There’s exactly a 0% chance that Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus was referring to Maine’s Bar Harbor when she sang, “you get the best of both worlds” — but perhaps she should’ve been. While the tiny Mount Desert Island town is famously known as the gateway to Acadia National Park (where deep green mountains, pink granite cliffs, and postcard-worthy trails will keep outdoor enthusiasts busy), it’s also home to one the quaintest, most quintessential New England coastal communities. Think: a main street lined with mom-and-pop gift shops and restaurants, seaside views that look straight from a landscape painting, idyllic inns and boutique hotels (stay at Balance Rock Inn), and boat-filled marinas. Plus, how could we forget, the obscene amount of lobster.
🏞️ Acadia isn’t just a reason to visit Bar Harbor — it’s the reason. One of the most popular ways to explore? Hiking its 150-plus miles of trails, from the family-friendly Ocean Path (prepare to max out your camera roll) to the adrenaline-pumping Beehive Loop, with its near-vertical cliffside climb. If you’re more of a biker, hit the 45 miles of car-free carriage roads, where you’ll pass picturesque granite bridges, mossy brooks, and the park’s only restaurant (fuel up on the legendary, oven-fresh popovers). Or, for something less demanding, drive the 27-mile Park Loop Road, which includes must-see spots like Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, and Cadillac Mountain — where sunrise and sunset are so spectacular, you’ll need an in-season vehicle reservation to access the summit.
🛍️ Spend an afternoon wandering around Bar Harbor’s downtown, which, thanks in part to the brightly painted clapboard buildings, is about as charming as seaside New England gets. Grab some reading material at Sherman’s bookstore, purchase locally made art at Island Artisans, pick up handcrafted toys and puzzles at In the Woods, and get a scoop of the Maine sea salt caramel at Mount Desert Island Ice Cream. Have a few extra hours? You can also visit the Abbe Museum to learn more about the history and culture of the region’s indigenous peoples; sail around Frenchman Bay on a four-masted schooner; or join a whale-watching tour to spot minkes, humpbacks, and finbacks.
🍴If you weren’t aware, Maine has its own food pyramid: lobster, lobster, and more lobster. Get your recommended daily servings at Frenchman Bay Lobster Rolls, a fishermen-owned shack popular for its hot and classic rolls, and C-Ray Lobster, a no-frills joint where you can enjoy a lobster bake on an outdoor picnic table (don’t sleep on the blueberry pie). Lobstered out? Order a stack of blueberry buttermilk pancakes from Jeannie’s Great Maine Breakfast and snag a dinner reservation at Havana to feast on seafood paella, pepita-crusted halibut, and more Latin-fusion dishes.