Curator’s statement
Fall in Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park is magical and serene with its breathtaking views, quaint town of Bar Harbor on the coast, and incredible coastline. There is no limit to fall activities in Bar Harbor—everything from biking the Carriage Roads, to hiking around Jordan Pond, to enjoying homemade ice cream in town or enjoying a great lobster roll or seafood at one of the many restaurants.
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Where to stay in Bar Harbor, Maine
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Things to do in Bar Harbor, Maine
Exploring the Thunder Hole and Ocean Path area of Acadia National Park
Biking the Carriage Roads in Acadia: You can rent your bikes from downtown Bar Harbor and bike into Acadia National Park to the Carriage Roads. They are wide, beautiful gravel paths that take you through the park.
Sunrise at Cadillac Mountain: Seeing one of the first sunrises in the USA on a clear morning overlooking Bar Harbor was one of our favorite experiences in Acadia. Make sure you get your reservation early so you can go up Cadillac Mountain.
Sunrise photography session along the Ocean Path: We hired a photographer out of Bar Harbor for our first anniversary photos and loved seeing the sunrise from a different part of Acadia alongside Ocean Path and Thunder Hole.
Fishing and hiking at Jordan Pond: We were able to get to Jordan Pond right after sunrise at Cadillac Mountain and it was serene and peaceful—full of fall colors and birds calling to each other, and not crowded yet. We fished (having procured a fishing license) and hiked for a couple hours before it got too crowded or warm.
Driving and exploring along Park Loop Road: Beautiful one-way road to see the south part of Acadia National Park. It offers a lot of pull-offs to see the various overlooks and ocean paths.
Wandering and shopping in downtown Bar Harbor: Bar Harbor is quintessential and a serene harbor town with so many darling shops, restaurants, and parks to explore. Wandering through the town, seeing local art and gifts, and grabbing a delicious homemade ice cream made for a wonderful afternoon.
Grilled blueberry muffins: Jordan’s Restaurant in downtown Bar Harbor has the best grilled blueberry muffins (and they even have a great gluten-free version). The breakfast at Jordan’s was incredibly delicious and we even took extras home to enjoy on our trip.
Places to eat & drink in Bar Harbor, Maine
Jordan's Restaurant for breakfast and their famous grilled blueberry muffins
Table Salt: This was one of our favorite meals all trip. The cocktails were divine (their PSL martini and old fashioned were such a hit, we went back a second night for drinks) and their food was incredibly delicious (the pork chop was the best!).
Stewman's Lobster Pound: The lobster meal was to die for and offered the traditional lobster bib. Great to sit outside if the weather and wind cooperate.
Jordan’s Restaurant for breakfast: Best grilled blueberry muffins (they offer gluten-free options) and breakfast we had the entire trip.
CJ’s Big Dipper: Best ice cream we had. We loved the blueberry and pumpkin flavors.
The Stadium: Great lobster rolls (offered a gluten-free option) and the only place in town to get a popover. They are to-go only, so plan to take your food and eat either in a park or at your hotel.
The Reading Room: Great dinner and great atmosphere on the harbor. It is located in Bar Harbor Inn.
La Bella Vita: Delicious Italian dinner (with great gluten-free options) in the Harborside Inn Hotel.
Need to know
Make sure you make reservations 60 days in advance (or two days if you weren’t able to do 60 days) for Cadillac Mountain for sunrise or a drive up to the summit. Sunrise was incredible and well worth the early rise.
Stay along West Street on the Harbor. We loved our hotel, West Street Hotel, and the location of the hotel.
Acadia gets very crowded on weekends in the fall, so pack your patience or get an early start. Some of our best times in the park were right after sunrise at Jordan Pond, hiking and fishing before the crowds and tour buses arrived.
Make reservations for hotel and food well in advance during the season, and be aware of when Bar Harbor closes down for winter.
Make a bike reservation (e-bike or regular) to bike from Bar Harbor downtown and into the park via the Carriage Roads. It is a great way to see the park and areas you may not visit in a car (for example, we were able to bike around Eagle Lake, which isn't completely accessible by car).
Be mindful in the park and town when cruise ships are in for the day. It can get very crowded and restaurant lines (without reservations) can get long.
Pack a rain coat and prepare for the weather to change quickly and often. We had great weather when we were in the park, but the last day we spent in Bar Harbor rained the entire day.
Travel Advisor
Brittany O'Brien
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