Bar Harbor Maine Attractions Are Centered Around The Incredible Beauty Of The Area

Bar Harbor Maine is located within the Acadia National Park and is located on Mount Desert Island off the coast of Maine. This island town is a popular summer retreat destination. Bar Harbor Maine attractions include some great scenic areas. One of Bar Harbors most popular scenic areas is Cadillac Mountain. The mountain has several trails to the summit. From the top of Cadillac Mountain, you can see as far as Nova Scotia on a clear day, over 100 miles away. For those that prefer to drive, there is also a road to the summit. From here, you can see the nation's first sunrise each morning.

The waters off the coast of Bar Harbor contain many cruise ships during the summer months. Almost 100 cruise ships visit this area every year; most of these are in the month of September. They come to provide their passengers with a chance to witness the natural beauty of the area and the nation's first sunrise.

The area is also very popular with long distance cyclists. Two major trails start here, the Northern Tier Bicycle Route and the Atlantic Coast Bicycle Route. The Northern Tier trail runs from Bar Harbor to Anacortes, Washington over 3,400 miles away. The Atlantic Coast trail starts in Bar Harbor and ends in Key West, Florida, which is almost 2,000 miles away. Many diehard cyclists come here to challenge themselves by riding to the other end of one of these trails.

Bar Harbor, Maine attractions include several museums. The Abbe Museum is dedicated to the Native Americans that once called this area home. The museum has several hands on exhibits that provide instructional information on North American Heritage. The exhibits include some fine examples of hand woven baskets that are made by Native American artists.

The Bar harbor Historical Society Museum provides exhibits of photographs and artifacts that display the history of the area. Some of the artifacts that can be viewed here include maps, clothing, and photos of some of the original white settlers to the area. Many of these photos display the lavish lifestyle that once existed here, at a time when Bar Harbor was one of the vacation getaway locations for America's rich and wealthy.

The Bar Harbor Whale Museum offers a rare opportunity to study and understand the whales and seals that are common to the area. There are unique displays that educate the visitor on the difference in different varieties of whales and one exhibit that offers the opportunity to walk under a real Humpback Whale skeleton. The museum is directly involved in the whale conservation program and offers the chance to adopt a whale.

The George B Dorr Museum is dedicated to the study of native wildlife. There are hands on exhibits that provide a chance to learn about the many different species of wildlife that call the area home. These exhibits include a nature walk that is a great way for providing young children an appreciation for wildlife and their natural surroundings and habitat.

The Bar Harbor Oceanarium provides information on the marine life that live off the shores of Mount Desert Island. There are displays that provide information on marine biology. There is also a lobster Hatchery that provides a rare opportunity to witness the growth of young lobsters. All of these museums make a great way to spend some time and learn about the elements that make up the area.