GETTING HEREMost people arrive here by car. Some arrive by Greyhound bus, which services the Island during the summer and fall months. There is also the Bar Harbor Airport, which is not located in Bar harbor, not even on the Island - its about a half hour drive away in the town of Trenton.
THE WEATHERMaine weather is unpredictable at best. They have a saying up here, "If you don't like the weather, stick around a few minutes - it'll change." We can go from rain to bright sunny skies to fog and damp air all in the same day. One thing to remember is that we are on an Island, and on most nights you have a good chance of fog moving in, which will make things a lot more damp and cooler then before the fog moved in. Also, when thunderstorms do happen, they tend to be pretty powerful - that comes with being on the coast.
So if your camping, or in a hotel or inn, and going into town or the national park, you should take along a light coat or sweater or sweatshirt, even if its a really nice hot day. Because you never know what the evening is going to bring.
GETTING AROUNDYou have a few options here. There is your car. Many explore the area by bike, taking advantage of the many niles of National Park carriage trails which connect the local villages. But many opt for the thir way, which is exploring all parts of the island by the island explorer buses. And why not - they are free, and a new bus is always departing or arriving at the village green in town about every 15 to 30 minutes. The buses are numbered, and free maps with bus routes are located in a bin in the village green.
Each bus also has large bike racks on the front and rear of the buses, so tking your bike along is another fun option. And if you didn't bring a bike, there are two bike rental hops located along Cottage street. The free buses pass through nearly every village on the island as well as many locations in the National Park, so I would reccomend taking a bike, riding the bus that's going in a direction you want to explore, and getting off at different villages and exploring them. And the buses also stop at nearly every campground as well, so ride the bus and save on gas.
Yet another option of getting around, but not free, is hoping onto one of the several guide buses that operate in town. One is Acadia tour bus and one is Oli's trolly.
Now if you want to explore the top of Caddalac Mountain, you will have to drive your car to the top or hike, the narrow winding road is too steep for most of the buses.
TO VIEW ALL MY VIDEOS ON BAR HARBOR AND ACADIA NATIONAL PARKhttp://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entri...05168/tpod.htmlTHINGS TO SEE AND DO IN BAR HARBORCLICK ON LINK TO VIEW INFO AND PHOTOS OF DOWNTOWN BAR HARBOR, MAINEhttp://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entri...42281/tpod.htmlTHE WHALE MUSEUM - located on West street, just a short walk from the town pier, it eatures whale exhibits as well as other sea creatures and has a nice gift shop as well.
OLD FASHION SODA FOUNTAIN - Located on Main Street, this is one of the few remaining old fashion soda fountains. It s located in the West End Drug Store. They also serve low priced meals as well, so check them out when here.
THE CAT - wow, what can be said about the Cat other thn it will be a ride you will never forget. It is considered one of the worlds super ships, a huge high speed ferry from Bar Harbor to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. It takes only 3 hours to reach Canada. And you can bring your car on the trip as well. Whie on board you can enoy their cafe or movie lounges, or relax in their on board casino. It is located on Route 3-Eden street, just past the college of the Alantic. Be sure to at least visit their information shop at the corner of Main Street and Cottage street. They show a film highlighting what the trip will be like.
SCENIC FLIGHTS OF ACADIA - take a senic tour of the island and acadia national park from a plane. Prices starting at $46 per person.
call 207-667-6527OLI'S TROLLEY - Hop aboard for a two and a half hour narrated tour of bar harbor and acadia national park. They also offer budget minded one hour tours as well, $10 for adults and $5 for children. Their information booth is at one west street, or call 207-288-9899
CLICK THE LINK TO VIEW INFO AND PHOTOS, VIDEO OF TROLLEYhttp://www.acadiaislandtours.com/[i]SIGN UP FOR A WORKING VACATION[/u]
Many of the campgrounds here on the island are short handed for seasonal help. To make up for this, many of them offer a free seasonal campsite in exchange for a few hours work each week. This is the perfect opportunity for the right person or couple. I will try to add more sites that do this, but for right now I am going to list a link to the Bass Harbor Campground. BASS HARBOR CAMPGROUND
The actual link to the job offer is here JOB OFFER Just a little bit about this campground. It is on a quiet country road, about a twenty minute walk from the Bass Harbor Ferry and the Bass Harbor Lighthouse. The owners are some of the nicest people you could meet. And you are about a 15 minute walk from hiking trails.
