Polly & Jose
Things To Do
Bar Harbor
You can easily spend a day exploring the shops, eateries, and vistas of Bar Harbor. Set a day aside to shmy, eat some great food [we love Testa's] and pick up all of your Maine swag [Cool as a Moose is a tourist favorite].
Cadillac Mountain
Apparently during certain times of the year, Cadillac Mountain is the first place you can see the sunrise in the United States. Another fun fact, this is the highest point along the North Atlantic seaboard that was created by tectonic and volcanic forces. Jose's favorite fact? You can drive up Cadillac Mountain if you just aren't in the mood for an early morning hike. Or an afternoon hike, really. Hikers can expect a round trip here of 7 miles. Worth the vista no matter how you get up there.
Coastal Kayaking Tours Inc
Get your paddle on by taking a tour with these folks. Shindler/Emery family tested and approved. Great for families with kids too as they offer shorter tours to accommodate, and tandem kayaks for those who like a buddy. Seriously, if you do nothing else, tour Maine's rocky coastline with one of these trips. It is well worth not feeling your arms or abs the next day.
Bass Harbor Lighthouse Trail
Another wonderful thing Maine is known for - our lighthouses. Being coastal and all, we have a lot of them. You can find the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse in Acadia National Park. It is accessible by car with free parking nearby. While you're there, take in those glorious views and smell that salty coastal air. It's good for you.
Carriage Road
Guess what - more nature! Because that's what Maine has an abundance of and we love it. The Carriage Roads are part of Acadia National Park and run for 45 miles. With the opportunity to hike it, bike it, or - if you happen to be bringing your horse - ride it, this is a National Park adventure that is accessible and not to miss.
Thunder Hole
There are so many places to see and things to do in Acadia National Park. A great one [that doesn't involve any hiking] is Thunder Hole. At high tide this natural rock formation gets slammed with the waves and truly makes a booming sound like a clap of thunder. It may sound silly, but it's really amazing when you go and check it out. Parking is right across the street and you can access it through the Acadia National Park loop road while you see the other points of interest in the national park.
Sand Beach
Let's be honest, Maine isn't known for our sandy beaches. BUT here we have one. Sand Beach is a favored swimming locale for many Canadian tourists and you can join their ranks. Be warned, that water is going to be something cold.
Acadia Lobster Cruise
Full disclosure, we have not done this tour but it has such great ratings on TripAdvisor that we had to include it. Spending your day with a verified lobster fisherman and eating the haul fresh out of the water? Doesn't get better than that, bub.
Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company
Go and see all of the ocean critters or lighthouses as you please. With a range of touring options and really high ratings from TripAdvisor, this company looks like a win.
Schoodic Point
If you want a little drive, get out to Schoodic Point. Maine is well known for our "lakes, streams, and rock-bound coasts" and Schoodic is one of the many places that proves why. Go check out the salty air, tree-lined cliffs, and watch the waves come crashing into the coast.
Ellsworth
If the bustle of Bar Harbor is a bit much for you, downtown Ellsworth is a very quaint area with some nice eateries and shopping. Polly particularly loves Bliss for the owner's handmade soaps and bath products, Elizabeth's Fine Goods for the more artsy stuff, and John Edward's Market [dubbed "hippie grocery store" by Aaron] for their spices and selection of organic goods. Downtown Ellsworth also has a farmer's market every Saturday from 9:30am-12:30pm.
Fort Knox and Penobscot Narrows Observatory
If you are up for more of a haul, go to the Penobscot Observatory and Fort Knox. The drive will take you a little over an hour but will be well worth the trip. The Observatory will take you up 420 feet into the air for a great view of Fort Knox and the Penobscot River and Bay. Fort Knox is Maine's first all-granite fort constructed in 1844 due to anti-British sentiments after, well, all of the wars of that time. It never saw battle, but it was manned during the Civil War and the Spanish-American war. Now it is one of the best-preserved and most accessible forts in the United States.
Castine
Time for another road trip! About an hour fifteen from Bar Harbor, this is probably the most quintessential coastal New England towns you can experience in this area. It's both majestic and darling. Castine is the home of Maine Maritime Academy and their museum is allegedly quite nice. Also, we recommend the sea kayaking adventures here too that launch you from the dock and take you right through the bay where you will meet some loud seals and find a ship that has been reclaimed as a cormorant condo building. Check out Castine Kayak Adventures and maybe take their bioluminescence trip.
Reny's Department Store
The department store that advertises as A Maine Adventure, and it is. You will find some good Maine goods here interspersed with great deals on every day finds. From clothing, to games, to food, to beach chairs, Reny's has it all.
Union River Lobster Pot
By far our favorite restaurant in Ellsworth - there is a great outdoor area in front if you have to wait for a table so you can enjoy a drink next to Union River [keep your eyes peeled for seals], a sweet little dining room, and a big screened in porch so if the weather is nice you can enjoy your meal without interference from mosquitos. We recommend getting there on the early side and finishing your dinner with the blueberry pie.
DragonFire Pizza
Jose may have personally kept Dragonfire in business during our COVID 2020 summer in Maine. Their pizza is wood-fired and really tasty - they also offer great wings and gluten-free crust that doesn't taste like cauliflower. This is an ideal place for some quick takeout. Win win.