Normally when I travel, I’m pulled toward nature more than populated areas. Give me mountains, forests, waterfalls, or coastlines over shopping districts and tourist streets almost every time. But for some reason, the town of Bar Harbor completely drew me in.
Maybe it was the balance of everything.
It felt convenient without being overdeveloped. Beautiful without feeling pretentious. Relaxing without feeling sleepy. Somehow this little coastal town managed to combine rocky shorelines, lobster boats, flower gardens, local businesses, and waterfront walking paths into one place that felt almost unreal at times.
After two busy days exploring Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor became the slower, quieter part of each day that I appreciated most.
Taking the Shuttle Into Bar Harbor From Acadia National Park
Since we were traveling in an oversized vehicle with a truck camper, we had zero interest in trying to navigate downtown parking in Bar Harbor. Instead, both mornings we got up extra early to explore Acadia before the crowds arrived, then headed to Hulls Cove Visitor Center mid to late morning where we were able to park in the RV lanes and catch the shuttle into town.
The Island Explorer shuttle dropped us near Village Green in downtown Bar Harbor, and honestly, the system could not have been easier.
Within just a few blocks we could walk to restaurants, coffee shops, harbor views, and waterfront walking paths without dealing with traffic or parking stress.
After spending the early mornings in Acadia, the convenience of town felt perfect.
One of My Favorite Things to Do in Bar Harbor
The first place I stopped most mornings was Acadia Perk near Village Green, right across from where the Island Explorer shuttle dropped us off. I happily sipped my mocha latte as we wandered.
From there, it was only a short walk toward the waterfront.
One of the things I absolutely loved about New England during this trip was how many small independent businesses still existed. So many towns across the country now feel interchangeable, filled with the same chain stores and restaurants repeated over and over again.
Bar Harbor, like most of New England, still felt personal.
Even though I’m not much of a shopper, I loved window shopping while wandering the streets here.
As we walked toward the harbor, the town felt like a movie set version of the perfect coastal town. The flowers were beautifully maintained, the lawns impossibly green, sailboats drifted in the harbor, and the rocky shoreline wrapped around everything.
Near Agamont Park and the Bar Harbor Inn, we wandered through the waterfront grounds while reviewing the different boat tour options available in town. The entire area felt polished and picturesque without losing its coastal Maine charm.
A paved waterfront walkway stretched along the rocky shoreline, leading past beautiful waterfront homes and harbor views that constantly pulled our attention back toward the water.
Seafood and Waterfront Restaurants in Bar Harbor
After our first morning exploring Acadia, we were absolutely craving seafood.
We ended up waiting for Stewman’s to open and were among the first people in line. It turned out to be a good decision because the restaurant filled quickly after opening and the waterfront area became noticeably busier as the morning went on.
We chose Stewman’s because we could have lobster overlooking the water, and our time in line before they opened ensured that.
The second day we wandered a little farther away from the waterfront and ended up at Jordan’s Restaurant, another Bar Harbor favorite that was situated in a quieter area and felt even more local compared to the busy harborfront atmosphere.
One thing we quickly learned in both Acadia and Bar Harbor was that getting up early completely changed the experience.
Why We Skipped the Whale Watching Tours
At first, we considered booking a whale watching excursion.
But honestly, we had just come from Boston where we’d done the duck boat tours packed shoulder-to-shoulder with tourists, and not long before this trip we’d experienced an incredible private boat excursion in El Nido in the Philippines. The idea of cramming onto another crowded tour boat and fighting for viewing space just didn’t sound appealing anymore.
We also spotted the beautiful schooner sailing tours leaving the harbor, but we kept coming back to the same thought: we wanted something smaller and quieter.
A private lobster boat tour wasn’t actually listed anywhere as an option.
When we stopped near the waterfront reviewing tour choices, we asked anyway, half expecting them to tell us everything was fully booked or unavailable on such short notice.
Instead, they picked up the phone and called a captain.
We explained we were hoping for something smaller and quieter than the crowded whale watching boats, agreed to a price, and suddenly we had plans to head out on a private lobster boat the next morning.
It felt very Maine somehow — casual, personal, and refreshingly uncomplicated.
