1. Acadia NP & Bar Harbor Self-Guided Driving and Walking Tour
Start by downloading the Action Tour Guide app that will function as your personal guide, audio tour, and map all in one. Once you’ve downloaded your tours, your journey begins in either Bar Harbor or by Sand Beach. Start your Bar Harbor adventure on the John B. Ells Pier. From there, you’ll head into this historic town and hear about its Gilded Age high points. You’ll then have a detour opportunity to visit the untouched Bar Island. After that, you’ll stroll through the Historic District, packed with majestic homes dating back over a century! Here, you’ll find landmarks like La Rochelle, an extravagant Gilded Age mansion. As you walk, you’ll also hear about a devastating fire which changed the town forever. The Abbe Museum, next, houses a collection of Wabanaki artifacts unlike any other. Then you’ll see the Village Green, planned by the same designer behind the White House Rose Garden! Next stop? Main Street! Stop at any of the many shops, restaurants, and cafes for whatever your heart desires. Afterward, you’ll walk along the waterfront and learn how to spot some of Acadia’s most striking wildflowers. Your tour concludes just beyond the Bar Harbor Inn, which dates back to 1887! Your tour of the Ocean Path starts near the Ocean Path Trailhead right next to Sand Beach, one of the best swimming spots in Acadia. As you walk along this oceanside path, you’ll learn about marine wildlife like harbor porpoises and harbor seals, and you might be lucky enough to see some of them in person! You’ll also hear the true story of the dramatic Sand Beach shipwreck, which took place right on this shore. Then you’ll stop at Thunder Hole, where the ocean’s waves produce a thunderous rumble that has to be heard to be believed! After that, keep your eyes open for tide pools and their many marine denizens. Next is Monument Cove, where you can stand atop rocky bluffs for an unparalleled view of Maine’s jagged coastline (which, of course, makes for a fantastic photo op). Clamber down to the shore at Boulder Beach, or continue on to the famous Otter Cliff, which boasts some surprising World War I history! This tour concludes at the breathtaking Otter Point Overlook.