We've always wanted to visit Maine, so in all of our travels we've asked people from the northeast, "Where should we go in Maine?" The answer was almost always, "Bar Harbor." (BAH-HAWBAH)
Although I imagined Bar Harbor to be a quaint little fishing village on the coast of Maine, it is quite the bustling little town which also serves as an active cruise ship port. Despite the crowds and touristy flair, we still had fun checking out this town. We also tasted a local treat here - Maine blueberry and lemon whoopee pies from Pink Pastry Bakery - YUM!
See our video from Bar Harbor HERE.
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK
The real star of this area is Acadia National Park. The rocky coastline is stunning! We did a little rock climbing near the shore, rode bikes on the old carriage roads around gorgeous mountain lakes, searched for creatures in tide pools, spotted seals in the water, and watched lobster boats in the bay.
CADILLAC MOUNTAIN ROAD
Driving up Cadillac Mountain Road was one of our favorite days here. Cadillac Mountain is the highest point on the eastern seaboard and accessible by cars (21 feet or less) or by hike. From the very top you can look down on all of Acadia, the surrounding Atlantic creeping into the bays, and the rocky islands dotted across the horizon along the shore. You need a reservation to drive up to Cadillac Mountain, but it's only $6 - absolutely worth it!
BAR HARBOR OCEANSIDE KOA
We picked this popular campground for its proximity to Bar Harbor & Acadia. Although the sites are a little tight and the price is a little steep, the campground does border a beautiful rocky oceanfront. We loved gathering with other campers near the shore in the evenings to watch the sun go down and spot seals. This campground also has a little cafe, The Lobster Trap Cafe, which serves breakfast in the morning and fresh lobster in the evenings. There were also many activities for the kids - tie-dye t-shirt craft, pumpkin pantings, a whale ecology presentation, and evening train rides around the campground.