Bar Harbor is committed to your safety as you enjoy your stay— to eat, shop, and play! Read on for some insider tips on how to keep it a socially-distanced Bar Harbor experience.
Dining Hacks
Switch up your hours! Sleep in and grab brunch like it’s the weekend even if it’s not, or be an early bird and enjoy lunch before noon, and dinner before 5 p.m. (Upside: That sets you up perfectly for a late evening snack of ice cream or blueberry pie!)
Reserve, Reserve: Wherever possible, make reservations for all of your meals. Then you can show up on time and avoid having to wait in any potential lines.
Shopping like a Pro
Connect: Call the shops you want to visit ahead of time and ask for tips on when the best time would be to shop. Or, request a time before or after their usual hours. It can’t hurt to ask!
Order Online: If you’re not able to visit during off hours, see if the shop offers online ordering for you to browse at your leisure. Plus: more room in your suitcase!
Smart Spaces
Park it: our public parks are great options for some R&R in a spacious setting
Athlete Style: whether for play, picnicking, or running about, our athletic fields are a great social-distancing option
Want more Bar Harbor tips? Stop by the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce Visitor Information Center at 2 Cottage Street, or visit our website.
Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park is regularly one of the top ten most-visited national parks in the U.S. It’s a good idea to plan ahead to help you have a fun and socially-distant trip!
Cadillac Mountain*: At sunrise and sunset, Cadillac Mountain Summit can be a busy place. For the 2021 summer season, visitors to Acadia National Park will need a vehicle reservation to drive up the Cadillac Summit Road during sunrise and daylight hours. Details about reservation dates, costs, and sales procedures are expected to be announced early in 2021.
Swap the Sun for Stars: After sunset is an especially good time to visit Cadillac Mountain Summit and a reservation will not be required. You’ll feel so close to the Milky Way, you’ll want to reach out and grab the stars!
Sunrise/Sunset Alternatives: If sunrise or sunset is a must-see for you, don’t despair. We have some recommendations for alternative places to witness the spectacle:
Sunrise
Walk on the Shore Path in downtown Bar Harbor.
Find a safe place to park along Ocean Drive on the Park Loop Road.
Visit the Schooner Head Overlook where you’ll be standing just at the ocean’s edge.
Visit the west, or “quiet” side of Mount Desert Island to take in the views of the sunset.
Head over to Hadley Point beach and set up your blankets and chairs.
Sand Beach*:
Be early, or be late: Plan to arrive early to stake your place on the beach, or hit the sand later in the afternoon when many others have already called it a day.
Looking for more information and tips about Acadia National Park? Stop at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center and ask a Park Ranger for personalized suggestions to fit your interests, or visit Acadia National Park’s website. We wish you a wonderful, fun and safe trip!