[b][u]EVENTSThe Native American Festival - July 11th, on Eden Street at the College Of the Alantic. This is one of my favorite events of the year. It brings together the finest basketmakers from the Maliseet, Micmac, Passamaquoddy, and Penobscot tribes. Not only do they spend the day making and selling baskets, they make arrowheads, as well as a full size birch bark canoe and other crafts. You will get to hear live music as you enjoy Indian foods Other items for sale include hand carved walking sticks, flutes, rattles, jewelry, blankets, and more. The day ends that evening with a silent auction.
51st ANNUAL DOWN EAST FAIRJuly 18th, from 9am to 9pm - at the Church Of Our Father on route 3 in Hulls Cove. This event has grown so large that they now offer free shuttle buses from in town Bar Harbor to the event. Inside there's a baked bean supper, outside, tables loaded with home baked pies and other goodies. Then there are the countless tables just crammed with gently used goods, all kinds of treasure just waiting to be discovered. At 6pm there is a silent auction.
GARDEN CLUB TOURJuly 19th, 10am to 4pm - this is Bar Harbors 75th show. Tickets are $20-$25, children under 12 free. Tour the grand and gracious gardens of Bar Harbor. The flyer states no pets or wheelchairs.
ART IN THE PARKSeptember 19-20 in the village green. Over 35 painters and photographers will gather to display and sell their art.
EARLY BIRD PJ SALENovember 21st, 6am to 9am. All around town, shop for discounted items, wear your PJs, and many do, and recieve an extra 10% to 20% savings. At 10am a parada is held at the village green, followed by a bed race. Yes, they actually race beds through the downtown streets...you have to see this event to believe it.
MIDNIGHT MADNESS SALEDecember 4th, 5pm to midnight. Large discounts at shops around town, with food and live music. At midnight, they draw raffles to see who wins prizes. Very cold outside, but a cool event.
CRUISE SHIP WATCHAnywhere from one to three cruise ships come in at a time. Will one be arriving during your stay? Go down to the town pier and check out the cruise ship departure and arrival dates posted by the Harbor Masters office.
BAR ISLANDThis is a must do thing, walking at low tide out to Bar Island. Just be certain to check the local paper for the time of the tides, Two hours before and two hours after low tide, and you can safely cross to the island by car or foot. Anything before or after that and your stuck on the Island until the next low tide, or if you have a phone, you can always call for help and the rangers will come out in a boat to get you. From the town pier, walk up West street to Bridge street. At the bottom of bridge street you will either see a sand bar crossing all the way to the island, or ocean.
NIGHTLIFEYup, we have nightlife. There are many bars in town, several of them featre live bands. I will not list them all, just walk around town and take your pick. Here are a few -
THE THIRISTY WHALE - this is a favorite hangout for the locals and usually on the weekends they have live music. Wanna hear local fishermen tell tall tales over ale, this is the spot. Its located on Cottage street.
THE IRISH PUB - also located on Cottage street, this is a very small narrow pub, but boy do they pack em in, usually standing room only on most nights. No live music, but they do hold drinking contests and the place usually gets pretty noisy.
CARMEN VERANDAH - Located on Main street next to the village green, this is the place for live bands, open mike nights and they have a pool table. Downstairs are two more bars, and one of them usually has live music as well. Between these three bars in one building, on some nights there are large crowds out on the sidewalk waiting to get in.
THE DOG AND PONY = A bit hard to find if your not from around here, this bar use to offer live music, but even without live music, they still pack in a large crowd on the weekends. They offer both inside and outside places to eat and drink, with recorded music. The locals seem to like it./ To find it, go to the village green, cross over and go behind the firestation, it sets right back there on a narrow lane. You will see it once you go behind the fire station.
PLACES TO EAT - I won't name every single place, since many of the places are easy to find and high priced. I will list the places the locals chose to eat at.
