Entertainment
The Criterion
A classic movie thearter with plenty of seating. always showing new movies. 207288-3441.
Acadia Repertory Theatre
This thearter, located in the village of somesville, produces high-quality plays that are a joy to watch. the works of agatha christie are often highlighted, but a variety of different shows of all kinds are put on. 207-244-7260.
The Margarett Todd-
Take a ride on a four-masted schooner through frenchmen's bay! a park ranger will be on-board to identify various points of interest. bring your own drinks, alcohol permitted. be on the lookout for whales, seals, porpoises, and puffins.
Kebo Valley Golf Course-
Beautiful vistas of green grass and open field, just outside bar harbor.
Reel Pizza-
A two-screen movie thearter which shows current releases and foreign imports. reel pizza's unique feature is that you can order a pizza, watch your movie while it's cooking, and then when it's ready eat your italian delight while finishing your film. great for rainy nights!
Acadia Improv
An instant favorite amongst all who attend, this live improvisational comedy show is not to be missed! 207288-2503.
Diver-Ed's Dive-In-Thearter
Do not miss this show! diver-ed and his wife captain evil are celebrities on mount desert island. board their new boat 'the starfish enterprise' at the college of the atlantic pier and set sale for an adventure into the depths of frenchmen's bay. 207 288-dive 3483.
Pirate's Cove Golf Course-
Pirate themed mini-golf! play the original course, or if you're feeling daring, you might opt for blackbeard's challenge. either way, great fun for all.
Kayaking
Eagle Lake
In bar harbor can get choppy on windy days, but sticking to the shoreline is relaxing, with views of cadillac mtn. no swimming though, as the lake is a public water source for the town of bar harbor.
Long Pond
Kayaks can be launched easily from the landing at "pond's end" off pretty marsh rd. near somesville.
Sea kayaking tours
And boat rental services are offered from numerous establishments in bar harbor and southwest harbor allow access to mount desert island and other destinations.
There are many exciting paddling options around the island, for example.
Hamilton's Pond
In hulls cove. generally quite calm.
Tidepooling
Otter Cliffs-
These tidepools are situated amongst the rocky crags of the shoreline, and some can be difficult to reach. this location is not recomended for young children who are not steady on their feet. otter cliffs offers an extensive array of biodiversity not seen in many other locations on the island- here you can find nudibranchs, anemones,star fish, sea urchins, crabs, and much more.
Mount Desert Island's intertidal zone is rich with diversity. The tidepools that form on the granite cliffs are one of the most interesting aspects of the island, and are often overlooked. They are a great way to introduce young children to the aquatic world. People of all ages will have a great time searching for crabs, sea urchins, perriwinkles, limpets, and much more! Be careful of barnacles, they WILL leave nasty gashes. Bandaids and closed-toe shoes are recomended, just incase. NOTE- DON'T FORGET TO CHECK THE TIDES! If you go tidepooling at high-tide, you're going to be quite dissapointed by the lack of critters. Tide-Charts can be purchased in town, or check the newspaper.
Wonderland-
A ten-minute hike through the woods leads to a beautiful expanse of rocky shore. at low tide the area is filled with seaweed and small pools. wonderland is ideal for small children because of the flat landscape.
The Bar-
Don't be fooled! the bar isn't a place to party. it's a sand bar which connects bar island to mount desert island, and is only visible at low tide. this is what gives bar harbor it's name. it's a completely unique environment, with tons of shells, snails and clam worms. in the deeper pools, one can find crabs, and even rock-gunnels. be careful not to get stuck on bar island! if you are on the island when the tides change, you'll be stuck their until low tide comes again. plan to only be on the bar an hour and a half before or after low tide to avoid any unfortunate strandings.
Swimming
The Bowl-
Located on the backside of beehive mountain, this is a great place to cool off after a difficult hike. be warned- the trek up beehive can be arduous for some. the backside is managable for older kids 4th grade and up, but will likely take a while to complete. if you choose to climb the ladders trail, be aware that you will be edging along cliffsides, climbing up iron rungs, and not leaving much room for error. deffinitely not a hike for beginners, but a worthwhile one if you're up for the challenge!
Sommes Sound-
There are several locations on the sound that are great for swimming. one of the best is located at the base of the flying mountain trail. why not get warmed up by hiking over the mountain 15 minutes to the top, a nice easy hike with a beautiful view of the sound from the top, then cool off at the cobble beach once you reach the bottom?
Hull's Cove-
Hull's cove is extremely flat, and would be ideal for younger children. located near several restaurants.
Hadley Point-
This mudflat is a great place to wade around and explore. there are tons of crabs and clams be aware, you need a license to actually collect them for harvest. even if you have a license, be sure to check that there's no red tide in the area. in the summer months the algae can be quite prolific around the island!. warning- you will get muddy!
Sand Beach-
One of the only sandy beaches on the island. relatively calm water, albeit icy. definitely bring some warm clothes and a blanket to wrap up in, if you plan on swimming. lifeguard on duty. sand beach can be extremely be extremely busy during the high season- parking is a nightmare. accessible by the island explorer. you will need a park pass to get in, as there is a ranger station which checks passes on the park loop road.
Echo Lake-
An artificial sand beach, calm water, relatively warm. lots of space. lifeguard on duty. a great place for families with young children. lots of ducks!
Lake Wood-
A lovely little swimming spot, with lots of tadpoles, frogs, turtles and fish. there is a short hike from the parking area, so be sure to bring shoes. camps sometimes bring their campers here, so it can be packed with children.
