Bar Harbor, Maine, is a beautiful place to vacation. I should know; I lived there for six years, and for two of those years I managed a Bed & Breakfast. So I do consider myself a bit of an expert on the area and on what you should and shouldn’t do if you plan to vacation in Bar Harbor, Maine.
There are many activities and lodging choices in Bar Harbor, and sometimes it can seem a little overwhelming as you try to plan a really nice vacation. Here are my top 10 Bar Harbor, Maine, vacation tips:
Bar Harbor, Maine, Vacation Tip #1
Know what time of year you want to go to Bar Harbor before you plan your trip. It doesn’t really warm up there until June. In April and May you will get better rates but you run right into Mud Season, the snow has melted and it can rain a lot during those months. If you hate crowds stay away during July and August, especially the July 4th vacation time. Bar Harbor is a very small town and over a million people descend for the 4th of July activities. The bet months in Bar Harbor for vacation are June and October.
Bar Harbor, Maine, Vacation Tip #2
Fly directly into the small Bar Harbor airport, not into Portland. The drive is really a waste of your vacation time from Portland to Bar Harbor. From the Bar Harbor airport grab one of the many taxi services that run from April through November. Then it is only a thirty minute ride into Bar Harbor and the driver will tell you about the area as you go.
Do stay directly in the village of Bar Harbor, but don’t pay extra to stay on the waterfront. Everything you need in Bar Harbor is right in the small downtown area and you can get anywhere you need to go by walking. There is also a mile long shore path and the National Park for all the free water views you could want all day long. Don’t pay extra to stay in a room with a view, it’s not worth it in Bar Harbor.
Bar Harbor, Maine, Vacation Tip #4
Save your money and do not rent a car. You won’t need it at all. You can walk to wherever you want to get downtown. If you want to go into the park for a day then rent motor scooters, or a bike, or take the free propane powered buses into the park. There are also trolleys that run all day long throughout the season that will take you wherever you need to go.
Bar Harbor, Maine, Vacation Tip #5
No matter what anyone else tells you, eat before you go out on the whale watching tours. And do not go out in the morning or evening for whale watching, pick the tour that goes in the middle of the say. Remember too that it may be 80 degrees on the dock but out on the water it will feel like 40 degrees. Take a jacket, bring a camera and wear sun screen.
Bar Harbor, Maine, Vacation Tip #6
Please bring the right shoes to Bar Harbor for the activities that you want to do. There are over fifty miles of carriage trails to be explored on the island, but that should not occur with you wearing flip-flops on your feet. You need sturdy foot wear for the hiking that is available. Have a fun vacation in Bar Harbor, and don’t get hurt because you wanted to wear those sandals.
All the seafood in Bar Harbor is fresh. The main dock is a working dock and you can watch the lobster boats go out in the morning, if you are up at 4:00 a.m. The clams and lobster is amazing. But listen to the locals about where to get the best food at. They will be honest and tell you if a particular new restaurant just isn’t good yet.
Bar Harbor, Maine, Vacation Tip #8
All the traffic laws apply in Bar Harbor just like they do wherever you call home. If you do happen to drive to Bar Harbor or rent a car, please be very careful as there are a lot of other people there. I have watched drivers go the wrong way one way streets and some other crazy things while on vacation and it really can put people in danger of being hurt.
Bar Harbor, Maine, Vacation Tip #9
Bar Harbor has become a port of destination for many cruise lines over the last few years. If you are smart you will check that your vacation days in Bar Harbor do not correspond on a day when three different cruise ships will be in the harbor. The people getting off the ships can take over the town very quickly and it can be difficult for you to get around the town. Of special note is when the Queen Mary II is in port and everyone comes to see it.
Bar Harbor, Maine, Vacation Tip #10
The Acadia National Park is so beautiful and there is so much to see and do in Bar Harbor. Do not spend a day of your vacation taking the CAT Ferry from Bar Harbor to Nova Scotia and back. It sounds like a great way to spend a day, but it is not worth the time and money. There is not that much to do in Nova Scotia once you get there, especially if it’s not in the height of the season. Spend your time in the park rather then on a boat.
