G6Adventures
As few years ago, we spent eight nights in Bar Harbor, Maine. We stayed at the Bar Harbor Campground. During our visit, we mostly explored Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. However, we also expanded our adventures to include Fort Knox and Camden in addition to taking a moose safari in Shirley Mills. Our kids were 1, 6, 10 and 12 at the time of our visit. I think we managed a fantastic family-friendly itinerary for our stay in Bar Harbor. Here is what we did, what we suggest everyone do, what we loved so much we’d repeat, and what we think we missed.
Day 1
Itinerary Overview:
- Check in at Bar Harbor Campground and get set up
- Explore downtown Bar Harbor
- Eat at Route 66 Restaurant
- Relax at Agamont Park
- Grab a sweet treat from Ben & Bill’s Chocolate Emporium
Detailed Itinerary: How to Plan the Best Trip to Bar Harbor, Maine – Part 1
Day 2
Itinerary Overview:
- Acadia National Park
- Shuttle to Sand Beach – picnic lunch
- Hike the Ocean Path to Gorham Mountain Trail
- Stop at Thunder Hole
- Campground Dinner
- Bass Harbor Head Light Station for a gorgeous sunset
Detailed Itinerary: How to Plan the Best Trip to Bar Harbor, Maine – Part 1
Day 3
Itinerary Overview:
- Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory
- Fort Knox Historic Site and Picnic Lunch
- Camden Hills State Park and Mount Battie
- Explore downtown Camden, Maine
- Dinner at Carrier’s Mainely Lobster
Detailed Itinerary: How to Plan the Best Trip to Bar Harbor, Maine – Part 1
Day 4
Itinerary Overview:
- Sunrise on Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park
- Nap and lunch at the campground
- Whale watching tour through Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co
- Dinner at West Street Cafe in Bar Harbor
Detailed Itinerary: How to Plan the Best Trip to Bar Harbor, Maine – Part 2
Day 5
Itinerary Overview:
- Acadia National Park
- Hulls Cove Visitor Center & Junior Ranger Program
- Bike the Witch Hole Pond Loop carriage trails starting and ending at Hulls Cove Visitor Center
- Lunch at campground and ice cream at Udder Heaven Ice Cream Retreat
- Sunset at Otter Point in Acadia National Park
- Dinner at campground
Detailed Itinerary: How to Plan the Best Trip to Bar Harbor, Maine – Part 2
Day 6
Itinerary Overview:
- Split Up for the Morning
- Dad and older kids on a fishing excursion through Acadian Boat Tours
- Mom and younger kids for breakfast at Mainely Meat BBQ, swimming at the campground, and wild blueberry picking
- Lunch at the campground
- Wine Tasting at Bar Harbor Cellars
- Drive to Shirley Mills, Maine
- Moose safari and picnic dinner with Northeast Whitewater Rafting & Moose Tours
- Sunset at Moosehead Lake
Detailed Itinerary: How to Plan the Best Trip to Bar Harbor, Maine – Part 3
Day 7
Itinerary Overview:
- Hike around Jordan Pond in Acadia National Park
- Enjoy popovers and lemonade at Jordan Pond House
- Hike across the land bridge in Bar Harbor to Bar Island and up the Bar Island Trail
- Eat a delicious meal at West Street Cafe again
- Experience Thunder Hole two hours prior to high tide
- Indulge in Udder Heaven Ice Cream Retreat
- Pack up camper to leave first thing tomorrow morning
Detailed Itinerary: How to Plan the Best Trip to Bar Harbor, Maine – Part 3
What Should Be on Your Itinerary
Here’s what we would recommend you include on your itinerary if you have a week to spend in Bar Harbor.
- Acadia National Park
- Hulls Cove Visitor Center
- Drive Park Loop Road
- Ride bikes or walk the carriage trails (Witch Hole Pond Loop is great with kids)
- Sand Beach
- Thunder Hole – make sure to time it to be there two hours prior to high tide
- Gorham Mountain Trail
- Hike around Jordan Pond (pick wild blueberries if in season but make sure to check with a ranger so you know what is edible)
- Popovers and lemonade at Jordan Pond House
- Otter Point – beautiful sunset
- Cadillac Mountain – gorgeous sunrise
- Bass Harbor Head Light Station – sunset
- Bar Harbor
- Explore downtown
- West Street Cafe
- Ben & Bill’s Chocolate Emporium
- Land bridge to Bar Island – make sure to watch the tide times
- Fishing excursion with Acadian Boat Tours
- Whale watching tour with Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co
- Maine Meats BBQ
- Udder Heaven Ice Cream Retreat
- Bar Harbor Cellars
- Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory
- Fort Knox Historic Site
- Camden Hills State Park
- Explore downtown Camden, Maine
- Carrier’s Mainely Lobster
What Would We Do Again
When we make it back to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park, we would honestly want to do everything we listed above again! We would, of course, try to add in some new things as well. But, as we’ve traveled more and our kids being older, we think we would enjoy all these places through a different perspective.
What We Wish We Would’ve Done
You can never do everything, so we definitely missed some things that we’d want to try to do on our next trip to the area. Here are some things we would add to our itinerary for our next trip to Bar Harbor and suggest you add to yours if you have time:
- Explore more of Camden Hills State Park and downtown Camden
- Acadia National Park
- Hikes
- Ship Harbor Trail
- Beehive Loop
- Bubbles Nubble Loop
- Pemetic South Ridge
- Explore and hike Schoodic Peninsula
- Hikes
- Go kayaking
Truly, we had an amazing week in Bar Harbor. It is most definitely on our list of places to travel to again. There is so much to see and do. Plus, it is absolutely gorgeous. Acadia may not have the variety of wildlife we’ve experienced in Yellowstone or Rocky Mountain National Parks, but the variety of landscapes make up for that in droves. You truly cannot go wrong spending time in this area with your family, especially if you love the beauty of the outdoors. What do you love most about Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park? Leave us a comment and tell us! If you want to follow the rest of our Maine adventures, click here. And to follow our other adventures, click here. Stay tuned to see our Where To, Next.
