Bar Harbor, Maine

Bar Harbor is known as the gateway to Acadia National Park, one of America’s favourite parks, and is situated on Mount Desert Island (it’s pronounced “dessert” because it truly is a treat) right on the gorgeous Frenchman’s Bay. Here you will find Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the eastern seaboard, where you can often see the country’s first sunrise. Bar Harbor is beloved by visitors for so many reasons – from the endless outdoor activities to award-winning dining and accommodations – and it is routinely on national “best of” lists, including as one of America’s Favourite Towns.

The city has long been a popular summer vacation destination – ever since the 19th century when powerful American families built their summer “cottages” – some of which are now delightful B&Bs, like The Manor House, which was built in 1887 or High Seas, which was converted into housing for the biomedical research facility, Jackson Laboratory. Today the town is just as vibrant as ever; Main Street is lined with shops, boutiques and dining of all sorts. With Acadia next door and the working waterfront encircling it, Bar Harbor captures something quintessentially Maine.