Bar Harbor, Maine, Offers ‘Crown Jewel’ of North Atlantic Coast

When you think of fall, cool weather, crisp air, and vibrant foliage come to mind. Maine, particularly Bar Harbor, is the poster child for a stereotypical New England autumn. 

In its early days, Bar Harbor was an economic center of the Northeast, but its many visitors began seeing the seaside town more as an attractive tourist destination. In the late 1800s, hotels began popping up en masse, and soon more people were only staying temporarily rather than living there on a full-time basis.

This Article First Appeared in FLYING Magazine

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One of the biggest draws to the area is Acadia National Park, which is known as “The Crown Jewel of the North Atlantic Coast.” Acadia is not a hidden site by any means, as more than 4 million pass through it each year, and there are many things to see, even if it’s your first or follow-up visit. No matter if you are exploring the park by boat, car, bike, or foot, the views are incredible and varied. 

Outside of the approximately 50,000-acre national park established in 1916, there is much to do in and around Bar Harbor, particularly outdoors.

About one-third of the town’s 63 square miles is water. Whether sailing, whale watching, or fishing, there is no shortage of aquatic activities.

On land, you can visit several museums, go for a walk at several green spaces within town, and get into the Halloween spirit with a ghost tour. 

Sampling the local cuisine is also an enjoyable experience, and it’s tough not to be tempted by a lobster roll, chowder, or blueberry pie. 

Flying In

You are going to remember flying into Bar Harbor. If you are pressed for time, and can only spend a night or two in town, the trip is worth it for the flight alone. On a map, you will see Bar Harbor along the rugged Atlantic Ocean coastline, a little more than halfway up the state. 

Maine boasts the highest percentage of forest of any state, so trees will be dominating most of the scenery as you fly into the area. When flying from the southeast, if you kept going, you would ultimately fly into New Brunswick or Nova Scotia. These Canadian provinces are both great fall destinations in their own regard. Perhaps consider adding a few days to your itinerary? 

Something else to think about is where else you want to stop when en route to the main attraction of Bar Harbor. While not often mentioned in conversations about states with great backcountry flying, don’t think that Maine doesn’t offer those opportunities. There is in fact an array of airstrips to get your tires off the beaten path in The Pine Tree State. 

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Beaver Creek Airstrip (51ME) is one of the more memorable options, as it hosts an A-frame cabin that’s right next to a runway that was carved into the dense trees of the Maine wilderness. The 2,300-foot (soon to be 3,000) airstrip is the starting point of a trip where pilots can get away from the world and enjoy themselves at their own pace. “If the idea of taxiing your aircraft up to a cabin, pulling the mixture, and starting to relax right away sounds appealing, then Beaver Creek is for you,” the airstrip touts.

Located to the east of Acadia National Park, Beaver Creek is about a 30-minute flight away from Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport (KBHB). If you aren’t paying close attention, it would be easy to miss Bar Harbor. Not because it’s unremarkable, but because it blends into the surrounding mountain and ocean scenery. The quaint town, with distinct architecture, is located on Mount Desert Island. This is the largest island in Maine, and one of its most notable visual points of interest is the 37-foot-tall lighthouse at the southern end.  

Airport

KBHB is the most conveniently located option to Bar Harbor, and is about 8 nm northwest of the business district. The airport accommodates aircraft of all types and boasts two paved runways. Runway 4/22 is 5,200 feet long by 100 feet wide and runway 17/35 is 3,363 feet long by 75 feet wide. 

While it is an uncontrolled field, traffic can become quite hectic, especially during peak times in summer and fall. One FBO, Modern Aviation, handles all aircraft fueling and parking needs at the gateway to Acadia National Park. Landing fees are administered by a separate third-party company, and airplanes with maximum takeoff weights less than 6,000 pounds are currently exempt. 

