

Archaeologists have evidence that indicates Native Americans first arrived on Mount Desert Island around 5,000 years ago. Wabanaki people and their ancestors lived on the land for thousands of years prior to the arrival of Europeans in their homeland, and continue to have an important presence in this place today. When it comes to accommodations, visitors will find lodging to suit every travel style and budget, from neatly kept motor lodges to historic inns to luxurious hotels.īar Harbor has been a haven for summer vacationers for more than two centuries. While the Bar Harbor region is best known for its outdoor activities, its small museums, cultural landmarks, and historically significant structures highlight a varied past and present. Off the coast, a variety of sea life including whales, dolphin, seals, and the elusive Atlantic puffin, can be spotted.

Because of its diverse habitats, the region is home to many species of bird and is a popular birding destination. In the fall, leaf peepers come from all over to experience the explosion of color. The Bar Harbor region offers four seasons of adventure, from hiking and biking to snowshoeing and cross‐country skiing in winter. to see the sunrise during fall and winter. Another one of the park’s numerous distinctive features is Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the North Atlantic seaboard and the first place in the U.S. It features 45 miles of motor vehicle‐free carriage roads and 16 stone‐faced bridges, each unique in design, built by Rockefeller so visitors could easily explore the park. and other wealthy landowners, is one of the most visited national parks in the U.S. The park, an area preserved in perpetuity thanks to the generosity of American business magnate John D. On the quieter side of the island, coastal villages with enchanting names like Bass Harbor, Otter Creek, and Seal Harbor are home to working waterfronts, family‐run lobster pounds, cafes, galleries, and artisan shops.Īcadia National Park can be accessed right from downtown Bar Harbor. Bar Harbor is the largest community and offers a great variety of amenities and tourism experiences to visitors. Because of this variety, there is something for everyone to connect to. Mount Desert Island’s picturesque coastal communities and colorful people are as varied as the island’s scenery. Though it is spelled Mount “Desert” Island, Desert is actually pronounced “dessert,” the French pronunciation, in homage to Samuel de Champlain, the celebrated French voyager who explored and named the island in 1604. It is the shopping, dining and nightlife headquarters of the island, the second largest on the eastern seaboard behind Long Island. This beauty has been captured in the works of Thomas Cole, Frederic Edwin Church, Fitz Henry Lane, and many other great artists.īar Harbor, Mount Desert Island’s largest community, is a five‐hour drive from Boston and 50 miles from Bangor International Airport. The natural beauty that surrounds Bar Harbor is punctuated with ocean cliffs and rocky beaches, glacier‐formed lakes and valleys, unobstructed mountain vistas, and boreal forest. A celebrated vacation destination on Mount Desert Island that is the gateway to Acadia National Park, it possesses a rich history and culture unlike any other.

There’s something magical about Bar Harbor.
