Whether you are here for a short stay or a longer visit, Bar Harbor, Acadia, and MDI are the gifts that keep on giving. Here are our tips and suggestions for what to do and see during your time in one of the world’s most beautiful places. And remember: Jen is always here to answer questions, make suggestions, and help you plan the richest, most enjoyable visit possible. Send us an email at info@maplesinn.com or call us at (207) 288-3443 to chat about your visit.
1. Check out our Maples Inn Guest App and Local Area Guide! When you make your reservation with us, we will send you an invitation to access our guest app. The app contains information about your stay at the Maples Inn, as well as a guide to area attractions, our favorite tours, activities, hiking, biking, restaurants, shopping, and more. We have poured all of our local knowledge into creating this interactive guide, and we look forward to sharing it with you!
2. Get your Acadia National Park entrance pass! You will need an Acadia entrance pass to visit the national park. You will need to display your pass in your vehicle while in Acadia. You can purchase your entrance pass online or at several locations around the park and Bar Harbor when you arrive. Click here for more information about purchasing your ticket to paradise.
3. Drive to the summit of Cadillac Mountain! If you plan to visit Cadillac Mountain for sunrise or at any time during your visit, vehicle reservations are required for the Cadillac Mountain Summit Road. Click here to learn more about making your vehicle reservation. If you wish to hike or bike to Cadillac’s summit, no reservation is required. You can also book a guided tour of Acadia with Oli’s Trolley or Acadia National Park Tours, which includes a stop at the top of Cadillac.
4. Explore on foot from The Maples Inn! We are located on quiet residential street in the heart of Bar Harbor. We are within a short walk of downtown and the waterfront, and a quick stroll will take you to Bar Harbor’s many restaurants, pubs and bars, shops and galleries, and museums and tours. We are three miles from the Acadia’s main entrance and visitor center at Hulls Cove and 1.4 miles from the Cadillac Mountain Entrance to Acadia. You can even walk into Acadia from our doorstep, and within 1.5 miles find yourself in the heart of the park at Sieur de Monts Springs & Wild Gardens of Acadia with access to a large network of hiking trails. From the inn, it is also a short walk to cross the sandbar to Bar Island and and a brief stroll to the scenic and historic Shore Path.
5. Ride the Island Explorer! The seasonal (late June through mid-October) free Island Explorer buses pick up from the Village Green, about a 5 minute walk from The Maples Inn. The Island Explorer buses link Bar Harbor with destinations in Acadia National Park and with village centers around MDI. They are free to ride with your Acadia National Park entrance pass and they’re a wonderful way to explore MDI and leave the driving to someone else. Please note that the Island Explorer routes do not include the Cadillac Mountain summit.
6. Drive the Park Loop Road! Many of Acadia’s famous sites are located along the Park Loop Road, a 27-mile loop that begins at the Hull’s Cove Visitor Center. Points of interest include Sieur de Monts Spring & Wild Gardens of Acadia (also the hub of a large network of hiking trails), Sand Beach, the Ocean Path, access to many hiking trails, Otter Cliff, Jordan Pond, and Cadillac Mountain. You can also book a narrated tour of the Park Loop Road and its attractions with Oli’s Trolley or Acadia National Park Tours
7. Get out on the water! There are so many ways to experience the waters, bays, sounds, and inlets around MDI, as well as many beautiful ponds and lakes. Boat tours include nature and wildlife cruises, whale watching, lighthouse cruises, sightseeing cruises, sailing tours, fishing trips, and private charters. You can also book a sea kayaking tour or rent your own kayak, canoe, or paddleboard. Swimming at Echo Lake Beach and Long Pond are a refreshing treat during the warm summer months.
8. Adventures by land! Acadia is a magical place to walk, hike, and bike with 120 miles of hiking trails and over 40 miles of vehicle-free carriage roads. Book a narrated trolley or bus tour of Acadia, a ranger-led biking tour, rock climbing class, birdwatching or nature tour, nature photography class, horse drawn carriage tour, or scenic flight tour. You can also participate in ranger-led programs through the national park. There are also ghost tours, historic garden tours and self-guided garden tours, cultural tours, wine and brewery tours and tastings, museums, galleries, golf, massage, yoga, and more. Strike out on your own and rent a bike, electric bike, or scooter. Ask us questions, use the guest app and local guidebooks, hiking guides, and hiking maps we provide during your stay to plan your own excursions.
9. Visit the Quietside of MDI! Escape the bustle and take a coastal drive that meanders through swaths of Acadia, quaint villages, and along Somes Sound. Visit the towns of Seal Harbor, Northeast Harbor (while you’re here, head down Sargent Drive, which is easily one of the prettiest drives on the island), and Southwest Harbor, Enjoy hiking, shops, galleries, restaurants, and fabulous scenery. Watch lobstermen (and women) at work, eat at an authentic lobster pound (a Maine term for a lobster shack), and don’t forget to visit Bass Harbor Head Light at the island’s southwestern tip.
10. Visit Schoodic Peninsula and the Cranberry Isles! Take a ferry ride across Frenchman Bay to the village of Winter Harbor and the Schoodic Peninsula (also part of Acadia National Park). This area features dramatic views of Mount Desert Island, stunning coastal scenery, biking on the 8.3 mile Schoodic Loop Road, and hiking trails (you can take a bike on the ferry or rent one in Winter Harbor). You can also take a ferry from Northeast Harbor or Southwest Harbor to the Cranberry Isles, an archipelago of five gorgeous islands lying just south of Mount Desert Island. They offer beautiful scenery, a couple of restaurants, art galleries, museums, and opportunities to walk and bike. It’s so fun to ride the ferry and explore these off the beaten path places.
Feeling overwhelmed? We’ve got you! Contact us for help in planning the perfect visit to Bar Harbor, Acadia National Park, and Mount Desert Island. It’s what we love to do.