If you aren’t flying yourself, you’ll be pleased to know that Cape Air operates year-round service between the airport and Boston Logan International (KBOS). You will likely be arriving via a nine-passenger Cessna 402C in that case, and there is an opportunity to experience Maine via unscheduled air services as well. Scenic Flights of Acadia is an on-field tour provider, with a highlight being the fall foliage flight. Weather permitting, the company flies seven days a week, and you can even choose to ride in an open-cockpit WACO YMF. 

The airport’s location along the coast is important, as it was created to support the military during World War II. It was initially commissioned as Bar Harbor Naval Auxiliary Air Facility and served as the base for Vought Sikorsky OS2U Kingfishers, which were used for anti-submarine surveillance. While those aircraft have long since left the airport, the nearly 2 miles of coastline are still important. Seaplanes can land on the water surrounding the airport, and there is a seaplane ramp to allow these aircraft the ability to transition between land and sea. 

Things to Do/Events

Sailing, Whaling, and More

Considering how much water there is near Bar Harbor, it’s not surprising the number of aquatic activities there are to do. Even in the colder months, there are options. 

There are several tour operators that tout their whale-watching expeditions, which last through October. These excursions are like hunting and fishing outings. You may not see what you came to view, but you will still enjoy your time during them regardless. If you don’t catch a whale breaching the salty water, there is a good chance you will see eagles, gulls, and other birds, as well as seals, harbor porpoise, and more. Not only will you see some cool creatures, the fun for the whole family boat rides provide passengers with views that cannot be replicated from land.

There are also a handful of outfits that provide the opportunity to cruise aboard a traditional sailboat. Whether you want to step in as a first mate hopeful or kick back and relax, this is a fun way to see the coastline and experience sailing above a vintage sloop or schooner. There are lots of charter options, starting at sunrise and lasting through sunset. Each provides a different vantage point of Bar Harbor’s beauty, so consider trying out a few during your time in town. 

Several of the local boat charter providers allow tourists to experience the lobster industry firsthand aboard a powered vessel. 

Maine produces the most lobster of any state, and you can help contribute to the harvest quota by pulling traps alongside seasoned fishermen on public or private charters. There are also traditional fishing charters as well, with cod, flounder, mackerel, and pollock being some of the species that could be on the other end of your line.

The ferry services in Bar Harbor go near and far. The Cranberry Cove Ferry is an option that travels between several local islands. The Bay Harbor Ferry offers similar services and goes between Bar Harbor, from the downtown area, to the town of Winter Harbor. If you want to spend more time traversing the high seas, reach out to The Cat—and bring your passport. This high-speed car ferry advertises itself as a means of having a “two-nation vacation,” as it travels between Bar Harbor and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. 

Lighthouses and Unique Views 

Regardless of which on-ocean attraction you choose, the area’s many lighthouses will be mentioned by your tour guide. Like a control tower at an airport, lighthouses serve an important purpose. As advanced navigational equipment has been created to keep boats out of the rocks, some of these oceanside beacons have become obsolete. But they still stand as a reminder of nautical history and are one of the most distinctive visual elements along the coastline. 

There is only one lighthouse on Mount Desert Island, Bass Harbor Head Light Station, and the 167-year-old beacon is probably the most notable in the state. Its beauty has become synonymous with both Acadia National Park and Maine, and has been featured both on a special edition U.S. quarter and postage stamp. The lighthouse is operated by the U.S. Coast Guard, and tourists and locals alike flock there to see sweeping water views, which are especially remarkable at sunrise and sunset. This is one of the most picturesque spots where the day’s rising and fading sun is first seen. 

Another place where you are going to encounter traffic looking to experience an “only here” phenomenon is at Cadillac Mountain. Located in Acadia National Park, Cadillac Mountain is the highest point on the Eastern seaboard at 1,530 feet msl. According to the National Park Service, this is the first place in the United States to see the sun rise—starting October 7 and ending March 6. There are many great spots near the summit to sit during this time, as well as trails if you would prefer to be in motion as the day starts. 

