There is a special place in my heart for graveyards. I have always found them so calm and peaceful…read more I find the older ones to be especially beautiful, with grave markers of stone or marble, and inscriptions so poetic they continue to pull on the heartstrings decades later. Established in 1790, this is the final resting place of many citizens of Eden, now known as Bar Harbor. It was overcast on the day I chose to visit, and a cool breeze ruffled my hair as I read the names of the long departed. I wondered what these souls were like when they were alive, and if they enjoyed Mount Desert Island. The tombstones are preserved as best as possible despite aging and the elements. I don't wish to attract disrespectful attention to this hallowed place. But, if you're like me and can truly appreciate a historical site such as this, I suggest calling upon this holy place of rest.

Bottom Line: A guilded age mansion that gives a glimpse into the history of Bar Harbor and the…read moreearly 1900s. La Rochelle is a large, historical home overlooking Frenchman Bay. While it was once the 41-room summer cottage for the Bowdoin family today it serves as the headquarters of the the Bar Harbor Historical Society. The mansion is also a wedding venue. If, when visiting La Rochelle you are hoping to feel like you are stepping into a time machine to 1903, you'll need a lot of imagination. The mansion has been the home to various families and it has served several purposes since it was the Bowdoin's summer cottage. So, the physical structure is original but very little else is. Also, a lot of the rooms are closed and serve as private offices or storage for the Bar Harbor Historical Society. But, as a bonus, there is a lot of Bar Harbor history and artifacts displayed throughout. What I found most interesting about La Rochelle was the Flower Room including the placement of it. I can recall visiting mansions with a designated area of the kitchen or butler's pantry for assembling flower arrangements but I can't recall one that had a dedicated Flower Room. I also thought it was interesting that the Flower Room was placed adjacent to the main foyer instead of closer to where the servants would be working. La Rochelle is a wonderful piece of Bar Harbor and American history and I am grateful that the Bar Harbor Historical Society was able to purchase La Rochelle to preserve it for future generations. I also appreciate the very kind volunteers that work at the mansion. La Rochelle is am impressive site from West Street but it looks even more impressive from water, or so I imagine. We did not get to see the house from that view but based on pictures, you can really see the elevation of the home and the many chimneys. Before leaving La Rochelle we visited the gift shop which is full of pretty things. I was eyeing up some puzzles but due to very limited space in my suitcase I just purchased a few greeting cards. Overall we had a nice visit to La Rochelle and we were glad to support the Bar Harbor Historical Society.

Lots of interesting information. It's a self guide tour. Plenty of time to walk around. Beautiful…read moreinterior. Was having a great time till we went into the gift shop and the first 3 sentences from the gift shop cashier was political. Such a bumer to end on a sour note. The subject was illegal immigrants.....I'm Hispanic.

Excellent way to see acadia, the harbor, and the islands. Ruth did a wonderful job educating us on…read morethe history of the islands lighthouses and wildlife. Definitely a not to miss event in the fall. I am glad that i had the chance to go out for a three hour trip before the incoming noreaster. Super professional staff and quite an array of different tours to suit everyone.

I would not want to be on this boat if it was 100% full. I think we went on a day that was at 40%…read morecapacity and that was enough people. Crazy people crowded the top deck and spent hours out in the cold...I wouldn't do that. The second deck is kind of stuffy and you have to watch mostly from inside. The first deck is where it's at. If you sit at the windows of the forward section on the Friendship V, there are not benches outside the windows as there are with the back half of the deck. So you get a nice clear view unless someone stands along the rail. Most of your time will be spent cruising. We were out for 3 1/2 hours. We probably spent 45 minutes actually watching whales and other animals. On the way to the boat we grabbed breakfast next door at the Sunrise Cafe to take on the ship and while the reviews were very good, the food and price weren't worth it and they are definitely charging tourist extortion prices. Either get up earlier and go somewhere else or eat at your hotel before hand. If you plan to ride on the top deck you will need to bring all kinds of warm weather clothing. Sitting inside while underway is the way to do it. I was in a t-shirt most of the day and would throw on a light zip up hoodie to go outside when they found a whale or something interesting. But the people who stayed outside had to bundle up quite a bit. It was 75 in Bar Harbor but 55 on the water and even colder when the ship was moving close to 30mph. It covered almost 80 miles during our voyage. By the end most of the people that ran, yes, they literally ran to the top to sit shoulder to shoulder with strangers...they all came inside. I don't think that would have been possible on a more crowded ship. The first thing they spotted was a pod of dolphins. Then the saddest thing happened. We came upon an injured juvenile humpback whale. He couldn't dive and had a huge injury and was practically dying before our eyes. All my life I have been waiting to see a humpback whale and when I finally did it was super sad. They found some fin whales later that kept diving and coming up in groups and that was cool to see. Definitely bring binoculars or rent them. They are $20 to rent and you must leave your ID with them so they know you'll return them at the end. We also got to see some remote lighthouses which had a bald eagle and some seals or walrus hanging out in the water...can't remember which species. You could barely see their shape since they were far away and their color was close to the rocks. I included a picture of the on board menu for snacks and drinks. They are quite reasonable. The bathrooms start off nice and clean and get progressively festival porta-potty like as the voyage progresses....I guess it's hard to not make a mess when the boat was rocking and rock it does! We didn't even have high seas or bad seas and it moves a ton. Bring dramamine or take it before you leave if you think you might need it. Lots of people throwing up on our trip and you can't escape the sound. You're welcome to bring snacks and drinks and I recommend it since you don't know how long you're going to be out. All in all it was a great trip and each one is like drawing cards. The trips after ours saw way better wildlife but you just never know what you're going to see so just take the chance and go. Completely worth it and very reasonably priced at around $90/adult.

