One of the farthest located to west cities in the United Stated, situated on an island Mount Desert. In the first half of the 20th century the richest members of American elite used to have there their summer houses. All of this ended in a few fires from 1947, that destroyed a huge part of the town. Fires were caused by drought. The worst was the fire from the middle of October – extinguishing it took almost a month.
Back in the day, Indians Wabanaki used to inhabit the island. They were into fishing, haunting and collecting berries, shellfishes and other crustaceans from coastal waters. The name Mount Desert was given in 1604 by Samuel de Champlain, whose ship was stuck in shallows and he had to ask locals to help him rebuild it. Europeans settled there only in the second half of the 18th century.
Bar Harbour is a perfect place to relax on open air. There are many routes and paths specially designed for lovers of shorter and longer walks. Do you have some experience in mountain trekking? Go to Cadillac Mountain, the hill of the altitude of 466 metres above the sea level, which is the highest point on the Atlantic Ocean’s shore. If you prefer to bike, you won’t be disappointed neither. There are many picturesque bike routes demarcated in this area.
Instead of mountain trips you prefer water adventures? No problem. At the end of the main street, visit a harbour, where you can sign up for a diving expedition. You will closely see lobsters, seals, and even – if you are lucky – hear a singing of whales. They also have a “dry option” in their offering – a cruise by boat to lighthouses with marvelling at seaside’s nature.
The closeness of the Ocean is the reason why Bar Harbor can boast some exquisite cuisine. Local chiefs have mastered the art of preparing seafood. In C-Ray Lobster at 882 State Highway 3 make sure to order crayfish with mussels and corn. Whereas close by at number 864, in a low-key by-the-road bar – Rose Eden Lobster – you will find the best lobster in the entire universe.
