A friend and I took the Gorge Trail / Cadillac North trail and it took us 4.26 hours for a 5.4 mile hike. The gorge trail takes you to the Cadillac mountain summit. It is a serious hike that includes rock climbing. We then took the Cadillac trail north back down. We are 51/47 year old women. Be ready. It’s a work out. Have your knees ready. It is Beautful. All of it. Worth the hike. The reward is amazing.

Definitely a nice entry-level park to visit. Came here in October when the weather was cooler, definitely gave some beautiful fall vibes with the changing foliage and crisp air. The park isn't as big as other National Parks but it still offers a lot of great trails and sights. Cadillac Mountain tickets are required to check out the sunrise and for any other time for access. Neighboring Bar Harbour has a great town with plenty of food, bars, and lobster!

So the thing about Acadia is, it’s one of the best parks, but unfortunately, ever since the Covid lockdowns let up it’s been getting busier and busier. When we started going around 15 years ago, I would say there was maybe half the amount of people who go now. And now on a bad day, you can have a hard time finding a park for the better trailhead. But the park is beautiful, the Rangers are great, And it really does have everything you could want. Spend some time in the surrounding area and you’ll avoid some of the crowds now, Southwest Harbor is one of our favorites.

It's a beautiful place, we did the scenic loop and made a few stops. The beach is huge boulders in most places. There are lots of hiking trails and we did several in our first visit in 1971. That was our honeymoon and we were camping, this time we stayed in a nice hotel. Beautiful fall colors.

Beautiful national park. Clean!!! Beaches are beautiful. Hiking is fun with enough variety for most to find something they can enjoy. Campgrounds well maintained. Only negative is the lack of showers at the campground. We stayed at Seawall on the quiet side of the island. Strongly encourage buying a map of the park to help find the trails but things are well marked. Plenty of places to enjoy the sunsets and sunrises.

5/5 ★★★★★ A Must-Visit in the Fall! Acadia is an absolutely stunning park that left us with incredible memories. We specifically planned our trip for the autumn, and we did not regret it for a second. The landscapes were unreal—the foliage was ablaze with every shade of yellow, orange, and red. Hiking through the woodlands and along the rocky shores felt like walking through a fairytale, with a multitude of bright colors everywhere. One crucial piece of advice: be sure to bring a warm windbreaker and a HAT! It is incredibly windy on the peaks and by the ocean; it would have been much less comfortable without one. An interesting note: due to the government shutdown, there was no one at the entrance station, so no one asked for our tickets or our "America the Beautiful" annual pass, which we had ready. Of course, we fully support the parks and are always happy to pay the entrance fee to help maintain these beautiful places. We highly, highly recommend Acadia to everyone, especially in the autumn months! It's a place of power and incredible natural beauty.

This is a gorgeous park and still one of our favorites (2nd time visiting, 1st national park for us 14 years ago). We spent 4 days visiting the week after the 4th of July. And we still didn't have time for everything we wanted to do! The park loop road had some beautiful views. Jordan Pond had a moody feel when we walked those trails. The rock at South Bubble was fun to see and we got some great pictures of us with it, too. Popovers at Jordan Pond were delicious. We stopped by on a Tuesday night after the dinner rush and there were plenty of tables available and parking was easy. The hubby did Beehive himself. Great experience for him and the views were gorgeous. Definitely more challenging and not for everyone. We visited the Carroll Homestead and spent 1 day driving out to the Schoodic Peninsula. The visitor center there is beautiful and has some interesting history of its own. We walked a few trails on that side and drove that loop road - note that it's 1 way for much of it. I also recommend checking out their activities. We spent a few hrs one night on the beach with a ranger for a program watching the sun set. (Unfortunately no stars were out, but it was still cool.) So much to do in the park and mote outside too as well as lots of delicious food.

On my last day in the area before hitting the road, I decided to stop by Asticou Azalea Garden. It was a quiet Tuesday morning, and I was one of the few visitors to the garden. The helpful staff provided me with a map and suggested that I make a donation to visit the garden, which I happily did. I thoroughly enjoyed walking the paths which were delicately raked and taking in the beauty of the garden. I appreciated all of the various sitting areas where I could quietly ponder and reflect, especially the one overlooking the sand garden. If you find yourself near Acadia national park and are looking to do something a little different, I would highly recommend checking this place out.

Beautiful Japanese-style gardens. Very well curated and maintained. Fun to see with all of the of fall colors. Not very big so it doesn’t take long to talk through it all. There is a suggested donation of $5 per person, which helps cover the costs to maintain it. Really enjoyed this! But I also enjoy seeing trees, plants, flowers, and nicely manicured gardens and landscapes.

A secret garden? No. But certainly a classic one. The Azaleas… wow! Breathtaking. This Japanese influenced design and garden was stunning. It was well taken care of, and should be continuously upheld. They requested donations at the entrance, albeit was a free experience. We donated so that its integrity could be maintained and the garden beauty upheld. While it is next to the Acadia National Park. We were actually able to enjoy this garden more than we were the park that day. Mid July brought out many enthusiasts of this areas outdoors. Thankfully this garden was there and we were able to have some peace away from how busy it was every where else. Personally I’d have liked to sit and read in this garden and take in the scent of the Azaleas as they linger through the air.

This garden is really a gem. I have been to Kyoto, Japan. It felt like I was transported back there for a little while! I loved every serene moment I spent there (except for the one where I accidentally dropped my car keys in the lily pond while crossing the stepping stones... 🥴 Fortunately a very nice man with a cane happened by and scooped them out nearly with the hook end.) I highly recommend these gardens!

Pleasant stroll around the Japanese style gardens. Not huge but well maintained. Very peaceful and wasn't crowed even on a Saturday in season. Hats off to the person who perfectly rakes all the ridges into the walking path and sand garden.

As a person who spent 2 years in Japan I was so happy when discovered this place. You should definitely visit it, it's so close to the imperial gardens found in Japan. The variety of plants is impressive, I also love the layout of the garden a lot - so authentic. What impressed me so much is that it's so clean and neat despite the entrance being free. I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed my visit. Please, consider donating when visiting, they deserve it for sure.

Great little secret gardens! The gardens are free but suggest a $10 donation. They have a map for when you enter. It’s not super large but was nice quiet well put together garden. Lots of places to sit and relax. Our favorite moment was getting to watch the hummingbirds.

My wife and I took the 930 to 1215 tour out of Northeast Harbor around several of the islands and up into the sound. The naturalist was very knowledgeable and friendly and ready to answer any questions. The boat captain and crew were very attentive and made sure that everybody got a look of anything to see. We saw lots of birds, porpoises, as well as lighthouses and the other magnificent scenery around Acadia National Park. Well worth the price. Pictures to follow.

Had a great time on Sea Princess today. We saw seals, various sea birds, and even a bald eagle. Also got to learn some great facts about the park and lobster culture in the area. Highly recommend going on the morning tour with a National Park Ranger, and making sure you get the park cancellation stamp at the Islesford Historical Museum.

A well run tour from Northeast Harbor. Plenty of space on board for all. Shaun and Betty are both really experienced and knowledgeable. We headed out in blue skies and by the time we had gone out to Little Cranberry island the sea mist had rolled in. This didn’t spoil the trip however. Shaun steered us towards lots of interesting things along the way. We passed Bear Island Lighthouse. We saw seals and bald eagle and lots of sea birds. We sailed into the fjard (a fjord to the rest of us) and saw the lovely summer cottages. I highly recommend this trip!

Our cruise led by park ranger, Tess, was perfect. She was very knowledgeable about the area and kept our attention during the entire trip. We stopped for about 45 minutes during which time we wandered around Little Cranberry Island. We saw seals and even a bald eagle. A highlight of our time in Acadia!

