Bar Harbor, Maine is a small seaside town located on Mount Desert Island and near Acadia National Park. It is 285 miles from Boston and 175 miles from Portland, Maine. Bar Harbor offers a variety of maritime, artistic and natural attractions for the visitor.
Bar Harbor first gained national attention when Hudson Valley School painter Frederic Church and Thomas Cole began depicting Bar Harbor and Mt. Desert Island in their work. Tourism increased in the area throughout the 1800s.
In 1947, a fire started in a cranberry bog burned for four days and destroyed most of the historic buildings in downtown Bar Harbor. Some historic cottages were spared and are operated as bed and breakfasts.
The mountains surrounding Bar Harbor were carved by glaciers 11,000 years ago, according to Bar Harbor Info. A short drive away, Acadia National Park preserves 41,000 acres of Maine coastline and offers hiking, camping and other outdoor activities.
Bar Harbor visitors can take whale watching or lobstering tours for a real Maine experience. Lighthouses ring the islands around Bar Harbor. Visitors can tour the grounds of the lighthouse at Bass Harbor Head and take a boat tour of the island lighthouses.
Bar Harbor has a wealth of artistic activities in addition to its natural splendor. Summer festivals honor jazz, music and fine arts and the art deco Criterion Theatre hosts plays and live performances.
