The summer holiday home of the rich and
famous and the playground of the wealthy at the
turn of the 20th century, this is a place that
is unique among the thousands of island
communities lining the Maine coast. Nestled
among the mountains, forests, and the vast
expanse of the Atlantic Ocean is the picturesque
village of Bar Harbor. The masts of fishing
boats tilt rhythmically back and forth as the
waves lap against the rocky shore.
When the first Europeans settled the eastern
side of Mount Desert Island, they named their
town Eden. This was in honor of an English
statesman, Sir Richard Eden. The name they chose
proved to be well-suited. Even after the name
was changed to Bar Harbor in 1918, the air of
paradise remained.
Mount Desert Island is blessed with a unique
ecology that makes it a garden of plenty. The
early settlers discovered that while the soil
was poor, the sea was rich, both in food and
opportunity. The thin, rocky earth provided
perfect conditions for the trees that were used
to build ships. Seafarers also worked the frigid
waters of Maine, harvesting the wealth of the
sea.
In the 1840's the sea brought two visitors
who inadvertently redirected the energies of Bar
Harbor. The two were the Hudson River Valley
School artist, Thomas Cole and artist Frederic
Church. Their artistic renderings of the sea,
the forests and the majestic mountains aroused
the interest of wealthy patrons in viewing first
hand the locale in which these magnificent works
of art originated. Suddenly, Eden was filled
with visitors from around the world.
The majestic mountains of Acadia Park, the
lovely lakes, the forests, the brooks, with
shady pools in which the trout love to hide; the
streams leaping from rock to rock in their
headlong course to the sea: in every direction
there were wonderful and inspiring sights to
behold. wealthy families poured in, built
mansions, and settled in them with their staffs
of servants during each summer season.
No longer the exclusive realm of the wealthy,
Bar Harbor is now a place in which people settle
and raise their families as well as a favorite
summer vacation destination. Bar Harbor is a
place where lobstermen ply their trade; and it
is also a cultural and educational center. You
can breakfast with lobstermen, explore the
trails and mountains of Acadia National Park,
and round out the day by dining on the catch of
that morning's companions as you listen to a
jazz trio or a string quartet. A day in Bar
Harbor is never boring!
For the adventurous, Bar Harbor makes the
perfect base camp. Surrounded on three sides by
Acadia National Park and on the fourth by the
Atlantic Ocean, Bar Harbor has outfitters,
guides, mariners, suppliers, and instructors
whose daily work is centered upon helping
residents and visitors make the most of the
opportunities the incredible environment offers.
Acadia maintains fifty five miles of carriage
roads for walking, riding, biking, and skiing,
and over one hundred miles of trails for hikers.
The lakes, rivers, and oceans provide unlimited
possibilities for those interested in boats,
kayaks, and canoes.
The combination of the sea breeze and
mountain air is revitalizing and invigorating.
Some days are full of activity; while others can
be spent enjoying a late breakfast, a relaxed
stroll, some time browsing through stores, and
later, dining at leisure. The pace of life in
Maine reflects a time, when not everything had
to be done "yesterday, " and every season is
beautiful.
Downtown Bar Harbor has four major streets,
and an assortment of side streets, alleys,
squares, and places running between them. The
first street from Route 3, West Street,
showcases some of the fine mansions that made
Bar Harbor the queen of the east coast at the
turn of the century. Some remain private homes,
while others have become elegant, inns. At the
foot of West Street is the working waterfront,
where fishing boats, schooners, yachts,
excursion boats, and even cruise ship tenders
bustle with their cargoes of seafood and
passengers.
It also marks the beginning of the Shore
Path, which leads to the front lawns of some of
Bar Harbor's biggest "cottages", Up the hill
from the town pier, lies Main Street with its
stores, restaurants, and green spaces to sit and
reflect.
The first major intersection on Main Street
is with Cottage Street, where there are bikes,
canoes, kayaks, and skis for rent. Also
available are guided trips on the water or into
the mountains. This is the spot to sign up for a
whale watching excursion and to look over all
the latest in sporting equipment.
A trail of restaurants extends down the side
streets toward the Village Green. In the summer
the Green is the venue for biweekly concert
series, art shows, and other cultural events. On
the other side of the green lies Mount Desert
Street, a national historic district filled with
beautiful echoing the early days of the
discovery of Bar Harbor's natural wonders by the
wealthy. Many of these homes now serve as
luxurious inns. There is also an impressive trio
of churches: Saint Saviour's with its stained
glass windows, the Congregational with its
classic New England lines, and Holy Redeemer
with it's imposing stone architecture.
Outside of town, Main Street becomes Route 3
. Its side roads lead to the shore or up into
the hills, passing beneath sheer mountain walls
of bare granite and beside beaver ponds and
birch stands.
The waters around Mount Desert Island, offer
magnificent scenery and some of the best sailing
in the world. There are excellent private and
public golf courses; hundreds of clear-water
rivers and lakes producing trout and salmon.
There is excellent hunting for deer, moose,
bear, and wild turkey. There are the mountains,
islands, and trails of Acadia National Park.
With seventeen mountains and four lakes, Acadia
National Park and Bar Harbor are magnets that
draw thousands every year. The Park and its 120
miles of hiking trails, views from Cadillac
Mountain, and the roar of Thunder Hole provide
visitors with memory-filled vacations. Artists
flock to photograph or paint the landscape. Bar
Harbor's neighbors, Northeast Harbor and
Southwest Harbor, attract visitors by land and
by water.
The term "Down East" comes from the days when
schooners were used to carry cargo along the
coast. The prevailing winds here blow from the
southwest, pushing sailing vessels downwind, to
the eastward. Down East/ Bar Harbor is a source
of treasure for all ages. Children love the
downtown area where they can play in the parks,
buy ice cream, and watch the activity on the
waterfront. There are art galleries and museums
including the Abbe Museum, where you'll find
native American artifacts. The July and August
music festivals are outstanding.. Whale-watching
cruises depart daily, and Maine seafood is
freshly prepared at many restaurants. The new
high speed ferry, The Cat, travels daily to
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia and back.
The only problem with a vacation in Bar
Harbor at any time of the year, is that it is so
hard to leave. Many visitors have extended the
time of their stay well beyond the intended "two
weeks in August" and remain longer each year,
well into the season of colorful Fall foliage
and even beyond.
