For many years when I was growing up, my family went to Bar Harbor, Maine on summer vacation. It had been five years since our last visit, so this June we finally went back. Located on Mount Desert Island, Bar Harbor is home to Acadia National Park, which is 47,000 acres of wildlife, woodlands, beaches, and mountains. I love Maine, and Acadia is one of my favorite vacation spots. It is a place like no other, and below are some of the best sights to see and things to do there.
Cadillac Mountain
This is the first place in the U.S. to see the sunrise during many months of the year. Although my family didn’t wake up early enough to see the sunrise, we did watch two beautiful sunsets from the summit. Reaching 1,538 feet, Cadillac Mountain is the perfect place to see the Porcupine Islands, a group of ten islands located in Frenchman Bay, Maine.
Jordan Pond
Jordan Pond in Acadia National Park is a glacier formed pond that is surrounded by mountains. The maximum water depth is 150 feet and it is exceptionally clear (up to 60 feet of visibility in some areas!) It’s also home to Jordan Pond House, a restaurant which overlooks the pond and serves world-famous popovers. A popover is a light muffin that rises to form a hollow shell when baked. Personally, I think popovers taste best when filled with vanilla ice cream and covered with chocolate sauce.
Sand Beach
Nestled between mountains and rocky shores, Sand Beach consists of shell fragments and beautiful sand. A family beach with big waves, although the water doesn’t get much warmer than 55 degrees, it is a wonderful place to relax. We spent about five hours there laying in the sand, soaking up the sun, and splashing in the waves.
Thunder Hole
Just as the names implies, at Thunder Hole waves crash into a rocky inlet to make the sound of thunder. On calm days it may not seem like much, but when the tide is high and the waves are strong, the water spouts up as high as 40 feet. At this location there’s a great view of some of Acadia’s other breathtaking sights, including Sand Beach.
Carriage Roads
In the early 1900’s, John D. Rockefeller Jr. directed the construction of 57 miles of carriage roads in Acadia for the use of hikers, bikers, horse riders and horse-drawn carriages, which are still being used today. During our stay my family biked on the trails and took a break at Eagle Lake.
The “Bar” of Bar Harbor
At low tide, a sandbar reveals it itself and can be used as a bridge to get to Bar Island. The land bridge is accessible for about two hours before low tide and two hours after. Throughout the rest of the day, it looks as though the bridge doesn’t even exist. But when it is uncovered, it’s a fascinating place to explore.
Dive-In Theater Boat Cruise
This is not your typical boat cruise. Being led by “Diver Ed,” passengers are first taken on a scenic boat tour of Frenchman Bay and then the real fun begins. Diver Ed gets pushed overboard and explores the deep blue sea with underwater audio and video equipment so that everyone can take part in the adventure. As Ed fights off lobsters and collects sea stars, those who are aboard watch it all on a television screen. He then returns to the boat with sea critters for everyone to meet. Crabs, lobsters, snails, sea stars… You never know what he’s going to find!
Those are just a few of the many fun things to do on Mount Desert Island. If you are ever looking for a nice place to go on a family vacation, Bar Harbor should definitely be on the list!
