Bar Harbor

Bar Harbor ranks 7th in the list of the most beautiful coastal towns in the USA. Bar Harbor, located on Mount Desert Island off the coast of Maine, was a popular summer resort in 19th-century New England and is still a popular tourist destination today. Bar Harbor is located in a coastal region of Maine known as "Down East" Maine. This term has a long history dating back over two hundred years when large schooners, filled with goods on their way back to England or elsewhere in Europe, had to sail down wind to the east from the larger population centers like Boston, Philadelphia, and New York - hence, Down East. While visiting, you will often hear the tell-tail sound of a “Mainer” speaking with that special Down East accent where the “r” sound is being dropped. Bar Harbor is pronounced like “Bah-Hah-Bah” and lobster sounds like “lob-stuh!” (You may want to begin practicing now.)

The stunning Acadia National Park is right on the doorstep of Bar Harbor, offering over 50 square miles of mountains, lakes, and coastline ideal for hiking, biking, and camping, and numerous boats offer fishing trips and nature-spotting tours out of the town harbor. Visitors can unwind after a day of exploring the rugged island community at the lively bars and seafood restaurants that populate Bar Harbor's bustling downtown.

Google rating: 4.5/5.0
Location: Mount Desert Island in Hancock County, Maine, United States