Had a wonderful time on the nature cruise with stop in Little Cranberry island. Our guide was very knowledgeable and the whole boat crew was friendly. We appreciated how they turn the boat when something is spotted or pointed out so you don’t have a bad seat. Everyone gets to see that way. We did go on a Sunday so not everything on little cranberry was open that could have been Saw bald eagles, osprey, seals and more

We visited on a Tuesday morning in late June 2025. There was plenty of parking spots and they said you could park anywhere that didn't say reserved or no parking. So we parked under a bunch of trees since it was supposed to be a pretty warm day. We booked the 9:30AM Islesford Historic Cruise with the NPS Ranger over to Little Cranberry island. We booked the cruise months in advanced and it looked like the cruise was sold out. We at least had a very full boat. Check-in was at 9AM and we just walked up tot he building and there was a window there where we talked to the admin staff. We paid about $400 for 7 adults, 2 children and 2 toddler/infant. We were told that once we had checked in, we would just wait down by the dock where the granite bench was and the ranger would tell us what to do from there. We sat in the last row in the back when we got onto the boat. It was a little difficult to hear the ranger talk sometimes. There were actually 2 rangers on the first tour because they also shuttle the 2nd ranger to the Little Cranberry Island where they station the Islesford Historical Museum run by the NPS and also provide tours while the cruise ship is docked at the island. We decided to do our own thing and skipped the tour. You only get like 45 mins on the island itself and there is just so much to do and see. Before the cruise begins they do a safety talk and then it's off out of the harbor. They drive by a number of old historic buildings and lighthouses and circle around multiple times and make sure both sides of the boat can see and get good pictures. They identify a bunch of wildlife as well. They have laminated maps and info sheets they pass around for wildlife identification. One of the coolest stops was around the Bunker where all the seals were sun bathing on. Sadly this tour is not far enough north to see the puffins. On the island itself there are restrooms. There are also a couple of food shops if you didn't bring your own snacks. We did grab some food at The Salty Fisherman. It's directly adjacent to Little Cranberry Lobster store. When you arrive you actually walk by the restaurant that inspired the Krusty Krab and it looked pretty spot on. There are a couple stores on your right as you walk down the dock to the island itself. Immediately on your left is the Islesford Boatworks. They seem to have children activities inside. I got scolded because I tried to take pictures of what it looked like and they have a strict NO PHOTOS rule because there are youth working in there but I only had adults present in my photos so it worked out. Then right behind that on the left is the Islesford Historical Museum. There was a number of exhibits in there and also a small merch shop and NPS Passport Cancellation Stamp. One of my cousins wanted to mail a post card to himself so he quickly ran into town to do it but the rest of us wanted to check out the food place for a snack. Sadly after we got the food and ate it, it was basically time to go back. We only had a min to step into the couple of shops on the pier as we raced back to the boat. I took a few photos and had quick conversations with the owners but that was it. In the future definitely wouldn't mind coming out on different ferry and stay for the better part of a day exploring this island. We headed back and made some more stops along the way hunting for wildlife. The cruise lasted about 3 hrs and when we got back we were still hungry and luckily the Bucking Lobster food truck was right there in the middle of the parking lot and the food was very good. Overall a great cruise experience with Sea Princess and NPS. They did allow strollers on the boat as well but they needed to be folded up and they were stored in the center. Honestly with us only being on the island for 45 mins, I'm not sure if it was worth it for my little 1 and 3 year old nephews. Not sure if we would do this exact cruise again but maybe a different one the next time we visited.

This was a great tour of bear island, the cranberry isles and somes sound. Also, a nice lunch stop in Islesford. Maureen, a retired park ranger, was our guide and she was awesome! So many stories, area information and she was just a great person. I’ve been coming to the island for years and can’t believe this was my first trip on the sea princess! I highly recommend for anyone wanting a view from the water at a reasonable price.

After hiking all afternoon — finishing with a beautiful 3.7-mile loop around Jordan Pond — we were ready to refuel and had zero desire to drive back into town. With mild skepticism, we decided to try the Jordan Pond House right there in the park… and we were pleasantly surprised! They seated us right away (despite the dinner rush) by a window overlooking the lake — the kind of view that makes you instantly forget your sore legs. Our server, a friendly and funny student from Eastern Europe working for the summer, was a highlight: attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely enjoyable to talk with. We shared the Spinach Bacon Blue Cheese Salad, New England Baked Haddock with mashed potatoes and veggies, Lobster Stew, and of course, the famous Popover Sundae. Everything was excellent — my husband ranked their stew (bisque) in his top two of the entire trip, and the Popover Sundae? Pure indulgence, the kind that makes you consider hiking another 3 miles just to justify it. My Lavender Honey Bee gin cocktail was so good I happily ordered a second round. Ending our hike at Jordan Pond House turned out to be a perfect choice — beautiful trail, great meal, sunset views, and happy bellies.

We decided on a walk around Jordan Pond after a dinner in town when the crowds were gone for the day and parking was easier. I hadn't made reservations for lunch or dinner here knowing we were here at the busiest time of year, but I was interested in seeing the restaurant. We had reservations for sunset on Cadillac Mountain and decided to stop in for dessert before we headed up. Dimitar was our very kind and warm server and the other staff were also friendly and warm. The restaurant was quiet at this point after the dinner rush and we were able to appreciate rhe history of the place while waiting for our dessert. The popover sundae we had heard so much about was delicious- big enough that I am glad we decided to split one, though. Definitely recommend saving room for dessert or coming here for just this, as we did. On our next trip to Acadia I would love to have lunch outside. Highly recommend stopping here for the history, service, and food. And the gift shop! Lots of great stuff there, too.

Thought it would a bad tourist trap, but actually pretty good food for being in the middle of no where. The beef stew was soft and the lobster stew was savory and spicy with some green onions on top. Other lobster stews can be too creamy and boring, but this was really good. However the rice was too slimy because I can tell they don’t rinse the rice before cooking, I don’t think they know that has to be done. The popovers are ok, they’re just yorkshire pudding. Don’t come just for the popovers.

We spontaneously biked to Jordan Pond House Restaurant just to check it out, since it’s an institution, and we weren’t planning on eating a meal here but decided to see how long the wait was. It was only 20 minutes initially, but then a table opened up and we were seated within a few minutes! We had an incredible table right by the windows facing the lawn and lake - absolutely breathtaking. Food and drinks were awesome. We had coffee, popovers, a lobster popover, and the pulled pork sandwich with blueberry bbq sauce. The blueberry sauce was amazing, just so great paired with the pork. The lobster popover was also delicious and good portions. I had a lavender gin and honey cocktail, and my husband had the nom-alcoholic blueberry Moscow mule. Both were so delicious! It’s worth visiting even just for the views, and just checking how long the wait will be. For a party of two it wasn’t bad at all but I can imagine it may be longer for bigger parties - can’t say for sure though!

Came here for dinner and it was delicious. We shared some lobster bisque, clam chowder, lobster Mac and cheese and lobster roll. Everything was really good. The drinks were really good too. We sat outside and the view was amazing. We were served by Lucky who did a great job of making us feel good. Whilst the food is expensive, we thought that it made up for itself and the service was great. In particular you cannot miss the popovers. They are amazing and taste great with butter and jam.

We wanted to stop here while in Acadia, and we thought it would be neat. We weren't sure about the popovers, they seemed like a novelty. After dining here, I realized that you cannot skip this, and popovers are amazing. The regular popovers are light and fluffy and go well with the strawberry jam and butter. The chicken pot pie was one of the best I've ever had, and slapping it in a popover instead of crust was inspired. For drinks, we went with the herbal blueberry iced tea and the blueberry lemonade, of course. Both were delightful. We sat in the restaurant around 11 am on the Friday before Labor Day, and only had a 15 minute wait. Don't try to go at peak times, aim for just before or after.

Parking was difficult but I’m glad we were patient and found a place to park, so we could enjoy the Jordan Pond House Restaurant. The place was packed but our wait to be seated was only 20-minutes. We were able to take an amazing selfie from the upper observation deck. I particularly enjoyed the Jordan Pond House lobster stew and warm popovers.

What an incredible experience. Make your reservations to drive the mountain drive. Explore every backroad possible. The views were amazing and the fall colors were stunning. Pictures don’t come close to showing how beautiful they were. Take the time for this drive.

Despite it being windy and cloudy thwarting our views, it was a beautiful trip up the mountain. I loved being in the cloud! There were fresh ripe wild blueberries, and beautiful trails to explore. I highly recommend! You must make reservations in advance to access Cadillac Mountain. Tickets go on sale 30 days in advance.

We managed to get a summit mountain road pass 48 hours prior and it was an AMAZING sunrise. It was very very very cold though. Would highly recommend seeing this sunrise.

So grateful to have the opportunity trekking on the north ridge trail to see the sunrise. Even though I should wake up at 4.30 AM, the experience was worth it. The view while climbing up the trail was magnificent, great opportunity to have great bonding with friends. On the summit, the view was amazing, you wouldn’t regret to be there. Besides, you could also use car to reach the summit. However, just make sure that you bought the ticket online.

Known for the first bit of sun, we ventured out for sunset. Beautiful view of mountains, ocean, and lakes. Perfect view from the summit road overlook.

