Bar Harbor

Bar Harbor is a charming resort town on Mount Desert Island in Hancock County, Maine, sitting gracefully on the edge of Frenchman Bay. Because it functions as a tender port rather than a dockside destination, cruise liners anchor out in the bay while passengers enjoy a fifteen-minute scenic ride to the pier. Typically visited as a port of call on longer voyages through New England and Canada, the port drops visitors right near the heart of town.

The surrounding landscape and town boast a rich history dating back to its incorporation as Eden in 1796. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the island evolved into an exclusive summer resort for wealthy eastern elites, whose magnificent estates rivaled those in Newport, Rhode Island. Today, Bar Harbor serves as the primary gateway to the breathtaking expanses of Acadia National Park, which includes Cadillac Mountain, the highest point along the eastern seaboard's coastline. Philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr. famously donated a vast portion of the park's land and constructed its historic carriage roads.

Stepping off the tender boat places travelers within easy walking distance of downtown's bustling Main Street, lined with local boutique shops, family-owned lobster pounds, and casual seafood shacks serving fresh catches from local waters. Visitors can also stroll along the historic Shore Path, established in 1880, which winds along the coastline to offer picturesque views of the open sea and the neighboring Porcupine Islands. For outdoor exploration beyond the town center, the local Island Explorer bus system provides convenient, eco-friendly access across Acadia National Park for hiking, biking, and wildlife-watching boat tours that frequently spot puffins, harbor seals, and migrating whales.

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