THE CHARTROOMLocated in Hulls Cove, you have to drive here, but well worth it. This place got put on the map years ago when laura Bush stopped in to eat there on a tour of the National Park
GALYN's Located at 17 Main street, this is another local favorite.
GEDDY'sLocated next to Galyn's, its truly a local eating spot. Its also a pub, and they also serve pizza. In the basement they have a gift shop.
JORDAN'sLocated on Cottage street next to the shop and save food store, this is an old fashion diner, that specializes in home made blueberry muffins and pie.
ROSALIE's PIZZALocated on Cottage street, this is a very nice pizza shop with an old fashion full size juke box. I highly reccommend the Rosalie's nightmare sandwish, you won't be sorry.
REEL PIZZAYup, like the name suggests, its a movie house and a pizza place. And the seating is un like any movie house, order your pizza, then sit back in an easy chair or on a couch, and enjoy a movie, or take out. They also offer pizza by the slice, and the slices are large, as well as tasty. Its located across from the fire station, at the far end of the village green. They have very low lighting, but if the parking lot is full, then they are open.
ROUTE 66Unlike anyplace you have ever eaten. Located on Cottage street right next to a real Irish pub, this place is full of old stuff. You'll have to eat here twice just to take it all in so stop by and step back in time...
CLICK ON LINK TO VIEW INFO AND PHOTOS OF ROUTE 66http://www.bhroute66.com/ICE CREAM SHOPSThere are many around town, but none pulls in th locals like CJ's across from the village green. It is nothing but the finest real old fashion ice cream. Try the rest, but if you want the best, go to CJ's.
PLACES TO STAYFor a more complete list check out PLACES TO STAY IN BAR HARBOR at link belowhttp://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entri...18012/tpod.htmlBLACKWOODS CAMPGROUND Located within the National Park, you need resavations to stay here. Make them early in the year. I'll add park contact information shortly. Very nice campground, I have stayed here many times. The service road here leads a short way through the woods to cliffs overlooking the ocean and the park loop road. The campground is located along route 3 in Otter Creek, just outside downtown Bar Harbor. There are pay shoers across the road, and just around the corner a small country store. This campground is also serviced by the free Island Explorer buses. $20 per night per site. phone 207-288-3274 to speak directly to the campground, but they can't take reservations, for those call
877-444-6777SEAWALL CAMPGROUNDThe only other campground in the park, first come first served. I believe its $20 a night, $14 per night for walk in sites, where you park your car and walkto sites further back in the woods. Walk in sites are very private. I really like this campground the best, as most sites are screened with brush and trees, more so them Blackwoods. Aslo the Seawall Picnic area i right across the roadway, overlooking the ocean and breaking waves. You might spot a bear in this area, as it is on the quiet side of the island. I have seen one myself over here. Just down the road there is a small camp store. The free Island explorer buses also service the campground, so you can get free rides into Bar Harbor. It is located in Seawall, along route 102A.
to talk directly to the campground ranger
call 207-244-3600 but keep in mind they can not take reservations nor will they hold a site for you. My best advice is arrive early in the morning and wait in line. The earlier you arrive, the better your odds of getting a site. I lived on that side of the island for three years, and only on holidays were all the sites ever taken, so you should have no trouble getting a site.
HARBORSIDE HOTEL It is located on West Street in Downtown Bar Harbor, right on the water with killer views of the harbor. Just a couple minutes walk away from all the tiny shops that line the narrow streets of Bar Harbor. Located at 55 West Street, near everything.
peak season $199 - $1999 off season $199 - $639
phone 207-288-5033 or 800-328-5033
CLICK ON LINK TO VIEW INFO AND PHOTOS OF HARBORSIDE HOTELhttp://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entri...67070/tpod.htmlBAR HARBOR INN - See my BAR HARBOR INN blog entry for details and photos. Right on the waterfront and minutes from all downtown stores.
Phone 800-350-3352 or 207-288-3351
rates - peak season - $199 - $379
CLICK ON LINK TO VIEW INFO AND PHOTOS OF BAR HARBOR INNhttp://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entri...42275/tpod.html
MAINE, BAR HARBOR, MAINE - Acadia National Park
Jul 11 2009, 03:29 AM
