Bar Harbor is the gateway to Acadia National Park, a coastal Maine town that has drawn visitors for generations with its blend of rugged shoreline and small-town charm. Cadillac Mountain, the park’s 1,530-foot summit, is famously the first spot on the U.S. East Coast to catch the morning sun.
Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse and Thunder Hole showcase the coastline’s dramatic rock formations, whale-watching tours run from mid-April through September, and the Abbe Museum offers an in-depth look at the Wabanaki tribes native to the region.
Downtown’s Main Street is packed with boutiques, galleries and lobster shacks, and the free Island Explorer shuttle makes it easy to reach Jordan Pond car-free. Summer, from June through August, is the best time to visit for mild temperatures and full trail access.