Best views in Acadia! I highly recommend the hike up, especially in the fall. It’s also a great place to see the sunrise, and there are several overlooks facing east on the hike up you can stop at for sunrise so you can enjoy the view crowd-free (expect huge crowds at the summit for sunrise). If you’re driving, you MUST have a reservation!

Gorgeous views! Lots of visitors so it’s hard to find parking. Also, you must have a reservation to enter for the sunrise viewing.Good luck with that! We had to take what was available so we went at 10am. It was packed, no parking and also govt shutdown so services were limited.

A Quintessential Maine Experience ​Bass Harbor Head Light Station isn't just a lighthouse; it's the postcard-perfect image of the Maine coast brought to life. Standing sentinel over the rugged, wave-battered granite, this iconic station is an absolute must-see when visiting Acadia National Park or Mount Desert Island. ​Unforgettable Views ​The views here are truly breathtaking. From the short, easy trail that leads you to the viewing area, you get an immediate sense of the wild, untamed beauty of the Atlantic. The classic brick structure of the 1858 lighthouse contrasts stunningly with the green pines and the deep blue water. ​The experience of descending the wooden stairs and carefully navigating the rocky shoreline to get that classic, low-angle photograph is worth the minor scramble. Be sure to wear sturdy shoes! It's one of the few places where you feel completely immersed in the dramatic coastal landscape.

My husband and I visited the Monday after the 4th of July weekend. It was pretty busy in the mid-afternoon when we arrived, but we fortunately got a spot pretty quickly. The lot is small and at rhe wrong time of day you could be waiting awhile. This is a beautiful lighthouse with gorgeous views. The cliffside has steps descending and then rocks you can scramble over for better views and pictures. Thankfully, my husband is adventurous and took some great shots for us. This is a must see. Definitely try to come when it is less busy (so not at sunset) if possible.

Beautiful spot! The parking lot is small, so arrive early or be patient. Vault bathrooms are available. There are two paths to explore — one is paved and leads to the side of the lighthouse with a few educational signs, while the other is more adventurous, taking you down stairs to the rocks where you can scramble over tide pools for a better view of the lighthouse. Wear good shoes for this route. Absolutely stunning and worth the visit!

During our visit we sat in a line of cars for close to an hour to get a parking spot. Then walked down a windy rocky trail to view the light house. It was okay but to be honest after judging the wait, the crowds, and what it was I could have done without. The views are nice though and most of the people friendly and courteous.

The Bass Harbor Head Light Station has two separate trails that offer two separate views of the Light Station. There is a very small parking lot near the entrance to the two trails, maybe fits about 12-15 cars. The lot was full when we arrived so we parked on the street with a long line of cars close to the "no parking on the road" sign and received a violation notice as the park ranger drove through the area. Be careful. With it being mid October of 2025 and the Gov shutdown, we thought the rules were a suggestion, our bad, follow the rules. The trail to the left of the parking lot takes you out to a few stairs that lead you down to the rocks so that you can walk on the rocks and get some great views of the light station and the coast. Great spot to sit on the rocks and enjoy the views. The trail to the right of the parking lot takes you down to the light station where you do get additional views of the coast line. Smaller area with fencing around, but great views Overall, it's a fun spot to check out.

Nice lighthouse, with a gorgeous view! There is one trail to the right that takes you to the lighthouse, and one on the left that goes to a scenic view, with stairs down to huge boulders on the beach. The lighthouse trail was shorter; you walk on a gravel path down a slight incline. The other trail is also pretty short, but had several stairs to get down to the rocks. The public restrooms were very smelly. The biggest con, though was the traffic/parking situation. It's at the end of a long curvy road. The parking lot is small, with no easy turnaround available. The line of traffic waiting to get in was probably 20-30 cars deep down the road. We were there on a Wednesday afternoon, mid-October.

The lighthouse was a little underwhelming. A local said the best angle to see the light from is from a boat. And I understand why. But, if you're in the area, it's worth a look. Parking is very limited, maybe 25 spots. You basically wait on a very narrow road for someone to leave in order to get a spot.

Found this place on a whim after our hike around Little Long Pond. We were tired and hungry, this place did not disappoint! Got there around 1:30 and it was not busy at all. Service was great and they even gave a mini lobster show/lesson to my sons (which they loved!). The raw oysters were delicious, lobster & crab rolls were also fantastic! Beer selection was also great, we even were offered samples of the local beers. Great place all around! Highly recommend!

We stumbled upon The Docksider after visiting ANP. How lucky! First of all, it’s adorable!. We dined on the patio. The booths inside appear to be original but are just perfect. It was spic and span clean, with a cute little bar. Now for the best part, the food. This was the BEST lobster roll we’ve ever had. The lobster was fresh (it’s hand picked daily) and the yummy toasted roll was bursting with lobster meat. We are still raving about it! We also found their clam chowder to be the best one we’ve had in Maine. It was the perfect consistency, not think and goopy! And, we didn’t have to search for real clams in it. Yummy! The owners truly care about quality. They were also very gracious and attentive. So, if you are tired of the Bar Harbor crowds and clatter, drive out to Southeast Harbor and take in a little old fashioned harbor town delight. Don’t forget to top it off with a piece of wild blueberry pie for a real Maine lunch.

We easily found a table outside at this restaurant, which had a local, casual feel. The server was friendly and the vibe was chill. We also got the inside scoop on local tips and tricks to make our overall visit more fun. My kids enjoyed it so much that they wanted to go back for our last dinner in the area. We had a great experience that time too. The food is good and it was a little less expensive than other restaurants nearby.

Loved this place, the proprietor, Steve, and the location just above the marina at Northeast Harbor. The food was great! Try the lobster roll - order it hot - with a side of coleslaw and chips or fries. The bread was toasted inside and out, the lobster was very fresh and sweet, and amply provided. The coleslaw was delicious, made in house, and the chips are from Maine and super delicious. My wife had the steak and cheese sandwich with fries, which were piping hot and crispy, right from the fryer, so good. The sandwich was hot and gooey and delicious! The current owners bought the restaurant 4 years ago, disregard older reviews, they are for the prior owners.

Stopped in for a late lunch after biking in Acadia. Great relaxed vibe (we sat outside) - Grateful Dead playing on the sound system. Had a beer, fresh raw oysters, and some lobster bisque. They were the BEST raw oysters I've ever had! Really great little place.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We had an absolutely amazing experience at Docksider Restaurant! From the moment we walked in, the staff went above and beyond — friendly, attentive, and truly phenomenal in every way. The food was out of this world! The mozzarella sticks are a must-try — seriously the best we’ve ever had — and the lobster roll was incredible, fresh, and full of flavor. Every bite was perfect, and the atmosphere made it even better. We left full, happy, and already talking about when we’ll come back. Highly recommend Docksiders to anyone in the area — you will not be disappointed!

The food here is amazing and actually made with love. They have the best cheesesteak on MDI, no doubt about it. The staff is incredible and they always go the extra mile. The new owners have really transformed this place into something special. The bar area isn’t the largest however the drinks and beer options are phenomenal. I will absolutely be coming back next summer!

Our favorite lobster rolls in Acadia (and we tried a LOT)! The short wait was totally worth it for the jumbo lobster roll — it was fresh, delicious, and the price was extremely reasonable compared to the other lobster rolls nearby. We weren’t the biggest fans of the steamers or mussels (they were a bit too salty for us), but the blueberry cobbler dessert was phenomenal and we were shocked with how big the portion was for just $6. Wish we lived closer so we could come here all the time!

We were staying in Bar Harbor. Our friends told us we had to check out this place. I'm so glad we did. The food was excellent, the staff friendly, and the atmosphere exactly as you would expect. We travel to the East Coast every year. This is now a must stop on our trip. We sat outside and enjoyed a very leisurely early dinner.

Awesome place. Great service set up but you need to navigate the restaurant, multi levels, before you order. Downstairs dining is the hidden dream. Lobster Melt is delicious, the beef chili is awesome, the potato salad was perfect yet a very small portion. Corn in Maine is too good! Burger was good. The views and happenings of the lobster boats coming in over the top!

The best lobster pound in the Southwest Harbor area! We were in the area for five days and Thurston’s was the best lobster pound we found. The line was long and we almost didn’t stay…SO glad we did. We had the lobster roll and the fresh local crab roll (special). Everything was so good and the service was great! You’re literally right on the water so the atmosphere is as rustic and authentic as it gets. We are at Beals our first night in the area and we felt like Thurstons was way better. Get the jumbo lobster roll and ask for butter on the side—trust me! Don’t miss this spot!

