If the thought of taking a trip to Maine during the summer to experience the coastline has ever appealed to you, one of the places you should make sure you visit is Bar Harbor, which is located on the northern end of Maine – just off the coast on Mount Desert Island. Bar Harbor is a summer destination for tourism (it is far too cold for most tourists in the winter!), and as a haven for summer visitors from all over the world, is provides you with no shortage of great things to see and do.
Acadia National Park: Acadia National Park covers 30,000 acres of beautiful land along the coast and inland, and this breathtaking area is not only home to a couple of historic lighthouses (which provide great photo opportunities), but every year over two million people also come to visit!
North Atlantic Ocean: If you enjoy spending time by the ocean, you can also enjoy miles of beautiful beaches; the water is a bit cold for doing a lot of swimming, but the ocean near Bar Harbor is also popular for the availability of both ocean cruises and whale watching tours that depart each day from the island.
Shopping: If you enjoy shopping in locally-owned shops that sell hand-crafted or homegrown items, Bar Harbor is a great place for you; there are no big department stores on the island, which means that you can shop anywhere in Bar Harbor and take home a little piece of the island with you.
Dining: And of course, no trip to Maine is complete without indulging in the New England cuisine; in Bar Harbor, you will find everything from New England clam chowder to Maine lobster to scallops and fish to good old American diners and cheeseburgers!
You might not think of Bar Harbor as the perfect recipe for “vacation,” but after a trip to the island and a few days enjoying the scenic beauty, you will surely understand why millions of people make their way to Bar Harbor and the area around it every single summer!