Unlike all of the other trails in the area, the Bar Island Trail is only available for hours at a time. This is because the almost 2-mile, out-and-back path is under water for most of the day and only surfaces during low tide. The window to traverse the ocean-cutting trail is only about three hours, and if you dilly-dally, you will be stuck on the other side. A sign at the trailhead does provide options for calling a boat charter if you do become stranded and don’t want to wait nine hours for the next low tide. 

Acadia National Park

If you come to Bar Harbor, you will almost certainly visit Acadia National Park. This is one of the most visited national parks and one that is as beautiful on the ground as it is from the air. Points of interest to consider adding to your itinerary include Schoodic Point, Frenchmen Bay, Thunder Hole, and the Wild Gardens of Acadia.

The Park Loop Road is on most visitor’s plans, as it is a convenient way to see much of Acadia’s beauty without ever having to exit your vehicle. The 27-mile scenic drive passes key park elements on the eastern portion of Mount Desert Island, including Jordan Pond, Sand Beach, Cadillac Mountain, and others. You’ll see all of the vibrant foliage, without subjecting yourself to the brisk, fall air that can feel downright cold when there is precipitation in the air. 

One of the more prominent features of the park is its carriage roads and stone buildings, all 45 miles worth. These were constructed by John D. Rockefeller Jr. during a 27-year period beginning in 1913 and today stands as a testament to one man’s passion for integrating modern engineering into a natural setting, allowing guests to more easily get around Acadia. The roads are 16 feet wide in most places and accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists, as well as horse-drawn carriages. Just like with on-water charters, the carriage rides cease as the weather becomes colder, so be sure to prioritize this experience if it sounds fun to you. 

If you visit Acadia, some of the best views in the park can be seen past civil twilight. Stargazing is extremely popular at the park, as the dark night sky overhead is trimmed by the trees, water, and cliffs below. Cadillac Mountain, being the highest place in Acadia, is a popular place where people set up their lawn chairs, cameras, and telescopes. The National Park Service outlines some tips for amateurs looking for their first night sky viewing experience, with one being to wait at least an hour or two after sunset to have the best chance of seeing the most celestial activity. 

Other Land Activities 

Bar Harbor’s downtown area is postcard worthy, and its restaurants and shops memorable. You don’t have to look hard to find a tasty breakfast, lunch, or dinner spot when in town.

Seafood is a main feature at many of these locally owned restaurants, and fresh-caught red crustaceans are a staple. There are a lot of dishes to try, from lobster mac and cheese to lobster rolls. Boats haul in other delicacies each morning as well, so don’t be nervous to stray and try out other seafood. Clam chowder is also a favorite. And if you want to satisfy your sweet tooth, blueberry is a popular accompaniment in many of the desserts on the island.

Whether you are looking for a unique Maine keepsake to remember your trip by, or some artwork to put on your walls, make sure you make time to stop at the shops that dot Bar Harbor’s quaint streets. 

There are a multitude of hiking trails and biking paths in and around Bar Harbor. Several of these options focus on the supernatural, rather than the natural beauty of the terrain. The town was incorporated in 1796 but was settled by indigenous tribes long before. There are a handful of ghost tours in Bar Harbor, which highlight the spirit of Mount Desert Island’s past. The haunts can be explored at a mansion, a handful of buildings in the downtown area, and more. The tour guides will help you see these historic spaces from a different perspective. 

If you aren’t looking for a spooky experience, consider touring downtown at your own pace. There are dozens of historic sites of note, even though many were burned in the Bar Harbor Fire of 1947.

Some of the must-see buildings are the Criterion Theatre, Saint Saviour’s Episcopal Church, Abbe Museum, and the Bar Harbor Historical Society. You can even stay overnight in some of these architecturally significant buildings, including the Bar Harbor Inn, built in 1887, and the Balance Rock Inn, built in 1903. The Town Pier, and the other piers that surround it, should also be a place to visit during your visit and are a good way to combine the land and sea treasures of Bar Harbor. 

This feature first appeared in the October Issue 963 of the FLYING print edition.