We had a great time. We got there just before they opened at noon and waited in a small line until they let people in. We are glad we did because we were able to get a great spot on the deck overlooking the bay. Lobster was great, drinks were as well but were pretty pricey in my opinion.

Great place to enjoy the waterfront and fresh seafood. Wait service is only delivery and window order is a prerequisite to sitting. Prices are aligned with the demographics. 20% tip is, in my opinion, too much for service received. That said, the meal was good.

I absolutely recommend Thurston's if you want some good food with a great view. The staff was super helpful with food allergy concerns, so I felt confident eating there. The total time between ordering and receiving our food was less than 10 minutes which is a plus. We got the crab cake sandwhich and hamburger. Both were very good, but it was a bit on the pricey side. Overall we liked it and would visit agian.

Be prepared to wait - arrived around 6:30 on a Wednesday with a group of 6. Waited around an hour for a table. They have an outdoor bar and high top seating where you can grab a drink and play corn hole while you wait. Beautiful harbor - great place to watch a sunset while enjoying a meal. Check out the yacht yard adjacent to the restaurant - cool boats. Service was helpful and friendly. Our group liked our food - highlights were the corn bread (a must try!!) lobster Mac and cheese and wedge salad. Recommend this restaurant but be cautious of the weather as most seating is outdoors and it started the rain as we paid our bill which caused all guests to try to huddle indoors which was a little bit of a mess / crowded. Make sure you’re visiting on a clear night, or opt for indoor seating if rain is in the forecast!

This WAS one of my favorite lobster pounds in the Bar Harbor area. The location on the water with sunset views and an outdoor bar, seating, games, and fireplace creates an unmatched ambience. Usually there is a wait at dinner time, especially for indoor seating. Food this year was eh. Oysters were smaller than in prior years. Lobster roll was not good. The bun is too big and too toasted. Fries were also not good. The curry the mussels were in was incredible, and the cornbread and chowder were also excellent. But I was disappointed the quality of the lobster roll was so poor this year, given it’s a lobster pound. I would absolutely come here for the ambience but I will now be going to other lobster pounds if I want a good lobster roll.

We tried Abel’s based on a google search and it did not disappoint. We sat outside on the little bar looking over the harbor. A spot I highly recommend as the view was beautiful and the seats were shaded. Stopped in for a late lunch/ early dinner in September and there was no wait. The fries were terrific. We actually ordered a second round for dessert. Of course we had the soft shell lobster -YUM. We could not leave Maine without a lobster meal. This is a spot you cannot skip while in Acadia.

Dinner here was one of our best memories from our Maine vacation in July! We didn't have reservations, but were seated quickly at this counter that faced the dining room and the water. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive. The food - particularly the fish and chips were absolutely delicious. Perfectly crispy - they struck the right balance with a nice crunchy batter and a moist tender fish inside. Accompanying fries were also very good. The salad was fine. I wish we had been there longer than just a few days; I would very much like to have had a chance to return and try more of the yummy looking menu items and sit outside for a meal. Highly recommend.

Such a fun place to eat seafood! The vibes are so warm, friendly and casual while still being really high-quality food. The lobster rolls are good here, though I personally prefer the crab rolls. Sooo much crab meat and so little anything else! Heavenly. Our waitress, Di, was so much fun, I made the whole dining experience a joy for us. She also gave us some really good recommendations off the menu! (The brussels sprouts are so delightful. You barely know their brussels sprouts…) It was dark when we had dinner here, so I would definitely go back to enjoy the incredible view — if you go in the summer, absolutely dine outside!

Went here for lunch at the recommendation of a friend & loved it so much that we went back for dinner. The service & food were excellent! Mussels - yes! Lobster roll - yes! Lobster Mac n cheese - YES! Cornbread - yes! Blueberry pie - yes! House-made breads & local ingredients with a great view. Did I mention we loved it?

Had a wonderful Memorial Day Dinner at Abel’s Lobster this weekend! What a great restaurant and experience. We showed up at 4:45 (opened at 4:30) and were able to get an outside seat with a nice view of the water. A woman in front of us recommended the mussels and she was right, they rocked! Our waitress Rachel was awesome and provided great service. She had good suggestions and timed our courses perfectly! 10/10 would recommend for a nice date night or dinner while visiting Acadia and or the Mount Desert Island area. The vibes here were spot on for the type of experience we wanted. Friendly service, relaxing views, and great food! Photos: View of the water Spicy Mussels Large Corn Bread Oysters (Bar Harbor Blonds) Lobster Bisque Halibut

If you’re looking for a scenic place to eat lobster in an authentic environment, this is it! We recommend making a reservation ahead of time as we were able to skip a very long line and go straight to order at the counter. We tried the butter lobster roll, seared scallops, lobster stew, and fried shrimp. Lobster was tender and brioche roll was nice and buttery. Shrimp were a generous portion and very flavorful. Lobster stew was too sweet for our tastes. Scallops were fresh and tender, but not a standout. Our food came out very quickly. Blueberry soda is a must try but note you can find that around the island. Great spot to sit on the water and make sure to check out the deck on the back.

A super cool experience but the food didn’t live up to the service, atmosphere or reputation. The service was outstanding from the guy at the lobster tank to the wait staff and bussers, everyone was super friendly and genuinely cared about the experience. The atmosphere almost can’t be beat. You’re literally on the pier. Great views of the harbor and sunset. Unfortunately the food wasn’t the best. We had a whole boiled lobster meal and a lobster roll. The roll was ok. It was over soaked with butter so the bread was soggy. The onion rings were cold. The lobster was not the best. It was filled with water which made eating it on the little paper plate they serve it in a mess. The corn on the cob was disgusting. The cole slaw was flavorless. The cornbread was good, but sweet which I know isn’t for everyone. Service and atmosphere made up for the food but if you’re looking for a great lobster pound meal, I found Thurstons to be much better.

Wow! What a find! My husband and I had a delicious dinner here during our vacation in Bar Harbor the week after the 4th of July. This is an order at the counter and food is brought to your table kind of place. Although, I have seen that there is a dining room you can select for table service as well, but that was not our experience. We spent a few minutes taking in the menu and specials and chatting with employees and asking a few questions. They were all very pleasant. We ordered the fried shrimp appetizer, the Buttermilk fried chicken with watermelon pico de gallo special, and a Connecticut style lobster roll with fries. Typical prices for the area - around $80 with tax before tip. We were seated outside overlooking the water and had a lovely view while waiting for our food. I suggest trying to get a table that allows for the scenery; it really added to our experience. Our food was absolutely incredible! The fried shrimp were crispy and the shrimp was well cooked and not rubbery at all. Our lobster roll was one of the best we had over the course of our vacation. It was fairly well filled and very yummy. The unexpected star was the fried chicken sandwich. I admit I had never had watermelon pico prior and we enjoyed it so much that now we make it at home! The chicken was exactly how I like it - thin, crispy, and still juicy. Overall, this dinner was really really good and I highly recommend trying this plzce for yourself.

We really enjoyed the full Maine lobster experience here. GREAT food, excellent prices and the real harbor feel. The wife ordered a salad and added lobster. I ordered the jumbo lobster roll (and it was) and a small order of onion rings. I’m not sure they could have done anything to make it better. We enjoyed our meal under one of their market umbrellas. A wonderful treat. We will be back.

Read about Beal’s in “Outside” magazine as best lobster rolls and view, and I agree. Standard portion lobster roll made a great lunch and the bag of chips is large enough to share. Lobster was high quality and buttery. They also offer a gluten free bun which has a nice texture. Meal arrived quickly after ordering, much appreciated by this hungry hiker who has been exploring Acadia NP. Worth the short trip to the Southwest Harbor.

While the food was fresh and good, it lacked seasoning in general. The lobster bites lost out to the fried breading, as did the clams. The kids' portions were adequately sized and priced. The 4 scallop appetizer for $19 lacked sear and seasoning. A cup of fried clams for $20 was underwhelming. The upstairs was nice and clean with great views of the coastguard and harbor. The tartar sauce was on point, and the lobster tacos were amazing.

Beal’s is an amazing place to try fresh lobster! First, the food was delicious. My family ordered a lobster to share with several sides, and the blueberry pie with ice cream for dessert. Each dish was excellent! Additionally, customer service was amazing! The lobster we chose just happened to have eggs inside, and Matt, a worker there, was kind enough to provide another lobster for us and check in regularly to make sure everything was okay with our meal. It is clear that the staff genuinely care about the experiences of customers. Finally, as for the atmosphere, it is casual, so it’s a great place to visit after a hike. There is seating outside and in a patio. Overall, Beal’s is a must-have experience on the island!

