Acadia National Park & Bar Harbor Self-Guided Driving & Walking Tour

Welcome to the Acadia National Park & Bar Harbor Tour

Experience beautiful, historic Maine with this combo of Acadia and Bar Harbor tours. Drive through the untouched wilderness of Acadia and learn the legends of the Native tribes who called that land home. Then stroll along the oceanside as you dive into Bar Harbor’s surprising Gilded Age history. These tours offer the perfect combination of natural beauty and rich culture to get the most out of your visit to this incredible state.

About the Bundle

Start by downloading the Action Tour Guide app that will function as your personal guide, audio tour, and map all in one. Once you’ve downloaded your tours, your journey through Bar Harbor begins at the Bar Harbor Pier. From there, you’ll head west and hear about Bar Harbor’s early days as a fishing town and its transformation during the Gilded Age.

You’ll then have the chance to cross a land bridge to the beautiful, untouched Bar Island—a must-see for visitors! After that, you’ll enter the West Street Historic District, which is packed with gorgeous homes dating back to the Gilded Age!

The first landmark you’ll find in the historic district is La Rochelle, an extravagant Gilded Age mansion now functioning as a museum. Continuing on toward the Primrose Inn, you’ll hear about a fire that ravaged the town and how it changed Bar Harbor.

Next up are the Holy Redeemer Catholic Church and St. Saviour’s Episcopal Church, each displaying eye-catching and totally unique styles. Past those is the Jessup Memorial Library, which dates back almost 150 years!

Up next, at the Abbe Museum, you’ll find a collection dedicated to the Native Wabanaki of the region. Then there’s the Village Green, designed by the same woman who designed the White House Rose Garden!

Then it’s time to stroll down Main Street, loaded with shops, restaurants, and cafes offering anything your heart desires.

Afterward, you’ll head to the Shore Path, which, as you might expect, leads you along the picture-perfect waterfront. As you walk and take in the scenery, you’ll learn more about Bar Harbor’s earliest history and how to spot some of the area’s prettiest wildflowers. You’ll also see a strange landmark deposited in Bar Harbor during the Ice Age!

Next is a personal tennis court-turned-public park which is a great example of how Bar Harbor has transformed since the Gilded Age. Right next to that is the Bar Harbor Inn, an essential part of the town since 1887! Your tour concludes just beyond the inn, right by where you began.

Your tour of Acadia begins just north of Bar Harbor and heads south. Your first stop will be at an overlook affording you a great view of Cadillac Mountain. It might look intimidating from here, but you’re going to climb it!

As you drive toward Beaver Pond (a fantastic wilderness oasis), you’ll hear the legend of the celestial bear hunt Native tribes saw in the night sky. Then it’s on to Egg Rock Overlook, affording views of a distant, very peculiar lighthouse.

Hoping for some ocean vistas? That’s up next, at the easy and beautiful Ocean Path. Then, you’ll find one of the area’s few sandy beaches just beyond that! There’s plenty more ocean up ahead, as you’ll pass a couple of rocky coves and a beach full of boulders, all while catching glimpses of towering mountains opposite the water.

Finally, you’ll ascend to the summit of Cadillac Mountain for unbeatable views of the surrounding land and sea. Your Acadia tour concludes at the summit.

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