Bar Harbor: Year Round Enterainment!
Located on Mt. Desert Island, just across the Bay of Fundy from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, is the city of Bar Harbor, Maine. The Bar Harbor area includes Trenton Bridge, Otter Creek, and Town Hill and is in close proximity to Bangor, Portland, Boston and Montreal. Bar Harbor, “Where the mountain meets the sea,” has become a major visitor area, attracting scores of visitors annually. Easily reached by air, ship or vehicle, Bar Harbor offers diverse and fascinating sites and activities for all ages and tastes.
Bar Harbor has a rich and complicated history as evidenced by the Native American encampments which have been found. However, it was in 1604 that the explorer Samuel de Champlain, one of the first Western european settlers, named the area Isle des Monts Deserts (Island of Barren Mountains). When word of the island’s beauty and appeal became more well known, the area rapidly became an absolute retreat that attracted the more well-to-do North Americans to the area and they decorated the landscape with extravagant and amazing estates.
The eastern side of Mount Desert Island was given the name “Eden.” Although the name may appear poetic, it was given in recognition of an English Statesman, Sir Richard Eden. Little did the early settlers realize, though, how well-suited the name truly was! Many view the area as a heaven and although the name changed to Bar Harbor in 1918, the area is still considered ‘heavenly. ‘
A visit to the downtown area on Mount Desert Street showcases the fine homes that made the area the “Queen of the East Coast” and although a few have remained personal properties, others have become welcoming historical hotels. Because of the massive number and beautiful beauty of these period houses, this area has been deemed a National Historic District. It is in this area that you will also come accross a trail of gorgeous restaurants and bars with menus to satisfy all tastes.
In addition to the outstanding scenery and landscape, many enjoy Bar Harbor’s historic attractions. The Bar Harbor Inn is a testament to the area’s rich and entrancing history. Originally the headquarters of the Oasis Club in 1887, the structure has changed owners quite a few times. It was purchased in 1987 and renamed the Bar Harbor Inn. Today the Inn has 153 guest rooms and is really considered one of Maine’s finest oceanfront properties.
A visit to the area would not be the same without visiting Acadia National Park, which surrounds Bar Harbor on three sides. The majesty of the mountains and granite cliffs combined with the cobblestone beaches and comforting presence of the sea make this park incredibly memorable. Park rangers, outfitters, instructors, and guides are available to help you in exploring the park (walking, hiking, rock climbing or on horseback) as well as answer any questions you might have. With two life-guarded beaches, campgrounds and park museums, Acadia National Park is a stop you must make. With the proximity of the Atlantic Ocean, many use the opportunity to test their nautical abilities in kayaking, sailing or canoeing – either solo or with the assistance of a professional. During the colder months many winter sports fanatics race down the ski slopes located in the park.
You can also opt to go whale watching, nature- and lighthouse-seeing or take in a lobster and seal watch trip. These activities are offered by a number of outfitters, using fleets of boats ready to take you on the trip of your choosing. Cruising past fantastic scenery you can see the rough landscape which has been etched by large glaciers as well as catch glimpses of seals and porpoises that pop up for food or haul up onto ledges.
For the museum lover, Bar Harbor has one for every taste. The Isleford Historical Museum is a destination for many tourists as visitors can relive the history of life on the Cranberry Islands from the 1800s onward, detailing shipbuilding, woodworking and fishing items. The Robert Abbe Museum has a superb show of Native American Culture of the area. The Nature Center features the diversity of Acadia in terms of its naturally occuring resources “the study of resources and how they are being protected.
With something to offer all year, Bar Harbor, Maine is a vacationer’s delight. Formidable hospitality combined with a wealth of attractions and magnificent views, diverse activities, fine lodging and dining, Bar Harbor and the encompassing Bay of Fundy area have been inviting visitors for over one hundred years. Whether it is for a weekend, a week, or maybe longer, a trip to Bar Harbor is truly an opportunity to experience your own small piece of paradise.