Hasan was a very nice waiter! We ate both breakfast and dinner here. If you have accommodations I recommend letting them know in advance. The mushroom was delicious!!!

We had a wonderful meal at Little Fern. Service started a bit slow; was about 10 minutes before anyone came to take our drink order, however our server was very apologetic and very attentive afterwards. Cocktails were on point. Courses had a fine dining presentation but still approachable with decent portions. Great views and not stuffy at all. Will definitely be back someday!

Lovely meal and a beautiful setting oceanfront excellent food. The chef was a little rigid about those green peas in the pasta dish, but there was a good alternative for this vegetarian. All the help seems to be imported.exceptional Roasted garlic bread.

This restaurant was fantastic. Clearly someone with serious talent is overseeing the menu and food preparation. Easily on par with high end places you would find in New York, Philadelphia and Boston. Excellent presentation, careful balance of flavors and interesting combinations make for an enjoyable experience. Several couples were there celebrating their birthdays and it was actually a nice break to hear the staff sign to each of them over the course of the meal. Service was attentive and very professional. Again, someone with an haute cuisine background has been training the staff well. Not cheap but definitely worth the money. The octopus appetizer was probably the most delicious I have ever had. The Thai curry seafood bowl was also out of this world. First time having Maine lobster mixed with coconut milk. Wonderful! The watermelon salad looked like a piece of art. Don’t miss the blueberry crème brûlée!

Quiet, elegant, and waspy w a twist of disco music playing during dinner, little fern was a delightful meal full of sophisticated entrees mixed with an eclectic palette inspired internationally. Our waiter Lancelot was a charming gentle man who saw that each item came exactly how we wanted. Our martinis were bone dry, our appetizers were timely, and our entrees superb. I asked for some kick added to my curry and boy did they ever. Combined w my deep red wine, I nearly broke a sweat! 😅 In all Little Fern is a little fantasy get away to where Missy and Bunny oft come for holiday w their beaus.

If you're looking for a place with a nice ambience and for a romantic/quiet dinner, THIS IS NOT that place. The food was nothing to write home about, and the service nothing special. Indeed, our waitress was also serving as the restaurant's bartender! What was most disappointing though, was the atmosphere, which was equivalent to what you might expect in a rowdy Sports Bar on a Friday/Saturday evening. There appears to no managerial oversight, and the entire staff, from the restaurant to the front desk appear to lack any kind of enthusiasm to engage with their clientele. Perhaps they all think the location is sufficient to satisfy their guests, they definitely don't seem to care or bother about enhancing the experience, quite the opposite.

Let me start by starting with the positives and there are plenty. The service from the woman behind the bar was amazing and she made a killer espresso martini. The atmosphere was very sophisticated and delicate, creating a calm environment. The food was amazing, my partner and I were both happy with how our food came out. Unfortunately the food does fall short in terms of prices. $40 something dollars for maybe 2-4oz of halibut over maybe a half cup of risotto is quite extreme. I understand quality over quantity and from what I got it was definitely of quality. For $40 dollars I expected at least more risotto or some extra greens. On my way home I ended up getting more food to satiate myself. Overall take: Very enjoyable experience, we were catered do very well. I would have preferred if portions were larger.

What a gem of a library -wonderful staff- a cozy part and a busier section with a privacy booth upstairs! It also serves as a gallery with wonderful local art everywhere.

Very quaint, cozy, and well organized library. We went for a book sale and just loved the relaxing atmosphere and very friendly staff.

This library is cute as can be. They have such comfortable spaces with well-stocked shelves. It's also a huge hit for kids. They've got legos, games, and an entire children's space just waiting to be explored.

I keep remembering this library and the cozy, friendly atmosphere. I dream of just sitting in that entry room, reading the paper, researching, watching people. Do you actually use the fireplace? I'm searching for libraries with fireplaces. Maybe there is one closer to home. Thank you for being.

Quaint library, just what you'd expect in a small town. Copier and computers available for all patrons

Nice that they offer FREE WIFI but it doesn't work!

Great place and art auction coming up to support the library.

What a fantastic find! Beautifully landscaped! Wonderful view of the lake with picnic tables, benches and they even have a swing set. We loved it! Definitely stop in for a quick stroll and give a donation.

Visited in early October not expecting to see many butterflies but was pleasantly surprised! The grounds were beautiful and even late in the season, we were lucky to see some butterflies. The park was easy to get to and had a small sized parking lot. Great place to stop and visit!

Don't miss this little garden. The bees and butterflies are beautiful. A naturalist on-site gave me advice for my own yard. Butterflies are fascinating. Check it out!

We went on a Sunday afternoon in late August. Saw some monarchs, and the flowers were in full bloom and beautiful.

Complete hidden gem on the west side of the island. We bought dinner to go every day for a week and ate it here all by ourselves among the flowers and birds.

A really lovely little pollinator garden with a beautiful view of the water in the rear. We visited in early August and it was at its peak, with bees and butterflies happily flitting from blossom to blossom everywhere. Very worth a stop.

Gorgeous park with quite a few butterflies! You have to look closely as you drive south, the sign and park are both small and not super visible from the road. Wife and I had the place to ourselves for at least a half hour, this is a little gem in a “less traveled” part of Desert Island

Flying Mountain Trail is a short and easy hike that’s perfect if you’re looking for something quick but rewarding. The trail is only about 0.3 miles one way, well-maintained, and not too challenging—great for beginners or anyone who wants a light outdoor activity. At the top, you’re treated to a lovely view of Norwood Cove, which makes the short climb totally worth it. Definitely a nice little hike to add to your Acadia trip!

Even in the rain this hike is one of my favorites. The hike offers a steep but quick incline with great views and a nice loop back with views of the nearby lake. I would recommend the incline first to flying moutain then circling back to valley cove trail to the parking lot. Valley cove trail was also filled with Christmas trees on each side almost the whole entire way, it was beautiful!

1.5 mile loop trail through the forest leading with short but steep climb to the top of Flying Mountain with views of nearby Valley Peak, Somes Sound, Norumbega Mountain and Northeast Harbor. Trail continues down a ridge to rocky beach. Recommend walking clockwise to get steep climb portion done at start of the hike. Or, to access beach portion only, take trail counterclockwise as out-and-back.

A nice trail great views and at the halfway point there was a dog beach. You need a park pass to park at any trail

Great hike! A new favorite. Take the loop that includes the beach.

Gorgeous moderate trail with some light climbing. Really beautiful overlooks and water side paths.

Lovely hike with amazing views! One way is easy, but the return journey involves a steep and challenging climb, making it quite tough. Parking is limited, so it’s best to arrive early. Overall, I highly recommend it for those looking for a rewarding outdoor experience!

Staff was excellent! Both the hostess and the waitress were great. Had a table for 5 at one of the front windows. Waitress knew the menu very well and answered all of our questions about the menu with great detail. 3 of us tried the burger, which was delicious. 1 of us had the buffalo wings and said that they were some of the best that he had ever had. Called ahead for a table and waited a few minutes after our arrival by sitting in the small garden area next door.

Excellent food. Very friendly and inviting. Service was excellent. We had the spaghetti and meatballs, and the mushroom risotto. Both were excellent. For dessert we had the blueberry semifreddo which was amazing. Highly recommend!

We were visiting the area and we picked this restaurant for dinner because of its high rating on google maps and we were not disappointed. Amazing food, service was also phenomenal. Really good vibes, we enjoyed the atmosphere and were there for a good two hours and didn’t feel rushed at all! We had the mussels as an appetizer, my 9 year old daughter ate most of them, they were really good. I had the gnocchi as my main, the gnocchi were definitely homemade, soft little pillows of goodness. I enjoyed the butternut squash puree and mushrooms accompanying the gnocchi. The schnitzel was really good. My kid had the butter pasta which was delicious. Overall a lovely dinner!

Great vibe, good looking room. Service was friendly and attentive , but food was extremely slow coming out of the kitchen. It's an open kitchen so you can see there were only two people working. Some dishes were really good , but some missed the mark.

Great spot for fresh food in the area. I was immediately sat at the bar around 7:00PM on a weekday, but there was maybe a light wait for a table. My bartender was very attentive. I ordered the eggplant dip which was fantastic. I would recommend coming here if in the area and looking for a nice atmosphere and great food.

A small very casual bar/restaurant with a small menu. We didn't want a huge dinner so we decided to order chicken fingers and fries since we were on vacation. The food was fantastic! The portions were huge!

