So, you want to know: Where do the locals eat in Bar Harbor? What’s the best time of year to visit Acadia? Where should you stay? Which boat cruise should you take in Frenchman Bay? What is there to do in Bar Harbor that’s off the beaten path? Essentially, how do you plan the perfect trip to Mount Desert Island.
Those are all great questions! You’re among many of today’s travelers that are doing more research before booking a trip. And for good reason. According to a report by IPX1031, 50% of Americans plan to travel more in 2024 than they did in 2023. In fact, the amount of money that’s being spent on tourism in 2024 is expected to reach an all time high of $2.5 trillion. So, it makes sense that we want to be thoughtful about where, how, and on what we are spending our travel budgets.
Increasingly, we’re looking for our investments in travel to be rewarded with personalized experiences that prioritize the ability to unplug and spend quality time with loved ones. Above all, we want our experiences to feel authentic. A 2023 survey by Booking.com found 75% of travelers “seek authentic experiences that are representative of the local culture.” But what exactly does it mean to travel authentically?
As we take trips that are meant to leave us feeling more connected to ourselves and our family or friends, we also want to walk away feeling more connected to the place we visited. We want to develop a deeper understanding for and participation in the culture, community, and traditions of our destinations. But perhaps this is an unsatisfying answer.
How to Have an Authentic Bar Harbor Experience
After more than 30 years hosting visitors to our Downeast town, we have a lot of tips and tricks up our sleeve for how to have the best Bar Harbor vacation. But the truth is that everyone has their own unique way of enjoying Mount Desert Island.
Some spend all their time hiking and exploring Acadia National Park. “People do disappear,” said Jeremy Dougherty, Manager of the Bar Harbor Inn. “They stay with us for four nights but are in Acadia four days in a row, so after check-in, we might not see them much. I mean, this place is an Adventure Land,” he said. “In Acadia, there’s a spiderweb of trails and sights you can link up to customize your adventure.”
Others would prefer to take their Bar Harbor vacation slow, relaxing by the pool or strolling through downtown. “This is their time to sit and drink coffee together and watch the Shore Path,” said Jeremy. “They’re here to drink a glass of wine on the balcony, come down and have long dinner and just do nothing.”
But no matter the vacation style, the evidence shows that many of them fall in love with Bar Harbor. Every year, around 250,000 guests stay in one of our six Bar Harbor hotels or motels. And 10% return—that’s approximately 25,000 people who choose to visit Bar Harbor again. In many cases, we’re not just talking about a second or third visit, rather generations of families who spend a part of every year here.
“Our repeat guests often want the same room. They want to be in the same spot on the property. They even want the same housekeeping staff,” said Jordan Soucy, Manager of the Bar Harbor Motel. “They like that it’s predictable.”
This, we think, is the key to achieving that authentic Bar Harbor trip. There’s no single correct answer for how to make the most of your vacation to Bar Harbor, but those who return to our island again and again have become more than just visitors. We’re most definitely biased, but we witness the true magic of Bar Harbor come alive when our visitors become part of the community fabric, joining us to celebrate local traditions like the annual 4th of July Seafood Festival, becoming friends with residents and staff, and sharing their love of this place with others.
The Atlantic Oceanside has welcomed New Hampshire guests, Jim and Michelle, to Bar Harbor for 20 years in a row. They stay for a few weeks at a time, inviting friends or family members to join them for a weekend of hiking and biking. In many ways, this has turned Bar Harbor into something of a second home for them, showing off their preferred spots and activities to their own visitors.
Bethany Reece, Manager of the Acadia Inn, is also familiar with this type of repeat visitor. “I have two particular families that have been staying here since I can remember,” she said. “I’ve watched their kids grow up. They come because they feel like they’re connected to us.” One family, she shares, had their first stay when their son was a toddler. Now, nearly 15 years later, their two children are young adults attending college and the family still books the same room for the same week in June. When they arrive each year, check in is more than a formality—it’s an opportunity to spend twenty minutes catching up with the staff they know, asking how the winter was, and getting the low-down on what’s new in town.
Dictionaries might not agree, but maybe the best definition of travelling authentically is when you connect personally with people, places and activities. Bar Harbor’s annual visitors “go to their favorite lobster pound, go to their favorite restaurant, see the staff they know at all these places.” They get a vacation that is truly special because they’ve spent years, sometimes generations, creating those connections.
And it all starts with your first visit. We can help you figure out what to pack for your trip, lend our best tips on exploring Acadia via bicycle, make sure you have plenty to do on a rainy day, or share our absolute favorite hike, but the rest is up to you!
