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.Bar Harbor is one of those delightful seaside villages that looks and feels just like you think it would., from fishing boats in the harbor to walkable streets selling local wares. We made our first trek into Maine during our East Coast road trip in July of 2023, and the state quickly became one of the most memorable and enjoyable stops on our 23-day journey. Would I return to Bar Harbor, or anywhere in Maine? Absolutely! Read on to see how we spent about 48 hours in this enchanting seaside town.
Staying at Bar Harbor Manor
When planning these epic road trips, we often start with lodging, often about a year out. At first, the KOA campground in Bar Harbor had our attention. Though we don’t currently have an RV, we often stay in the cabins in these campgrounds across the country. We were excited that it was waterfront, and we thought it would be a great experience, and it probably would’ve. But as we planned more, we saw that the distance from Bar Harbor might become an issue in our limited time, so we looked around at other opportunities.
We then booked the Best Western Acadia Park Inn. The price was great, and it seemed to have the amenities that we often look for, like breakfast and a pool. But as I learned more about Bar Harbor, I discovered that we probably wanted to be in an area where we could walk to downtown to take advantage of shopping and dining options in the evening.
So, even though staying in town meant we’d be spending a tad more than we usually did, we changed our reservation, yet again, to Bar Harbor Manor, and I’m so glad we did!
The property is adorable, and from the moment we checked in, we felt right at home. Christopher checked us in, and he recommended some places to eat where I could try some local seafood while my travel companions could have some basic American fare (hamburgers and chicken strips).
Our room was in the hotel part of the property. The inn section is more of a boutique lodging option; they also have suites. One great thing about Bar Harbor Manor is that you can park for free in their parking lot. We then could set out on foot to avoid paying for parking downtown.
We had a double-queen room on the first floor of the hotel. The hotel has interior hallways, but the rooms have balconies, which is nice.
We always appreciate having a fridge and a microwave on our road trips.
We also had a desk area in our room.
I had to show you the lobster on the pillow. Isn’t it adorable? You can also see the door to the patio here.
And here is the view from our balcony.
Dinner at Side Street Cafe
After we settled into our room, it was time to take a walk and get some dinner. We chose a place that Christopher recommended when we checked in–Side Street Cafe.
Blueberries are abundant in this area, and you can get blueberry-flavored anything. I started dinner with an Old Soaker blueberry soda. It was pretty good.
I then went for a bowl of clam chowder, New England-style. It was my second time tasting clam chowder, and it was delicious!
Jeff decided on a plain hamburger and fries. He said it was yummy!
I tried my first-ever lobster roll. I mean, it’s Maine. It’s the law
I’ll be honest; it wasn’t my favorite. It was, of course, Maine-style, so it was cold with mayonnaise and lemon. Honestly, I think I would like the Connecticut-style better, warm and swimming in butter. I haven’t tried that yet, but I hope to next time I’m in New England.
I think Kristin had some fries and ate Kraft Macaroni and Cheese in the room later. Speaking of macaroni and cheese, Side Street Cafe has a whole section of macaroni and cheese offerings on the menu. They look amazing!
Shopping in Bar Harbor
After all that, it was time to walk off dinner and get our shopping on. Was the downtown of Bar Harbor touristy? Yes. Do we love touristy areas? Also, yes.
It was great to see so many people out and about on a July evening. You can find just about anything in Bar Harbor. including stuff related to nearby Acadia National Park.
Strolling Through Bar Harbor on Our Way Back to Our Room
After a bit of retail therapy, we made our way back to our hotel. I loved seeing all the shops and restaurants in Bar Harbor.
I love the streetlights and lighting around this bookstore.
Here is an Irish Pub. We didn’t make it inside this one, but we did have dinner in one in Boston.
Our route took us past this little cemetery. It’s definitely giving moody evening vibes; it certainly captures the imagination. It absolutely belongs in a short story from the 1800s; maybe a story by Hawthorne or Poe.