Went here for lunch. Super helpful and friendly staff. Food is locally sourced and fresh. My husband got The Word and I got The Foghorn. Both were extremely delicious

Stopped by because of a recommendation and had a lovely dinner. Returned for breakfast a couple days later and it was perfect - would rate it six stars if I could. Whatever is in the breakfast potatoes will fill your belly and your soul. Special thanks to Ana, our server for both dinner and breakfast, who was a huge part of falling in love with this place.

An underrated stop for dinner!! Skip all the others in town and go here I promise you the name makes it seem like a casual sandwich shop but they have a ton of great options that were 10/10! There was a bit of a wait but for good reason so make sure you secure a reservation if you can. For how packed it was they were still so efficient and ran things very well. Everything was well timed. We were both in the mood for burgers and they were SO tasty and perfectly cooked. Drinks & apps were great (we got the bruschetta and coconut shrimp, both delish), and the dessert was this tasty blueberry cobbler like dish with awesome whipped cream on top. Would go back here if ever in town!!

Very upscale dinner-don't let the name fool you! Our party of 4 had an absolutely awesome meal. The staff was attentive and jovial. Highly recommend this restaurant!

The best meal we had in Maine. Lobster ravioli and the haddock. Amazing! And service was top notch with our waitress giving a great wine recommendation. Also is a coffee shop which we enjoyed in the daytime. Truly surprised there is anything but 5 stars… can’t wait to come back!

Spent a week on MDI and this might have been our favorite restaurant of the trip! Was there while they were only serving the breakfast menu but it was soooo good. One of their specials we tried was a brunch stuffed pepper that our server recommended and it was 10/10!

Was the only place open at around 3pm on a Tuesday. Apparently had to sit outside because they were on a break before dinner. Not sure why the seating made a difference. Server seemed to be confused at the concept of tasting a salad dressing before ordering. When my son was trying to ask for a certain set of vegetables the server complained saying he just needed to know what we DIDN'T want on it. Then when we ordered a salad we told him what we didn't want on that, but the server complained again saying 'what DO you want on it? '. Very confusing and annoying. Food was tasty and portion size was good, but we'll never be back.

This is a popular local spot known for its delicious Mediterranean-American-diner inspired menu and cuisine. They offer a variety of fresh pita wraps 🫓salads 🥙entrees, often featuring locally sourced ingredients. The casual atmosphere makes it a great place to grab a quick bite after exploring the beautiful bar harbor area and the light house. It has quite a few vegetarian 🌱 options. We ordered the chefs special tomato basil soup with grilled cheese sandwich, followed by the Mediterranean platter 🥗, the vegan burger 🍔with a side of house fries🍟 They also have a large selection of home made desserts that you must try, I really wanted to try their blueberry 🫐 stuffed pancakes 🥞 but they didn’t have it that day. The interiors of this joint is very vintage and rustic, they have a large selection of local 🍺 and wines 🍷that they offer. The staff is friendly and welcoming, the portion sizes are large enough to feed 2 people per dish. Loved everything that we ordered.

I had the lobster and ribs with a side of Mac and cheese and potato salad. Best lobster I ever had! Ribs were absolutely delicious! Mac and cheese was amazing and the potato salad was kinda just like any ol potato salad to be honest. The staff was super friendly and helpful. My wife had the tacos and even though cilantro tastes like soap to her she still finished them because they were delicious! It was a great find during our trip to Acadia! Hats off to you!

Great BBQ, excellent atmosphere, and friendly service. We loved the chicken, crumbly corn bread, lobster Mac, and blueberry "crisp". The blueberry crisp was not crispy - more soupy - but oddly super tasty. They serve alcohol and allow dogs. Cool views

Two experiences here! Our favorite restaurant in Southwest Harbor… absolutely 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #1, came at 7:10pm for dinner and they happened to run out of BBQ from dinner rush… no worries, our family each got the fish ‘n’ chips special and were very happy with the food and portions! Enjoyed the beautiful Maine sunset over the water. Owner/manager gentleman came out to check on us, apologize about bbq sold out, but encouraged us to come back for it the next day! #2, Returned here for BBQ lunch the next day and we were absolutely delighted. The ribs were fall-off-the-bone delicious, the brisket was tender, the lobster was fresh, and the sides were all wonderful! All the staff were tremendously courteous and professional both times… this place just knows how to treat customers right Would 100% recommend this place to any visiting family, friends, or anyone reading this review!

Came here on a whim for lunch to get some lobster rolls and BBQ after busy morning exploring Acadia, and was not disappointed. Order at the counter and get a table in the picnic area overlooking the harbor. Be sure to get your lobster roll "Justin style" with garlic aioli!

My vegetarian spouse ordered the dry rub cauliflower appetizer, and it was delicious. She also ordered the street corn and loved it. If you’re a vegetarian visiting this place, the cauliflower and corn could be enough for your meal. I ordered the fried haddock sandwich and pork empanadas. The pork empanada filling was tasty but the dough was raw and needed to be fried more. The fried haddock sandwich is a must try. The sandwich only came with fries. Would be nice to have at least one other side option besides fries to select instead of having to buy an extra side for another five or six dollars. Fries were average.

Excellent choice to stop for picnic/camping feel dinner. Enjoyed BYOB on picnic tables with top notch food. Pick up your order at the counter on a picnic tray with utensils, served fresh & hot in to-go type containers (our meals fit in containers with lids, unlike other diners with the full lobster meals).The steamers were delicious, along with the tasty lobster roll with plentiful meat, and the Nashville chicken sandwich was “bang bang” delicious, as quoted by the one of us who ate that. I even loved the French fries! Blueberry pie was good. Cole slaw could have passed on - not as soft as I prefer. Staff was friendly, and the area was clean and well kept. We were even checked on at our picnic table. Probably will return for another meal on this same trip!!

This place was amazing. The lobster was delicious but the curve ball was dropping a half rack with it and the sides were money. The beans had about as much meat as beans and the greens were seasoned perfectly. The best part is the staff was super friendly and made us feel very at home. This place checked all the boxes for my family, highly recommended!

We visited on a Sunday after in mid-June 2025 for lunch after finishing the Beech Cliff Trail and before heading to the Flying Mountain Trail. There was plenty of parking in the aggregate rock parking lot. There was no shade for the cars but there were picnic tables with umbrellas thankfully. The restaurant was decorated uniquely with buoys. It was a grate photo opportunity. There were a group there when we arrived and at least 3 others as we were ordering and eating and before we left. We were very hungry and ended up ordering quite a bit but we ate it all. We ordered: - Plain Jane Burger (for our pickiest eater and he loved it) - Classic Maine Lobster roll (delicious large pieces of lobster meat and mid-price of what we had seen on our trip) - Fried Clam Roll (superior to the lobster roll in my opinion and slightly cheaper too) - Haddock Sandwich (delicious and the price was right) - Crab Melt (got for my oldest as it was his birthday, it was really food but not sure it was worth more than the lobster roll) - Chicken salad sandwich (my wife was getting sick of fried food on our road trip and she said this hit the spot) - Doughboy (we got one for everyone to share and it was worth it to try. Not sure I'd get it again... maybe if it had some ice cream.) Overall the food was fantastic but the price was also very high. I think you do get the quality for what you're paying for. We did have pretty good service as the staff who took our order was nice and helpful with answering our questions however we did have some missing chips from one of our orders that we had to go back and ask for. Also one of my cousins had ordered a side of fries that they also forgot. There also aren't many food options in this area of Acadia National Park or that are open on Sundays. I would come back again and highly recommend this place to others.

The epitome of a down east roadside seafood shack. Great seating on the lower level or above under the umbrella. Excellent food product. Good selection. Fresh seafood. We had the whole belly clam and haddock sandwich. It came with a sweet coleslaw, fries, and a nice crispy pickle on the side with a beautiful fresh lemon wedge. I believe the family set up business in 1929, if my memory serves me. They are known for their ice cream so you should definitely have some. It’s the kind of place where you can just close your eyes and point and whatever you land on is going to be good Along with friendly service. My favorite experience was watching the girl come out from behind the counter to assist a young couple on how to properly crack and eat their lobster. It was very sweet to see that kind exchange. If you’re traveling with children plan time for a round of goonie golf ⛳️ as there is one in same lot as Rodick’s.

Fresh seafood at this stand! Very cutely decorated. Fries were crispy and salty. We tried the whole maine clams; as someone used to clam strips I enjoyed them but aspects of them the texture was a bit off (I think more of a nature of the dish than the cook). Would be open to trying something else on their menu!

