Day Trips From Bar Harbor Maine
August 21, 2022 1:44 PM Subscribe
My wife and I will be camping for 5 nights in Bar Harbor in mid-September - planning to spend most of our time exploring Acadia, but open to a fun day trip if anybody has suggestions. I'd probably want to limit the driving part of the day trip to no more than 2 hours each way if we are going to a specific place.
You could visit the disputed territory of Machias Seal Island and meet the puffins. Ferry from Cutler ME which is a tad over 2hrs NE of Bar Harbor.
posted by BobTheScientist at 2:42 PM on August 21, 2022
posted by BobTheScientist at 2:42 PM on August 21, 2022
Lubec is just over two hours from Bar Harbor. Once there you can go to Quoddy Head Light, which is the Eastern most point in the US. If you have a passport and some extra time you can hop over to Campbello Island, which has another really cool light house station that is only accessible when the tide is in.
The Schoodic Peninsula is just North of Mt. Desert Island, and while it is similar to MDI it has its own beauty and is worth a trip.
Whale watches out of Bar Harbor are worth it, but bundle up. If you get yourself to Stonnington you can take the mail boat out to Isle Au Haut, though watch the schedule because if you miss the boat, you're stuck.
posted by bondcliff at 2:45 PM on August 21, 2022
The Schoodic Peninsula is just North of Mt. Desert Island, and while it is similar to MDI it has its own beauty and is worth a trip.
Whale watches out of Bar Harbor are worth it, but bundle up. If you get yourself to Stonnington you can take the mail boat out to Isle Au Haut, though watch the schedule because if you miss the boat, you're stuck.
posted by bondcliff at 2:45 PM on August 21, 2022
Lubec is just over two hours from Bar Harbor. Once there you can go to Quoddy Head Light, which is the Eastern most point in the US. If you have a passport and some extra time you can hop over to Campbello Island, which has another really cool light house station that is only accessible when the tide is in.
This is really one of my happy places, I would second this suggestion. I also enjoyed going on the lighthouse harbor tour (formerly narrated by lelilo, RIP). If it's still a thing, it's a good time.
posted by jessamyn at 3:39 PM on August 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
This is really one of my happy places, I would second this suggestion. I also enjoyed going on the lighthouse harbor tour (formerly narrated by lelilo, RIP). If it's still a thing, it's a good time.
posted by jessamyn at 3:39 PM on August 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
Are you beer people? Maine has a pretty significant number of breweries - check out the Maine Brewers Guild website for a list and a map. Bath/Brunswick is probably just a bit too far for your criteria, but if you're driving up to Acadia you're probably going to make your way through that area anyway and Maine Brewing is pretty close to the highway and also one of the most highly rated breweries in New England.
posted by backseatpilot at 3:41 PM on August 21, 2022
posted by backseatpilot at 3:41 PM on August 21, 2022
My parents cannot stop talking about the Owl's Head Transportation Museum, so if you like funny little museums and/or cars, it might be a good option. There's also a historic lighthouse nearby (natch), and you're near downtown Rockland, which is very cute and home to a world-class art museum, the Farnsworth.
And backseatpilot is right: Maine Brewing is great! Also highly recommend their pizza if you're looking for a place to stop for lunch.
posted by dizziest at 3:43 PM on August 21, 2022 [3 favorites]
And backseatpilot is right: Maine Brewing is great! Also highly recommend their pizza if you're looking for a place to stop for lunch.
posted by dizziest at 3:43 PM on August 21, 2022 [3 favorites]
Came here to recommend the puffins at Machias. It's a must. Book in advance!
posted by Dr. Wu at 4:19 PM on August 21, 2022
posted by Dr. Wu at 4:19 PM on August 21, 2022
To update the Jordan Pond House situation - the Park Service lets a contract to run the Pond House. In the recent past the quality of the food is not what it was, but the good news is that the Asticou Inn in Northeast Harbor has taken up the challenge deliciously. It's a beautiful and gracious inn with a restaurant open to the public. They also offer popovers and jam, and their seafood chowder is fantastic, satisfying in every way. Every year I visit includes at least one lunch or tea at the Asticou Inn. It's not the gorgeous lake and "bubble" view the Jordan Pond House offers, but it does have a gorgeous expansive deck overlooking the harbor. So different but offering far better food.
It's located about a half mile down the harborside road to the entrance to the Thuya Gardens, a beautiful garden originally private and now open to the public, and well worth a visit for garden-lovers. Parking is along the road, and the path leads up to the gardens. Not strenuous, but you do have to be able to walk along a path that zig-zags up a fairly steep hill to the garden.
posted by citygirl at 5:34 PM on August 21, 2022 [4 favorites]
It's located about a half mile down the harborside road to the entrance to the Thuya Gardens, a beautiful garden originally private and now open to the public, and well worth a visit for garden-lovers. Parking is along the road, and the path leads up to the gardens. Not strenuous, but you do have to be able to walk along a path that zig-zags up a fairly steep hill to the garden.
posted by citygirl at 5:34 PM on August 21, 2022 [4 favorites]
You might want to consider a picnic on Schoodic Peninsula, which is also part of Acadia, but detached from the main island (and a short drive off of it). Take the mailboat over to either Little or Great Cranberry or both, and just walk around - Little Cran is the more populated one, but also has places to get a snack. Slightly further away, drive over to the charming town of Camden, drive up Mount Battie, and see the view that inspired Edna St Vincent Millay's "Renascence" - "All I could see from where I stood / Was three long mountains and a wood"
posted by scolbath at 5:08 AM on August 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by scolbath at 5:08 AM on August 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
We enjoyed walking around Thuya Gardens just above NE Harbor.
posted by Don_K at 7:48 AM on August 22, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by Don_K at 7:48 AM on August 22, 2022 [2 favorites]
Deer Isle is nearby, the perfect day trip from Bar Harbor. It's beautiful like Acadia, but toned down, more local-oriented than touristy. Stonington is a nice little lobstering town. Barred Island is real cool, if you're into seeing the tide cover and reveal a sand bar that makes the island accessible. Take a lobster boat tour around the harbor. Take the ferry to Isle au Haut (which is part of Acadia).
posted by booth at 8:16 AM on August 22, 2022
posted by booth at 8:16 AM on August 22, 2022
Response by poster: Unfortunately we missed puffin season. We did a 4-hour birding tour on Mt. Desert with Down East Nature Tours - very highly recommended. Tried to mostly stay out of downtown Bar Harbor - soooo many tourists. Ate out in Southwest Harbor at Beale's Lobster Pier, did the Beehive Trail, and had the best ice cream I've ever had at https://udderheaven.com/.
And yes, we had popovers (and Lobster Stew) at Jordan Pond. It was an amazing trip.
Edit - also spent a day out on Schoodic Peninsula
posted by COD at 2:08 PM on September 21, 2022
And yes, we had popovers (and Lobster Stew) at Jordan Pond. It was an amazing trip.
Edit - also spent a day out on Schoodic Peninsula
posted by COD at 2:08 PM on September 21, 2022
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posted by SPrintF at 2:32 PM on August 21, 2022 [2 favorites]