We did notice a ghost tour in progress as we got closer to our hotel. We already had ghost tours booked for Salem and Boston, so we didn’t do one here. Next time!
Morning in Acadia National Park
The next morning, we’d planned to venture over to Acadia National Park. It’s an amazing national park, but our stay was plagued with fog, which is common. Still, the jagged shoreline was stunning. To read more about our Acadia National Park adventure, click here.
Exploring the Harbor Area of Bar Harbor
Later that afternoon, we headed back to the harbor.
Our hope was that maybe we could catch some fisherman returning with their catch. Check out the dinghy boats that the fishermen take to their fishing boats.
We saw several boats coming in. This is pretty exciting for land-locked Midwesterners. If you’re wondering if the lobster is fresh in Bar Harbor, well, it is. The lobster you’re eating for dinner may just have been in the water earlier that day.
The fisherman indulged us by holding up a lobster for us to see. Another fisherman clued him in that the tourists watching this whole process wanted to see a live lobster pulled from the sea. Thank you, sir!
In the picture below, you can see some lobster pots. Though these are decorative, you can get a good look at what a lobster pot looks like. Throughout the waters of the harbor, you’ll see many lobster pot buoys scattered across the water’s surface.
Near the downtown section of the harbor, you’ll be able to walk in the park below and see the fishing boats. It’s a lovely way to spend a summer evening.
Dinner at Geddy’s Bar in Bar Harbor
As evening approached, we were ready for dinner. We decided to eat near the harbor and little park this time.
We went ahead and made a reservation for Geddy’s. You may want to do the same during the busy summer season. As you can see, the decor for this place is amazing.
The vibe here is definitely “fishing town tourist bar”, and we loved it!
It’s still family-friendly, though.
Jeff started his meal off with a local brew. I think it was the Peeper Pale Ale.
I went with fish and chips this time. The haddock was delicious!
For some reason, I didn’t take a picture of Jeff’s burger or Kristin’s chicken strips which is a bummer because Kristin’s strips were served in a frisbee that we took home with us. Still, everyone left full, and it was a good night. We spent the rest of the evening at Sand Beach wading in the water and climbing rocks.
Cadillac Mountain: It Didn’t Happen
One highlight of Acadia National Park is Cadillac Mountain. This is the highest point on the east coast, and the views are supposed to be amazing. You can venture up the mountain in your car at any time of day, but the sunrise is amazing. Apparently.
For the next morning, we had a sunrise reservation for Cadillac Mountain that we’d snagged 90 days before. The only way to go up the mountain, at least for the time being, is to get a reservation. We knew it was foggy the day before until early afternoon, and the next morning wasn’t looking much better. The only reservation I could get was for our departure morning, so this was our only chance to go up the mountain.
In the end, we decided to sleep in instead of catching the sunrise, or attempting to. And when we checked out of the hotel, the air was still thick with fog. We wouldn’t have seen anything.
I could’ve gotten a reservation for another time of day, and that would’ve been cool, but it would’ve taken some other time away from something else, so it turned out fine. I hope to go up the mountain next time. Just know that fog can be an issue at anytime; it may impact your visit.
Instead of going up the mountain, we left Bar Harbor and headed to our next destination–Salem, Massachusetts. Such is life when you are on a 23-day road trip with limited time before your next reservation.
The Wrap-Up
Bar Harbor is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. I would return at any time, and I certainly hope I get the chance in the next few years. We have so many other places in the area to explore. I’d love to return and do a carriage ride in Acadia National Park and maybe the ghost tour. If you’re wondering if you should take your family, I would definitely encourage you to book that trip. We had a great time.
Click on the links below to read about some of our other adventures on this road trip!
Boston Tea Party Museum–Boston, Massachusetts
A Christmas Story House–Cleveland, Ohio
Skylon Tower–Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Plimoth Paxtuet Museums–Plymouth, Massachusetts