We were passing and fancied ice cream. The ice cream is great value, soft serve in many flavours great. Looking at the take out menu’s I would have loved a snack but we had eaten

Absolutely delicious and really good value for money. We had lobster rolls for dinner one night and went back a couple days later for the lobster dinner. I would highly recommend a stop here if you love lobster and lobster rolls. The fried clams were also great. Very sweet and tender. I want to go back because I am writing this review and I just finished eating and am totally stuffed. Still just as amazing in 2025!!!

The lobster was so fresh you could taste it. The crab roll is one of the best things I’ve ever eaten in my life, I’ll be thinking about it forever. The batter on the crab was chefs kiss coming from a fish fry Wisconsinite. The blueberry lemonade is perfect, not to sweet or tart.

Had the lobster dinner, blueberry lemonade, and blueberry soft serve for desert! The lobster dinner was incredible, and only $19 for a massive lobster. I had never eaten whole lobster before, but it was easy enough to figure out with some googling! The meat was very tender and juicy, and the cornbread was really good. The lemonade and blueberry icecream were also really delicious and refreshing. Friendly staff too. I’d absolutely come here again! I left stuffed.

The rich history in this place is amazing. The selection of brass era, cars are not seen pretty much anywhere.In the country.. the volunteers do an amazing job, keeping up the collection. And most of all bringing kids and the neighborhood and community into the museum. It's wonderful to see. Definitely a recommended stop.

The museum staff and curator were wonderful! They were very informative, and the curator gave our party of 6 a private tour around the auto museum sharing history, facts, and other information. The whole experience was amazing! I highly recommend coming here. If you are visiting Bar Harbor, it is only a half-hour drive, and it is definitely worth the trip to Seal Cove to check it out.

If you enjoy the evolution of the automobile then spending some time at Seal Cove Auto Museum will be time well spent. The staff was super friendly and took time to discuss the various autos in this impressive collection. Doesn't hurt either that this museum is about 15 minutes away from Bar Harbor as well.

Highly recommended. Huge selection of antique cars from the 1886 Benze to about 1910. Nothing was automatic so there are more levers then I know what to do with. Nicely curated, good explanations on signs (short and informative), clean, and truly antique cars, motorcycles, toy pedal cars, and much more. Loved how artifacts from the era of the car were displayed next to the car.

Great, esoteric collection of early 1900's automobiles and motorcycles. Staff was friendly,approachable and informative. A real gem that's off the beaten path.

Wonderful Museum! Great displays! Interesting stories especially of Bertha Benz. Be a Bertha! Plan on spending at least 60 minutes there.

An extremely worthwhile visit! Awesome collection of beautifully restored vintage automobiles & motorcycles. Definitely recommend!

Please don't bother going here. It's a bore.

Gorgeous overlook and views

This wasn’t on our itinerary but I’m so very glad we stopped by - the ingenuity of homesteaders in addressing day to day situations (soapwort!) and the story of generations of this family in particular were fascinating as well as playing games and seeing the tools of their times. Ranger Claire P and volunteer ranger Ellen were particularly lovely and gave us lots additional facts (and Ellen swore in my kiddos as junior rangers which saved us a trip to the crowded main visitor center!). It was Wednesday and a 5th generation descent (Joan) was giving a talk at like 11am-ish about her family’s history. It was a short walk through the woods from the parking lot to the homestead on relatively flat but root-ful woods path. Really glad we did this one!

We visited around noon on a Sunday in late June 2025. There were 2 other cars in the parking lot with us at the time. There were enough spots for maybe a dozen cars. The parking lot is crushed aggregate rock so not the best for wheelchairs or strollers unless you have thicker wheels. There is a short trail through the woods from the parking lot to get to the homestead. There are plenty of signs all over the homestead that explain everything. There was no staff or ranger on site. The house was also not open when we visited. We just walked around and look at different exhibits. It looked like there are a lot of fun activities when there is staff here. I think we were too early in the season or maybe with budget cuts they weren't able to hire seasonal staff. We spent maybe 15-20 mins here total. Without staff and the activities there really isn't much to do here but look around and read the signs. With the activities I think kids would have much more fun.

I was really excited to visit this historic site when we were in the area the week after the 4th of July. We parked in the gravel parking lot and walked the trail through the woods to get to the house. There was one worker when we arrived, seemingly a volunteer, working on the vegetable garden. The house was not open for tours so we spent about 15 minutes walked around the outside reading the signs. It's a well-kept property and I am sure it is even more interesting when there are park rangers to talk about the history. I hope to see the inside of the home on another trip.

We were the only people in sight when we visited a few weeks ago. The Government shutdown had just started and guess the rangers and volunteers were all off somewhere else. The place looks like a teaching exhibit for school trips. There were signs detailing how things were done and what went where, the barn, the garden, etc. The place was clean and looked like people had just gotten up and left earlier. There was no litter or mess to be seen. Probably would have been a better experience with a ranger or volunteer on hand to discuss things but it was still a nice visit seeing how people survived in Maine in bygone days.

If you love history and homesteads, you gotta stop by. ESPECIALLY during the open houses. The Rangers LOVE this stuff and have so much additional knowledge to share about, not just this homestead, but the way people lived at the time as a whole. Getting to stop by here and learn so much was really special, and the area is just so peaceful. The walk through the woods between the homestead and parking lot is really, really tranquil. It makes you wanna move right in 😂

(8/28/25) it was pretty cool visiting this historic homestead dating back 200 years; before Bar Harbor area became a massive tourist destination. I was hiking several Acadia National Park trails when I noticed ANP’s roadside signage posted a “open house” invitation for the Carroll Homestead; so it peaked my curiosity. It was a great tour of the interior and exterior of this place; accompanied by tons of history shared by the park rangers at this site. Cool stuff.

This is a quick stop to visit a multi generation homestead now under the supervision of the park. I would recommend visiting when open, but would still stop if the building is closed to view the grounds. Park at the base for a 5 minute walk to the homestead. There is also handicap parking further up and a portipotty.

Amazing place!! One of the few unknown and not super crowded place in Acadia national park. Water are just in the right temperature. There's sand and grass and parking available even in very crowded times.

We visited on a Sunday morning in late June 2025. There was ton of parking spots when we arrived around 9AM. We didn't really have any intention of playing on this beach or going into the water (it was VERY cold by the way) but we were here to do the Beech Cliff Trail with the ladders. This was a warm up test for us to do Beehive Trail the next day. We went down to the beach as we waited for the rest of our party to arrive. There were a number of stairs that take you down to the beach area. I think there is a ramp too if you park further back but we parked pretty close to the beach itself. There are trash cans and recycling here. There is also a bathroom with running water and water fountain as well as a ton of changing rooms. The paved asphalt sidewalk ends and turned into a wooden boardwalk that goes pretty car out into the sand and close to the water. The beach was completely empty except for us and the coolest thing was we saw a turtle laying it's eggs. I know turtles get nervous with people and sometimes this causes them to dig fake nests and try again another time. We tried to keep our distance. Overall a very clean beach with coarse sand and a lot of natural debris like rocks and twigs and leaves. If it was warmer I'd have no problem hanging out here. There really isn't any shade on the beach itself but there was at least 1 picnic table.

Beautiful place to hang out! Went in the fall and the foliage was stunning! The beach was a short walk from the parking lot, making it easy to access. Lots of parking and easy to get to. Highly recommend visiting.

Great little lake beach on MDI. We got there early and the beach was empty until 11 or so. Even in late July the water was pretty cool but it was way warmer than the ocean and it is protected from the wind unlike the beach. The beach isn't sandy but still fun for kids to dig and play around.

Lovely views of the lake. Didn't seem overcrowded during mid-week in late August in the early afternoon. Adequate parking lot.

Quiet beach in lovely setting. Water is fairly shallow for a good ways out. Nice to walk around in.

A quiet little beach with wonderful views. The water is quite shallow for some distance. The site offers bathrooms that were clean and a changing area. Be sure to bring a small beach chair.

This summit is located on the Southwest Harbor on Mount Desert Island. Another quiet peak compared the others. It’s within close proximity to Notch so you can probably knock them out the same day if you’re an moderate or advanced hiker. It’s not a super high peak but it provides some beautiful views and fun trails along the way.

