Port Review: Bar Harbor, Maine
Compiled from visits in 1999, 2004 and 2011
By Lisa Plotnick
Bar Harbor is a community of 5,000 located on Mount Desert Island off the Maine coast.
It is the largest community on the island and offers a variety of options for travelers.
The main attraction in Bar Harbor is Acadia National Park; additionally, the downtown
area is filled with restaurants, shops, art galleries, Victorian-style homes, and
parks.
Arrival
Bar Harbor does not have a pier large enough to accommodate cruise ships; therefore,
passengers will be transported to and from the town by tender. Although tendering
is typically a fairly easy process, be forewarned that the ramp between the tender
pier and the mainland can get quite steep depending on the tides.
The tender pier (Town Pier) is located near the intersection of Main Street and West
Street, offering convenient access to the Village Green and West Street historic
areas. A visitor center is located to the right of the pier, and transportation options
are to the left. Most ship-arranged tours meet in this vicinity—but please check
your shore excursion ticket for the exact location.
Getting Around
There are several ways to see the town. For the first-time visitor, a bus or trolley
tour can get you acquainted with the area. There are a couple of options for this
service, yet be aware that they run seasonally. I can’t comment, however, as we have
not used them (yet) – but the ones of which I am aware are Oli’s Trolley and Acadia
National Park Tours. Additionally, the Island Explorer runs free buses throughout
Mount Desert Island between late June and early October.
If you are up to it, the downtown area may be explored by foot. We generally start
our walking tour by heading up Main Street, away from the tender dock, to the Village
Green roughly one-third of a mile away. A right turn on Mt. Desert Street will bring
you through the historic district that houses churches and a couple of museums. (Many
shops are located in this area, as well.) From there, turn right on Holland Avenue
and make another right onto West Street, where the wealthy made their summer homes
in the 19th century. Continuing along West Street will return you to the tender pier.
Total distance is approximately 1.4 miles, with plenty of places to stop along the
way.
Above left:Looking up Main Street from the tender pier
Above right: Looking down Main Street toward the tender pier; the Village Green is
on the left
Acadia National Park
Many visitors, especially first-timers, make Acadia National Park a stop while onshore.
Acadia National Park consists of 35,000 acres of untouched forests, lakes, and mountains
that may be explored on foot, bicycle, trolley, bus, or horse-drawn carriage. One
of the key sites within the Park is Cadillac Mountain, the highest peak on the Northeastern
seaboard. Weather permitting, you may enjoy a spectacular view of the harbor and
surrounding islands. Another highlight is Thunder Hole, which demonstrates—through
both sight and sound—the power of the Atlantic wave action. Don’t get too close!
On our first visit, we took a three-hour bus tour along the 20-mile Park Loop, including
the 3-mile trek to Cadillac Mountain, which was offered through the cruise line.
We felt this was well worth it, as we had a young child with us and were not up to
doing a lot of walking. The tour also gave us a fine introduction to Bar Harbor as
we drove through the neighborhoods.
There are other ways to see Acadia National Park. More active visitors may enjoy
a hike or bicycle tour through the park. This may be done with a National Park Ranger
or through an organized tour. Stop by the Park’s Visitor Center for information on
the day of your visit (or, in advance, online) for a map and other essential information.
Note that there is a fee (currently $5 per person) to enter the Park. Additionally,
it can get cool in the higher elevations, so dress in layers and bring a windbreaker.
The Summer Cottages
During the late 19th century, wealthy summertime residents of Bar Harbor built so-called
summer cottages—more accurately described as 50-plus-room mansions—on a few stretches
of the waterfront. This transformed the once-quiet fishing town into a luxury summer
destination. (This continued until the creation of a public land trust in 1901 and
the establishment of a national monument in 1916 in what is now Acadia National Park.)
Roughly one-half of the summer cottages were lost during the Great Depression, and
half of those that remained were destroyed by the Great Fire of 1947. Several dozen
still stand today, although they are used primarily as bed-and-breakfast accommodations.
Many of these may be seen on West Street (see photos below) and Shore Path (the walkway
to the right of the tender pier as you approach it from West Street).
Above: West Street cottages
Below: Shore Path
Village Green
Bar Harbor’s Village Green is both vibrant and historic. This is a pretty area in
which to take a rest during your stroll. The edges of the square are lined with boutiques,
many of which sell items made in Maine. This is also where you can catch the public
buses to bring you to other parts of the island.
Abbe Museum
For our most recent visit, we chose to do something a little out of the ordinary.
My pre-cruise research led us to the Abbe Museum, which focuses on the Wabanaki Nations
who are native to this region. It’s a small museum, and good for history buffs. There
were several exhibits, including one on artifacts, archaeological digs, art by children,
and crafts. It was a nice way to spend an hour or so, which is pretty much what we
had allotted as we wanted to make it an early day. As it doesn’t take much time,
it’s easily combinable with other tours, such as Acadia National Park, if you desire.
Its location on Mt. Desert Street is less than a block from the Village Green.
Dining
There is no shortage of places to dine in Bar Harbor, whether you want a full meal
or a quick bite. One place that satisfies both extremes is Testa’s. We enjoyed a
superb lunch of clam chowder and crab-stuffed mushrooms during a 2011 visit. I neglected
to record the name of the restaurant from our 1999 visit, and the one we patronized
in 2004 has since closed. Yet, there are two ways we find restaurants on the go in
Bar Harbor. One way is to ask your dining room steward for a recommendation. The
second is to walk around and look for the places that are doing a good business.
No matter where you choose to eat, consider the following food recommendations. (Remember,
I am a New Englander.) Lobster is a must, barring any dietary restrictions. I recommend
a whole lobster in order to enjoy the full experience of cracking it open to get
to the succulent meat inside. This is not the so-called lobster you get on cruise
ships in the Caribbean. Melted butter is not needed to make an authentic Maine lobster
flavorful. Chowder made with clams, cod, or other fish is also a must-have. (We eat
this year-round.) Do not be dismayed if you do not enjoy fish—there are restaurants
representative of a variety of cuisines. Or, you could return to your cruise ship.
Yet, if you want to try lobster, this is the place to do it.
Closing Thoughts
Bar Harbor is a quintessential New England town that is well worth the visit. Although
small in population, there are activities for everyone from the most active to those
who just want to sit back and enjoy the ambiance. It is a wonderful spot to decompress,
making it one of our favorite destinations in the northeast U.S.