Best recognized for its dramatic sea cliffs and lovely towering pines, a trip to Acadia is incomparable to anywhere else in the US. Oceanside villages a plenty, luckily for those traveling to Acadia National Park, you can’t make it to your destination without passing through the picturesque town of Bar Harbor.
A quick zip over from the Maine-land (har har) and you’ll hit the town of Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island. Yes, Acadia National Park is in fact situated on an island, only making this northern gem all the more glorious. The tiny New England main stake of Bar Harbor has a population of a mere 5,535 residents but saw record-high rates of tourism in 2021 with nearly 4 million visitors. Despite its remote location, the island comes complete with plenty to see, eat and do around Acadia National Park.
Whether you’re bopping around Bar Harbor in the summer to soak up the sun and the ocean air, or you’re chasing the out-of-this-world foliage in the fall, there are some incredible activities to do near Acadia to make your trip the most memorable that you won’t find in the guidebooks.
Here are some of the most unique things to do in Acadia National Park & Bar Harbor
WALK THE BAR HARBOR SAND BARGE
SEE THE FIRST SUNRISE IN AMERICA AT CADILLAC MOUNTAIN
HIKE THE BEEHIVE TRAIL
SCOPE OUT SOME SECRET SEA CAVES
DIG INTO HEAPING PILE OF FRESH BLUEBERRY PANCAKES IN BAR HARBOR
WATCH THE SUNRISE AT CADILLAC MOUNTAIN
If you’ve done any research at all about the must-do things around Acadia, you’ve surely heard about catching sunrise atop Cadillac Mountain in Bar Harbor. Why? Because it’s the first sunrise in the country and crossing this off your travel bucket list will be a real stinkin’ treat. To make this activity the easiest possible, staying overnight in Acadia NP or right in Bar Harbor will allow you to sleep in until the latest possible moment while still catching the stunning views in time.
The town of Bar Harbor is right down the road from the park entrance which makes the early wake-up call that much less miserable. Be sure to bundle up, bring a blanket if possible, and grab coffee for the road if you have it available to you. Even in the hottest summer months, you’re still in Maine with crisp morning temps. From the top of Cadillac Mountain, you’ll get a panoramic view of the sun as it rises over the Atlantic.
Wanna know something crazy? Most people stayed right up near the parking area, wadded up in a crowd. Walk down along the mountainside just a few hundred yards and enjoy uninterrupted views and solitude while dreaming of your upcoming nap.
WALK THE BAR HARBOR SAND BARGE
Following our post-sunrise nap, we woke up to the sound of rain pitter-pattering on our hotel window. Rather than letting the weather detract from our experience, we grabbed our umbrellas and headed down to the Bar Harbor Sand Barge right before the high tide rolled in to wash the land away. Reliably, the Bar Island Path is accessible every nine hours or so, tracking the low tide.
For about an hour and a half, the sand barge leads from Bar Harbor over to Bar Island allowing for a quick adventure to make it safely across. Call it good luck or bad luck, we managed to get to the natural bridge right as the water started to consume the path, so we played in the water and sipped solo cups of champagne allowing for nature to do as it does: ebb and flow.
HIKE THE INCREDIBLE BEEHIVE TRAIL
Sure, the views from Cadillac Mountain get all the attention in this national park, but have you ever heard of the Beehive Trail? The Beehive Loop trail clocks in just under 2 miles round trip but catch this, you have to climb metal rung ladders and bridges etched into the side of the cliffs to get to the tops, making for a much longer natural journey.
One of the most unique things about Acadia is the cliffside hiking trails like this one and the Precipice trail (the big mama compared to the Beehive.) This trail isn’t for the faint of heart when it comes to heights. We saw numerous groups turn around within the first obstacle. That said, those brave enough to make the trek will be rewarded with views of Sand Beach and stunning ocean horizons.
There’s no question that you’ll want to start by climbing UP the cliffside, which is the first fork off once up the rock wash way. There are tons of warning signs, but don’t be deterred, as long as you can handle heights and don’t have a child in tow. This was one of the most unique hikes I’ve ever done in my life and I would one million percent recommend it to anyone visiting the park.
Pro-tip: make the hike early in the morning following sunrise views at Cadillac Mountain. You won’t want to be on this trail with crowds as it will slow down the adventure considerably. Plus, who wants other people’s butts in their face as they climb?
EXPLORE HIDDEN SEA CAVES IN ACADIA NATIONAL PARK
Yep, many people don’t know it but there are actually ancient sea caves that you can hike down into and explore when it’s low tide. Anemone Cave used to actually be on the official map of things to do around Acadia National Park but was since removed due to its tidal and dangerous nature. It’s no surprise that some clueless people wound up injured (and even dead) while attempting to explore the caves at the wrong time.
Accessible from Schooner Head Overlook, these caves are hidden in plain sight. If you were following the cement trail along the cliffs you could miss them, but be sure to peak down over the cliffs (it’s not as steep a drop as it seems from the ledge) You’ll likely start to see some people adventuring down below so long as you venture there at low tide. From there you’ll literally climb down some sharply cut massive sea stones to enter the cave. You’ll find all sorts of sea life in the little pools. I’m talking starfish, crabs, and more. COOL.
INDULGE IN SOME FRESH BLUEBERRY PANCAKES
You must dig into a heaping pile of blueberry pancakes for breakfast one morning while visiting Acadia. There are two different local breakfast spots on Cottage Street that each has a great rep for good old-fashioned diner food. The pancakes are a must as they come with a maple syrup-infused blueberry sauce for smothering. This sweet, fresh syrup is to die for and a must-do experience while in Bar Harbor. The perfect time to grab a bite? Swing by Jordan’s Restaurant or Jeannie’s GREAT MAINE BREAKFAST for some flat cakes after your sunrise viewing at Cadillac Mountain. Trust me, you’ll need the coffee.
PLACES TO EAT IN BAR HARBOR // BEST HIKES IN ACADIA // COOLEST THINGS TO DO AROUND ACADIA NATIONAL PARK // BEST THINGS TO DO IN BAR HARBOR, MAINE