Spectacular views

We visited on a Tuesday in mid-June 2025 for breakfast before our National Park Cruise with Sea Princess Cruise out to Cranberry Island. This place was open early enough that one of my cousin wanted to grab a quick breakfast sandwich. I did not order anything myself but wanted to check it out. it's actually a very nice restaurant with a market. The one staff lady that was there was super nice and accommodating constantly talking with us as our items were being prepared. Super friendly. I didn't actually buy any food so I can't really rate it but the service was nice and there were a couple groups in there in the early morning but it was pretty quiet. I bet it could be a little more rowdy during lunch or dinner. I would certainly consider coming back here to grab something to eat and/or sit down for a meal.

This market has a large food and drink menu, and everything was delicious that we ordered. The prices were more than reasonable ($42 for 6oz lobster roll, $33 for 4oz). Excellent location with a big patio, environment inside is open and spacious and not too loud. Great store too!

Had a 8:45pm reservation for a group of 7 - ate dinner post sunset hike. We were struggling to find a spot that stayed open past 9pm in Bar Harbor / Mt Desert. Nor’Easter was still busy this late on a Monday. Food took a while to come out; the server was friendly but very busy with lots of tables. Food was fine - very fried, and meal rounded out to over $350 for everyone to have an entree, a drink and we split a few appetizers. Shared the lobster Mac and cheese which I do not recommend it was not very hot and noodles were dry. Crab cakes on the Cesar salad were fine - not great, not bad. Would recommend this restaurant for splitting an app and one drink, not a full dinner.

Nice and clean environment near the harbor, plenty of parking space. Food was decent but nothing to call home about. On the expensive side for the quality and quantity of food. Clam chowder was not creamy instead a bit starchy. Fried fish tasted good.

Pappardelle Alfredo with lobster was to die for! Perfectly paired with a whoopie pie sundae for dessert. Fish tacos were yummy but would have preferred a bit more sauce as they were a tad dry. To be fair I could have asked for more. We ordered a side Caesar salad and side of broccoli, which were fine but nothing of note. The broccoli was not very tender. We had a small mishap with our meal but our server took care of us very kindly. We would come back to enjoy the delicious food and views!

I have stopped by all the restaurants around this area and Nor’Easter was the most polite, best views, and accommodated to my food needs. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner!! Due to being here for only a month and a lack of ways to cook my own food I eat here or get takeout everyday. Variety is top notch. You’re hungry and want the best go to Nor’Easter.

We ate lunch here on Aug 13 after a nice hike at Acadia NP. Low key place, great service from everyone, especially our server Angie. We both had hardshell steamed lobsters and they were perfect. No crowds to deal with, great beer menu. Highly recommended!

Open Wednesday through Sunday 7am - 11am. Community Kitchen and donation based. What an amazing vibe of beautiful souls all coming together to help others. We met the Irish lady (adorable). Popovers a Maine tradition but much like Yorkshire Pudding from the UK are served here freshly made, eat them with delicious wild blueberry jam. We also had a bowl of Porridge and cup of coffee. Highly recommend to anyone, if we are back in this area I would come here every morning.

We found the Common Good this year on our fist vacation to Southwest Harbor. They put out an oatmeal and popover breakfast as a fund raiser to support their activities. The popovers were the best I have ever had and I am missing them at this morning’s breakfast back in Connecticut. The folks that volunteer their time there are wonderful people and their mission is worthy of your support.

I am visiting From FL and heard about this place. First off the popovers were better than anywhere else I’ve had them and wonderful people helping out a good cause. Stop in

Great community minded cafe with a great mission. I stopped in on my way out of the area for breakfast and was immediately greeted by the volunteers and ushered towards the food. Jeremy gave me the history of the organization and we talked throughout my visit. It is all donation based, so pay what you can. The food was set in a line of tables with homemade jams, butters, and other toppings for popovers and oatmeal. They kept the popovers inside to keep warm on the cool morning, but were consistently running them out as people wanted them. Very dog friendly place, all the volunteers were loving a group of dogs that came in. They do have a "dog of the day" poster that they would take pictures and hang up there. This is well worth the visit when they are open - they have a great mission, great food, and the most pleasant people volunteering there.

Wandered by and saw a sign about an Ice Cream Social. I was there a little early but they were welcoming and were very enthusiastic about the event. I mentioned that I was looking forward to the pop overs that are sold the mornings Thursday - Saturday. They had been testing the production to get ready for the next mornings popover and oatmeal breakfast and brought a few that remained out to be filled with ice cream (raspberry chocolate chunk went into mine). A very nice touch. On Friday went back for a breakfast of popovers and tea. Everyone both times were welcoming and very helpful. It was great to see high schoolers volunteering as well as the retirees volunteering and working together. I could see my donation was going to be well used during the off season. The music played by volunteers runs more to folk music and classic rock and done in sets so not constant. Money well donated.

I knew Larry and Frannie, Bill too. James Tarnow helped too. An amazing and dedicated team! Larry and Bill co-wrote the book. I miss them all, deeply. We had lots and lots of fun times. We must have all met each other at Jumpin Java, James coffee shop right the on Main Street. James stopped then, he had cancer once before. Not to be a Debbie Downer, there were toboggan parties hosted by Larry and Frannies!!! So much more happening in Southwest Harbor and Wilson Wyoming. St John USVI. EyYup, I’ve done some traveling. Guess the James, Frannie, and Larry were perhaps the source of my inspiration to continue creating and exploring new adventures. “Stettnerize”!, was what everyone was saying at Larry’s Memorial. Larry sure missed Frannie, I miss too. We all enjoyed a variety of activities, books, dogs, cooking, music, love, dancing, just hanging out together. Family, friends, good food, laughter, good times, bad times, being rich or poor, does not matter, we all find a way. Bill, his dream was to feed people, well, I could say “we all found our way to Southwest Harbor. It’s a village and a véu (view) to the world. Be kind, patient, have compassion, and LISTEN, really allow others to be heard, don’t tell someone “I think you’re getting worked up.” Let them be heard. Patience. It takes practice. You’d never know it, I’ve been meditating for over 20 years. Tibetan meditation. Surry, Maine has a place. They are still there. Town Hill, where I met and saw Anam Thubten. Paul isn’t in Town Hill, but you can find him. Eh Yup, strayed again. I’ll finish up now. David Shlim, MD in Kelly, WY. That’s where I really learned to sit, study Tibetan way, Buddhist meditation. We call it sitting, we all sit in silence. I simply stop talking and take a break and suddenly I realize I’m meditating. I burst into laughter. ~ Kathi Squires

Love the mission! Wonderful staff here. A great guitar player (Chris Foster) played in the background. Popovers were awesome, loved the blueberry jam and a high recommendation to get the popover with egg salad!!

The Little Notch Bakery and Café, in the quaint little town of Southwest Harbor, Maine, was a delightful morning stop. During our first visit of our Acadia National Park vacation we purchased scones, muffins, and little fruit tarts. Our first visit purchases were so fresh and tasty we went back and purchased two-large blueberry tarts, a large apple tart, and a large raspberry tart. My favorite bakery item was the large raspberry tart, quickly followed by a large blueberry tart. We had a lovely conversation with the shop keepers and were told they only use Maine blueberries. We enjoyed our visits! ❤️

Picked up a fresh blubbery pie to eat at our cabin after dinner. It was delicious!!! Parked right in front of the bakery in the street. Was in and out in less than five minutes. Staff was very friendly!

After bussing it up in Bar Harbor I decided to go to this quaint little bakery. The employees were very nice with the atmosphere being inviting. The bakery treats were not to my liking and a bit overpriced but I mainly came for the pizza. I smelled it from down the street and I reminded me of my Nona’s kitchen talents. However despite the pizza’s delicious smell and good crust, it was not good at all. Too flacid, unflavorful, and seemingly undercooked I would not recommend.

Clutch pizza spot. Not the best pizza ever but pretty good for acadia. Their blueberry pies are the best in class though. We ate it at the nearby butterfly park and it was amazing experience.

Stopped here for lunch after a morning hike and it really hit the spot. They serve handmade pizza and sandwiches with fresh ingredients. I ordered the prosciutto, onion, and artichoke heart pizza, which I highly recommend. It took a little long to prepare the food, but it was busy and the quality was worth it.

Highly recommend the cookies. Sandwich super boring and wrapped in bread that def wasn’t tasty. I’m confused why they would serve it on bought bread. If you’re a bakery, make the bread. It was also under heated and under seasoned. Had the raspberry turnover. Could’ve been good if there was more filling. All cookies were delish! Blueberry scone not really a scone. Not very tasty. Service seemed nice.

I ordered a Greek salad and garlic bread. The Greek salad had good ratio, plenty of feta, olives, and other toppings. The garlic bread was disappointing. It smelled great but they used a two-day old baguette. Also, no bathrooms and no tap water.