Why I Wanted to Get Out on the Water
I grew up spending summers around the waterways of Ontario, so there’s always been something calming and familiar to me about being out on the water.
Later, when I lived in Wasaga Beach, my father gave me one of his old boats and I got to share that same experience with my sons on the Nottawasaga River.
There’s something deeply relaxing about settling into a passenger seat on a boat and simply watching sunlight sparkle like diamonds as it bounces off the water.
I’m used to calm lakes, and rough ocean water usually leaves me seasick, but the protected waters surrounding Bar Harbor looked peaceful enough that I immediately wanted to experience them from the water itself.
Our Private Bar Harbor Lobster Boat Tour
The next morning we climbed aboard a working Downeast-style lobster boat that felt far more authentic than any tourist excursion we could have booked.
In fact, there really weren’t passenger seats at all.
My husband and the captain stood together near the front of the boat in the shade while I happily claimed one of the lawn chairs the captain casually pulled onboard for us.
Of course, the lawn chair also happened to sit beside a cooler stocked with canned red wine.
Apparently canned red wine exists, and apparently this captain understood what was important in life.
As we slowly made our way out of the harbor and around the nearby islands, the atmosphere was exactly what we’d hoped for: quiet, peaceful, and unhurried.
We didn’t see whales, but honestly, I didn’t care.
We watched birds circle overhead while the two men onboard chatted happily about boats, photographing wildlife, and the local waters. Meanwhile, I mostly just sat quietly taking everything in — the movement of the water, the salt air, the sunshine, and the peaceful rhythm of being out on the harbor.
It didn’t even feel like we traveled particularly far, yet somehow nearly two hours slipped by effortlessly.
The most striking moment came when a massive cruise ship arrived in the distance.
Until then, the island we were passing felt enormous. But suddenly this floating city appeared beside it, towering over the harbor in a way that completely changed the scale of everything around us.
From our tiny lobster boat, the contrast felt surreal.
And honestly, it reinforced exactly why we’d chosen this experience instead of one of the larger tours.
Why Bar Harbor Still Feels So Different
What I appreciated most about Bar Harbor was how approachable it still felt despite being internationally famous.
During the Gilded Age, Bar Harbor was actually one of America’s great summer resort towns, where wealthy families built enormous coastal estates throughout Mount Desert Island. But after a devastating fire swept through the area in 1947, much of that era disappeared.
At the same time, large portions of the surrounding land had already been protected through conservation efforts tied to Acadia National Park and the Rockefeller family.
Instead of endless commercial development taking over the coastline, much of the island remained protected.
And I think that’s part of what makes Bar Harbor feel so special today.
It still feels connected to:
- the harbor
- the landscape
- the working boats
- the local businesses
- and the slower rhythm of coastal life
Even with tourists everywhere, it somehow still feels human-scaled.
Why Bar Harbor Became My Favorite Town in New England
Out of all the places we visited during this part of the New England road trip, Bar Harbor was the town that stayed with me the most.
Not because of one huge attraction or dramatic sightseeing moment, but because of how easy it felt to simply exist there for a while.
Early mornings in Acadia. Coffee near Village Green. Quiet walks along the harbor. Lobster boats rocking in the distance. Flower gardens overlooking rocky beaches. A slower pace that made it easy to breathe a little deeper.
Sometimes the places that leave the biggest impression aren’t the ones screaming for your attention.
Sometimes they’re the ones quietly inviting you to slow down long enough to notice them.
Shuttle Route From Hulls Cove Visitor Center to Village Green in Bar Harbor
Since we were traveling with a truck camper, parking in downtown Bar Harbor wasn’t something we wanted to deal with. Instead, we parked at Hulls Cove Visitor Center and used the Island Explorer shuttle to get into town both mornings. The ride was quick, easy, and dropped us right near Village Green—just a short walk from coffee shops, restaurants, the waterfront, and many of the things we wanted to explore in Bar Harbor.
What’s Next on the New England Road Trip
Next up, the road trip takes a quieter and far more reflective turn as I drop my husband off at the Bangor airport and begin the long drive home alone. I had planned for a slow scenic journey home, but as they say, the best laid plans often go awry.