Long Pond 'Pond's End'-
A roped-in swimming area, great for all ages. the water gets deep enough for older swimmers to be content, but the shallows are extensive enough that youngsters are not in danger if supervised. there is a large floating dock which is fun to jump off of. sometimes bi-planes will land on the pond, putting on quite a show for the swimmers! be aware- there can be lots of leeches in the shallows by the rocks. just keep moving and they won't bother you at all.
Echo Lake Ledges-
Located on the side of echo lake across from the acadia mountain trailhead, these cliff ledges are great for jumping off of. not recomended for young children or inexperienced swimmers.
Salt Water-
Hunter's Beach (best for wading)-
A short walk alongside a beautiful flowing stream leads you to the beautiful hunter's beach. large and small stones abound- a great place for creating andy goldsworthy type natural art. beach sculptures created by other visitors can often be found on the shore. the surf can be rough.
Sargent Pond-
Located part-way up sargent mountain, this is a great spot for hikers to catch a quick dip.
Fresh Water-
Shopping
Jeckyl and Hyde-
Two extremes, one shop. half the store is devoted to the sale of knives, weapons and leather goods, while the other is devoted to women's clothing and jewelry. they always have something interesting for sale.
Eden Rising-
Oprah's favorite jeans are sold here! they have a great selection of funky clothing, artsy jewelry and unique nick-nacks. eden rising also does aura photography at certain times, stop in and inquire about it.
Bark Harbor-
A store devoted to your pets! clothing, beds, treats and more!
Cool as a Moose-
Tons moose-themed items because who doesn't love moose?. lots of t-shirts and novelties as well.
The Man Store-
Everything a man could ever want. alcohol, tobacco, firearms and women abound.
Willis' Rock Shop-
Kids love the rock specimens and can get a geode to break at home. mom can enjoy some custom jewelry including local granite and maine tourmaline, custom made in the shop.
The Hemporium-
Your one-stop-hippie-shop! hemp goods of all kinds: clothing, toys, books, bags, bumperstickers, and more. also home to the acadia silver exchange- tons of gorgeous jewelry.
All Fired Up-
Half store, half art studio. come in and do some ceramics! paint pieces and have them fired in a kiln. all fired up hosts parties.
Bar Harbor Tea Company-
Sells a wide variety of teas, tea blends, tea pots, and other tea paraphernilia.
Acadia Shops of Bar Harbor-
Visit acadia shop, acadia outdoors, jordan pond ice cream and fudge acadia country store, and acadia park company, all on main street in bar harbor, where you'll find gifts, art, photography, clothing, pottery, fudge, ice cream and many other fine products, many made in maine. website at (http://www.acadiashops.com)
Acadia World Traders-
Located in trenton on the way to the island, this shop is deffinitely worth a visit. they sell goods from all over the world, mainly indonesia. beautiful hand-crafted furnature, batik clothing, and more. shop the sales racks for amazing deals.
Hiking
McFarland Mtn.
724 ft.
Norumbega Mtn.
852 ft. after a steep, challenging hike you are rewarded with spectacular views of the southern islands - bear, sutton, and the cranberries.
North Bubble
872 ft.
Young's Mtn.
680 ft.
Champlain Mtn.
1,058 ft. home to nesting pairs of peregrine falcons, which restricts access to the precipice trail at certain points of the year, generally between march 15 and august 15.
Bald Mtn.
974 ft.
Sargent Mtn.
1,373 ft. sargent mountain has beautiful views, and part way up the climb there is sargent pond, a refreshing and beautiful spot for swimming.
The Triad
698 ft.
South Bubble
766 ft. a relatively easy hike, the south bubble is a quick walk and features "bubble rock", an enormous glacial irratic.
St. Sauvier
679 ft.
Parkman Mtn.
941 ft.
Day Mtn.
580 ft.
The Beehive
520 ft. a nice short, but steep hike, with metal rungs and ladders; the southern end of the summit gives a perfect view of sand beach while the northern end looks out over to champlain mtn and frenchman's bay.
Cadillac Mtn.
1,530 ft. the summit can be accessed by an auto road if you're going up to see the sunrise/set, but the mountain also has some wonderful hiking trails. on mornings between 7 october and 6 march, those at the summit of cadillac are the first people in the country to see the sun rise.
Beech Mtn.
839 ft. gorgeous views, with a fire tower at the summit. the valley trail is a relatively flat option to a point, with incredible lichen growth.
Penobscot Mtn.
1,194 ft. sweeping vistas await you at the top of penobscot. the climb down is an adventure, with lots of rocky crags. a moderate hike.
Hugenot Head
731 ft. a neat hike keeps you along the edge of this bluff and leads you to a nice lookout over the tarn and across to dorr mountain. keep hiking down into the valley on the other side to begin the hike up champlain mountain.
Dorr Mtn.
1,270 ft. door mountain is an exciting hike with stone staircases, fallen rock formations and beautiful foliage.;;
Acadia Mtn.
681 ft.
Mansell Mtn.
949 ft.
Bernard Mtn.
1,071 ft.
Gilmore Mtn.
1,036 ft.
Pemetic Mtn.
1,248 ft.
Gorham Mtn.
525 ft. a moderate hiking trail, great view of the coast from the summit, from sand beach, down to thunder hole and otter cliffs.
You can explore the island's 120 miles of hiking trails for a good workout and spectacular views:
Flying Mtn.
284 ft. a very short hike leads to a small summit which provides one of the best views of somes sound.