Aug 31, 2025

Maine’s Vacationland

We were so excited to drive north and eastward from Camden to Mount Desert Island, home to Acadia National Park, the Crown Jewel of the North Atlantic Coast, and the infamous Bar Harbor! Be sure to practice saying “Bar Harbor” like some of the locals. It’s Bah Hahbah. There we would spend a couple days and nights exploring and adventuring together. We also felt the motto, “take only memories, leave only footprints” to be true of our time here around Bar Harbor, and especially within Acadia.

Where to stay: Holiday Inn Resort Bar Harbor

We are big fans of the IHG One Rewards program, and decided to stay at the Holiday Inn Resort Bar Harbor since it is on the oceanfront, and is on the Island Explorer shuttle loop going to downtown Bar Harbor.

The interior renovations here just finished over the summer, and the design and decor is stunning! We love the nautical style with navy, indigo and warm, white oak wood tones mixed with vertical paneling painted in white.

We had an oceanview room with a sofa, table and two chairs. The bathroom featured a nice vanity with a tower shelf at the end, which is rarely seen anymore. It’s always nice to have extra storage when on vacation!

The waterfront path was nice to walk along before we went to dinner in town one night. It was fun to spot some seals on a rock out in the Frenchman Bay.

Our last morning we had breakfast in the restaurant. We had amazing service from Ivan, and we enjoyed the delicious food! We loved the views out the expansive windows of the bay, and the pool.

What to see

Acadia National Park

Bar Harbor is indeed the Gateway to Acadia. We drove to the Cadillac Mountain Summit lookout and enjoyed views from the top. While we didn’t get up in the wee hours of the early morning for sunrise, it was beyond surreal to finally visit one of America’s top visited National Parks (and thus, most beloved). Did you know this is the tallest mountain on the Atlantic coast of the United States. There is even a carriage road system that was incorporated by John D. Rockefeller.

Be sure to map stops into a GPS (download maps for offline use) ahead of entering the park for best signal. One of our favorite spots to see was the Duck Brook Bridge, one of the iconic stone arch bridges for the carriage roads throughout the park!

Then we were lucky enough to drive over to Sand Beach and see that before the sunset. Amazing cove and definitely a spot we’d recommend and look forward to returning to!

Bass Harbor Head Light Station

Take a beautiful 35 minute drive from Bar Harbor to Tremont, a village near Southwest Harbor. The Bass Harbor Head Light is in the Acadia National Park. Prepare to wait a few minutes for a parking spot to open up. Walk the cliff trail for iconic photos of the lighthouse on the rocks.

Agamont Park

Don’t miss the chance to see great views of the harbor, pier, and Bar Island from Agamont Park in Bar Harbor. Walk around, sit on a bench, or listen to a street musician! Also imagine yourself on some of the boats and yachts. Or maybe you will book a whale watching cruise and board nearby! Take in the plants in bloom if the season is right.

Where to eat + drink

Jordan Pond House

The Jordan Pond House is conveniently located in the Acadia National Park. It offers a retreat like experience, with salads, soups and entrees expertly prepared. But Jordan Pond House is most famous for its popovers and tea service. We learned many people make reservations weeks in advance, but we were able to walk in!

With a late arrival around 2:30 pm, we were seated within 15 minutes of walking up to the host stand! We enjoyed the beautiful view of Jordan Pond from inside the restaurant with soaring ceilings lined with pine boards.

The food here is delicious. Maybe it’s the awe and wonder of the location, but we’re not complaining. The Popover Pot Pie was legendary. Edward enjoyed the pasta primavera with added chicken. And the Cadillac Cooler was refreshing with cucumber, Maine Root Ginger Brew, fresh lime juice and rosemary. David had to try the Jordan House Blend hot tea, which did not disappoint. And for dessert, be sure to order the Whoopie Pie.

La Bella Vita

We were glad to find the most perfect Italian restaurant after a day in the park, with views of the Frenchman Bay, right off the lobby at the Holiday Inn Resort. We ordered the absolutely amazing brick oven pizzas. We also shared a large Caesar salad as well. La Bella Vita offers a nice cocktail menu, with local craft beers on draft, and of course, an extensive wine list.

Jeannie’s Great Maine Breakfast

We were craving a classic breakfast. Jeannie’s Great Maine Breakfast downtown Bar Harbor gave us exactly what we were looking for! The M&M Pancakes Edward ordered were so unique! David is always up for biscuits and gravy, so that’s what he had. The restaurant was busy and gave us good energy for our day ahead! Be sure to join the waitlist online before heading over. The line is usually out the door otherwise!

Atlantic Brewing Company

Atlantic Brewing is well known for the Blueberry ale. Just 15 minutes outside of downtown Bar Harbor, we visited the Town Hill tasting room. The brewery wants guests to enjoy the 10-acre setting while tasting and learning about their craft microbrewery. We loved the beer garden atmosphere, and how many friendly dogs there were here! Be sure to also bring your appetite, because Mainely Meat BBQ is onsite!

The Stadium

The Stadium is downtown Bar Harbor, next to Sherman’s Book Store. Stadium prides itself on offering some of Bar Harbor’s best coffee, per The Boston Globe. We ordered cold brew and nitro cold brew; both were excellent. These afternoon delights gave us the energy we needed to carry through our day after shopping. You can also take home some of the locally made and roasted beans from Coffee Hound. Also grab a whoopie pie from the refrigerated case at the cash register!

Leary’s Landing Irish Pub

Leary’s Landing is the Eastern most and Closest Irish Pub to Ireland in the U.S. Walking in, you’re met with a fun, energetic atmosphere. We started with local Maine beers on draft—Allagash White Belgian-style wheat and the Oxbow Luppolo Italian-style pilsner. Then came some amazing food. The Leary’s Landing Lobster Roll has been rated one of Bar Harbor’s best. Here the lobster is tossed in a lemon-herb aioli on a toasted brioche roll. We’d definitely recommend it!

Where to shop

Little Village Gifts

We were so excited to find a special Christmas ornament at Little Village Gifts! It couldn’t be more memorable to have an Acadia National Park sign to add to our tree this year! It is made by Beacon Design, and we have one of their other keepsake ornaments from The Biltmore Estate.

Bark Harbor

No trip away from our pup is complete without finding something for her. Bark Harbor was a huge win, as we found he perfect plush lobster toy to take home for Mitzi! In addition, Bark Harbor also has a wide selection of collars, leashes, apparel and treats.

Sherman’s Book Store

Experience Sherman’s Book Store, Maine’s Largest Bookstore in Bar Harbor, steps from the waterfront. We found an incredible selection of all the best-sellers, and hard-to-find titles, as well. Be sure to ask staff for assistance if you need anything. They even have a library ladder, clearly meant for employee use only!

Debbahs

Family-owned souvenir shop Debbahs has been open and in Bar Harbor for over 70 years. We found they had very good quality screen printing and designs on shirts. We also laughed at the the variety of Labubu toys they had. But Debbahs also has nice jewelry items and other gift ideas to take home!

Until next time

Maine, you’re seriously wicked good. We are grateful to have now visited Acadia National Park and the eastern most point in the United States! The vibes from Bar Harbor will be with us long after we return home. Our memories of all we packed into our long weekend itinerary above are now documented here for posterity. Next time we come back to Maine, it will be amazing to show some of our favorite spots to our son! May the spirit of adventure and wanderlust continue!