Land of Liberty Explorers

Kayaking

Several companies in Bar Harbor operate kayak tours. The first time we kayaked on Mount Desert Island was with National Park Sea Kayak Tours. As beginners, we enjoyed going to the “quiet side” of the island – away from the bustling lobster boats buzzing around Frenchman Bay. We left from Seal Cove, and paddled along the shoreline. After seeing a porpoise and various sea birds, we stopped for a rest on a private island before resuming the tour. As novice paddlers, this full afternoon tour provided a good introduction to sea kayaking.

On a return trip, we decided to join Coastal Kayaking‘s shorter Sunset Tour around Frenchman’s Bay. Paddling around Bar Island and Sheep Porcupine Island during twilight hours was the perfect end to our day in Acadia. We saw bald eagles, harbor seals, and a colorful lobster buoy Christmas tree. We appreciated our guide’s knowledge and passion for the sport of kayaking.

Sailing

Set sail with Captain Carl aboard the Alice E, a hundred year old Friendship Sloop, from of Southwest Harbor. Our favorite sailing tour on Mount Desert Island is operated by Sail Acadia. Captain Carl encourages passenger participation – hoist the sails or take the wheel on your adventure around Acadia’s coast. He even provides fresh fruit and cheese along with delicious local beers to share with his guests. Enjoy views of stately mansions, Bear Island Lighthouse, wildlife, and gorgeous sunsets. This tour is much more about actual sailing than the showy, motorized sail boats that leave from Bar Harbor’s docks.

Carriage Ride

Carriage rides from Wildwood Stables are great way to experience Acadia’s Carriage Roads! Carriages of Acadia offers a variety of tour options. We enjoyed riding to the summit of Day Mountain on the Day Mountain Summit Tour. The horses get a rest at the top of Day Mountain, which allows their passengers to get out and take in great views of the Cranberry Islands before heading back to the stable.

On a return trip to Acadia, we joined Carriages of Acadia for Mr. Rockefeller’s Bridge Tour. It is a great way to spend 2 hours learning about Acadia’s history and seeing a couple of Mr. Rockefeller’s bridges including the spectacular Cobblestone Bride. The tour pauses at Cobblestone Bridge for a bit of exploring before heading back to the stables. Getting to Cobblestone Bridge on foot can be a bit of a challenge, so this tour is great way for park visitors with limited mobility to experience this amazing bridge.

Lighthouses

Bar Harbor Whale Watch’s Lighthouse Tour is a great way to get out on the water while learning about Maine’s maritime history. Our tour passed lighthouses on Egg Rock, Duck Harbor, Baker Island, Winter Harbor, and Islesford Lifesaving Station.

Photo Safari

People with an interest in photography will love Howie Montenko’s Acadia Photo Safaris. With unique small group or private tours, Howie offers tips and tricks for capturing Acadia’s beauty. Howie’s Jordan Pond Safari was a great opportunity to slow down and capture the little details of Acadia’s paths and bridges while learning about camera settings, light, and composition. We also enjoyed Howie’s awesome Sunset Cruise Safari. Howie’s wife Brenda captains her “lobster yacht” around Seal Harbor then crosses the channel to Islesford for a stop on Little Cranberry Island. Along the way, Brenda positions the boat just right for capturing images of wildlife while Howie suggests the proper settings and compostion to make your shots just right as the light changes from day to night. In addition to learning how to operate our DSLR camera, we appreciated Howie’s local knowledge and suggestions for other spots around the island to take fun photos. We hope to join Howie on his Night Sky Safari on a future trip to Mount Desert Island!

Lobster Boat Ride

Learn about lobstering from a real lobsterman aboard the Lulu! The Lulu Lobster Boat Ride is a fun and educational experience. We took the tour on a drizzly day in Bar Harbor, but the rain didn’t stop Lulu. We enjoyed learning about the history of Maine’s lobster fishing industry while cruising to Egg Rock Lighthouse. Passengers watch harbor seals play among the waves at Egg Rock before the captain begins pulling up lobster traps. The captain shows how lobstermen measure their catch, discusses conservations efforts, and explains how the lobsters end up in pots in your favorite Bar Harbor restaurant. With plenty of salty sea humor, this tour is a hit with visitors of all ages!