of shops, museums, restaurants, cafes, and of course, the stunning scenery and adventurous outdoor activities that put this place on the map.

Experience the lush greenery, explosions of fall color, tranquil waterfalls and lakes, and rocky shorelines begging to be explored that have made Acadia one of the most visited national parks in the U.S.

Acadia National Park: An outdoors paradise

Acadia National Park represents an outdoor escape criss-crossed with 120 miles of trails, blanketed by verdant forests, and pummeled by surf from the Atlantic Ocean. The glacial granite of Cadillac Mountain rises right from the sea to tower 1,500 feet over the island, offering eye-catching views along with stunning sunrises and sunsets.

In Acadia’s pristine 50,000 acres, you’ll catch sight of marine life like dolphins, otters, starfish, and whales, see tidepools, sit next to serene waterfalls, watch surf majestically pound against jagged ocean cliffs, and, if you’re lucky, see forests burn with color in the fall.

Acadia’s rare mix of outdoor splendor and hundreds of years of American history make it a vacation destination you’ll talk about for the rest of your life.

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Colorful, artsy, and historic Bar Harbor, Maine

In Bar Harbor, you’ll learn that seaside charm couples well with colorful historic character and the ample outdoor opportunities that sustain the 5,000 inhabitants of Bar Harbor and its 3.5 million visitors a year.

Walking down the artsy Main Street of Bar Harbor, which was established in 1796, you’ll find museums, cultural landmarks, and plenty of restaurants serving Maine lobster. Though Bar Harbor is the cultural, shopping, and dining center of Mount Desert Island, it’s complemented by the towns of Southwest Harbor, Mount Desert, and Tremont, which all have distinctive Northeast “flavors” worth sampling.

Bar Harbor’s unique location and coastal vibe will add to the fun of your vacation, making Acadia Pines Motel a wonderful basecamp for your island adventures.

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Activities on Mount Desert Island, in Bar Harbor, and in Acadia National Park

Outdoor enthusiasts cherish the varied opportunities for recreation on Mount Desert Island. A vast network of hiking, horseback riding, biking, and -non-motorized historic carriage roads connect you to the stunning beauty of Acadia National Park. And if trails aren’t your idea of a vacation, you can also go rock climbing, ocean or lake kayaking, tide-pool exploring, or even scuba diving (experts only).

If culture is what you’re after, the island boasts unique shops, museums, gardens, live theater, music festivals, golf courses, and a surprising array of dining with plenty of fresh seafood.

A free shuttle system connects points of interest around Mt. Desert Island so you don’t have to worry about fighting for parking spots or time-consuming shuttle rides for one-way adventures. Or you could take info and entertainment-packed guided tours of the island including Bar Harbor walking tours, bus tours, lighthouse tours, whale-watching boat tours, oldschool carriage tours, or even flying tours.

To experience all that Bar Harbor, Acadia National Park, and Mount Desert Island have to offer you on your vacation, book your room now.