The main town on Maine’s Mount Desert Island started life as an exclusive resort—the summer home to the Vanderbilts and the Astors. For such a compact spot, it's seen a lot of change since then. The middle class followed in the coming decades, and then the great fire of 1947 destroyed most of the island’s vacation cottages. Downtown survived, and has flourished ever since; today, the town deftly walks the line between quaint hideaway and fun, tourist kitsch. When you visit Bar Harbor, you’ll find lovely B&Bs, great outdoor activities in neighboring Acadia National Park, and plenty of delicious lobster. Read this Bar Harbor travel guide to help start your own getaway there:
Things Not to Miss in Bar Harbor
• Hike, bike or even drive in Acadia National Park
• Take a whale-watching tour
• Shop along Main and Cottage Streets
• See the Abbe Museum
When To Go to Bar Harbor
Thanks to the warm temperatures and loads of lobster, summer offers the height of Bar Harbor travel. Summer is when crowds and prices hit their peak, too—so planning your travel to Bar Harbor for spring or fall will reap you lower prices. Spring and fall also offer a lot of appeal, too—such as whale watching, from late through early fall, and fabulous leaf peeping in autumn. Winter can be risky: not only do temperatures dip down to zero, but some restaurants and attractions close for the season.
-
8 Charming U.S. Beach Towns That Are Just As Magical in Fall and Winter (Video)
When you imagine a beach resort, images of warm sand beneath your toes and cool dips in the gentle waves likely come to mind. But a beach can be a year... Read More
-
These Popular U.S. Vacation Spots Are so Much Cheaper in September
School is back in session and pumpkin spice lattes are officially being sold, but that doesn’t mean you have to pack up your bags and head home until... Read More
-
13 Affordable Family Vacations to Take This Summer
Summer is right around the corner, and for families thinking of where to plan their next getaway, there are plenty of destinations that won't break the... Read More
-
The Best U.S. Cities to Visit This Fall for Foliage, Food, and Fun
There’s a lot that goes into making the perfect fall destination.Not only does it need fantastic displays of leaves (in all colors: red, orange and... Read More
-
10 Perfect Last-minute Labor Day Weekend Destinations
If you haven't yet planned a trip for Labor Day, don’t despair. You still have plenty of options. Whether you’re craving a quiet day on a pink-sand... Read More
-
The Best Places to See Fall Foliage in the United States
There might be a lot of people out there who are not ready for summer to end, but it’s not all bad news. It’s time for sweater weather, hot apple cider,... Read More
-
Where to Find the Best Ice Cream Across the U.S.
This story originally appeared on Food and Wine. Whether it's a Good Humor bar or $10 sundae, Americans love ice cream — and fantastic parlors... Read More
-
The 12 Best Places to See Fall Foliage in Maine
As New England’s largest state, Maine is almost as big as the rest of the region put together. And with the lowest population density among them, that... Read More
-
America's Favorite Towns
Lyn Mettler lives in Indianapolis, but she’s partial to Aspen, CO. “It’s a hippy-chic town with some of the most breathtaking mountain scenery in the... Read More
-
America’s Favorite Beach Towns 2014
For a really good lobster roll, Kristin Francis is willing to drive a few extra hours.“It would make more sense for me as a New Yorker to hit the... Read More
-
America's Most Romantic Towns
Carly Holbrook came to Aspen, CO, for the Winter X Games, but left with the love of her life.The public relations exec recalls meeting her future... Read More
-
America's Most Beautiful Town Squares
“I live near Decatur Square, so I just walk out my door when I get a craving for a particular food,” says Susan Puckett, 56, a cookbook author in... Read More
-
Beautiful Sunsets: Reader Photos
Remember that scene early in Titanic, when Jack leads Rose to the front of the ship, urging her to step onto the guardrail, giving her the exhilarating... Read More
-
Affordable Seaside Inns
With cooling ocean breezes and miles of striking coastline, Newport was an obvious place for turn-of-the-century tycoons to build their summer mansions.... Read More
-
Most Romantic Summer Destinations
“It’s great to get away to a place where there are few activities besides walking around and exploring and relaxing together. On trips like this, John... Read More
