Bar Harbor Trip Advice?

I’m making this trip for first time in June and. we booked the bar harbor grand hotel. Pretty reasonable price and walkable to everything it looks like. We were between this one and bar harbor inn which is right on the water. I know that doesn’t help much lol.

10-4. We going from june2-12. Flying into Boston. Staying in Portland a couple days. Bar harbor a couple days. And then cape cod for almost a week. Really looking forward to it.

Might I suggest a drive and possible stay at Goose Cove on Deer Isle? Aragosta is a badass restaurant and the resort is amazing.

Aragosta at Goose Cove

The owner worked with Thomas Keller and uses some of the same proprietors he does. Isle au Haut is a short ferry ride out of Stonington which is down the road.

Even if you don't stay the night, the meal is well worth the drive.

Other things to do in that area:

White Water Rafting Its about a 4-5 hour drive from Bar Harbor area, but worth it. Lots of fun.

Of course, going on one of the whale watching tours can be fun, but tons of tourists get sick so that's not cool. No one tells you that but I am.

I can't remember the company we used, but they have small airplane tours around bar harbor and acadia. gorgeous.

Plenty of hiking and camping.

We flew to Bangor and drove to the Bar Harbor Inn; spent about 4 days in that area. Then drove down the coast, stopping in various places. Reached Kennebunkport, then headed to the White Mountains of N.H. and explored. Rode up Mount Washington in a van; better than doing the white knuckled drive yourself. Headed back to Maine and spent a couple days in Portland, then flew home from there.

It was a great trip. We went in early June, before peak tourist season started. It was still cool, but not crowded. We didn't even have reservations anywhere after Bar Harbor and had no trouble, but I gather that is not the case later in the season.

Cadillac Summit Road is a popular spot in Acadia National Park. The national parks have been so overrun since covid that you now need a reservation to drive it. Plan ahead. LINK

Don’t laugh but this was one of my favorite things we did. You’ll find plenty of hiking,biking, etc. but this was unique and fun couple of hours. Great for kids but I would do again myself.
LINK /

Also lobster pier in Southwest Harbor

Stayed in Camden and drove to Acadia. Supposedly gets crowded in the summer with cruise ships. I’d spend 2 to 4 days in Bar Harbour and hiking Acadia. Lots to hike and see there.

Go to the secret beach. It’s on the East shore. Park and hike down stairs. Very hard to see. Has large rocks (softball and football size) as a beach. Lots of neat hikes in the park. The Bubbles peaks mountain hike is nice and a great view.

We stayed at The Inn on Mount Desert in 2018. It had just been built and opened about a month before we got there. It's about 1/3 of mile to the Village Green and about the same distance from there to the shore/port area. There are many inns on Mt. Desert St, not all of them are shown on the map. You can use google maps and zoom in close to see them.

[/url][/img]
Things to do:
Jordon Pond House for a meal. Get the popovers with chocolate filling.
Hike to Bubble Rock Overlook.
Drive to Schoodic Point. You can also take a boat but then you have to wait for the bus I think.
Get up early to see the sunrise on Cadillac Mountain.

We liked Thurston's Lobster Pound at Bernard; the clerk at the Inn recommended it. But the one at Southwest Harbor would probably be good too. We also ate at one near town and it wasn't as good; may have been the atmosphere.

We also did the wagon ride but only for an hour which was plenty and a Windjammer tour which I think was 2 hours.