What a unique and special experience! The historical society is a Gilded Age "cottage" open to the…read morepublic. Huge, stunning home committed to sharing the history of Mount Desert Island. So many artifacts from across MDI's history. Don't miss the map room! Even the most savvy historian is sure to learn something. Considering how professionally it is laid out and curated, it's shocking they've only been open 3 years. The staff was welcoming and informative, and I can't wait to bring my family on our next visit to the island.

Clearly the word knows that Bar Harbor is a special place! Tourists swarm here from all over the…read morecountry every year. As a born and raised Mainah I do love visiting Bar Harbor too. It has that coastal charm and more seafood and ice cream shops than you can count. Thankfully when my wife and I visit we have family that live within walking distance of downtown so we can enjoy it with minimal complaints. We do love visiting before the craziness of summer happens or end of the tourist season in fall to have a little less crowding. Due to the nature of being a tourist town a lot of businesses are seasonal. I would be leaving out a huge part of Bar Harbor if I didn't mention Acadia National Park! A truly magical place to enjoy nature, an absolute must visit. Some of the areas like Cadillac Mountain may require some more planning with a reservation but book that in advance. Like any tourist town you'll find plenty of gift shops and touristy restaurants. Lots of seafood based as you'd expect but plenty of other varieties too. A downtown worth exploring and you can even visit the original Sherman's Books location as the oldest Maine Bookstore! A special town worth visiting with a coastal charm and beautiful beaches, hiking trails, and nature views!

On the outskirts of Acadia National Park it's a perfect home base. Plenty of touristy places…read moredowntown. A few decent Irish pubs but amazing oysters at The Barnacle with great Maine beers. Wonderful views of the ocean and coast. The best lobster shacks were on the outskirts of town. Loved our stay , but too many dam people downtown. 4.5 Stars

Meh. Not worth the $10…read more It's small and underwhelming. I guess I guess I gave it an extra star on account of the fact that it's cool they support the local native Americans. But to go just for that isn't the best idea. They need to put more on display for the price. It should be two dollars to get in. That's all.

This is more history than museum to me. Native made tools and canoes and clothing…read more Many baskets. And a chronology Of the mistreatment of the five original tribes here in Maine. Actually still fighting for rights over a local River. The white man just takes and takes. I found it to be hard to stay long. There is a Military and Senior discount available.

such a beautiful Gazabo... it's near or inside Agamont park and it has historical significance…read more kudos to bar harbor town to keep it intact through out these years. when you are exploring bar harbor town, you cant miss this amazing Gazebo... one can show his/her creativity by taking such beautiful pictures with this.

I saw it on the map so we walked to it. The tide was in so you couldn't see it "balancing" but…read morestill really cool. Along the shore path and you can see it from the sidewalk without having to walk down.

How that rock has stayed balanced like that all these years is beyond me but it's a cool site to…read moresee! The entire walk along the ocean "museum in the streets" path is beautiful and relaxing

It was a cute experience. If you're looking for one of those recliner seat places this isn't it…read more It's more old school authentic, a vibe I feel that places are really missing these days. Show your tickets, order your food and take your seats. Straightforward. Theres also a nice area outside for sitting with umbrellas if you want to come early and eat outside, with a view of the park. Our movie was a little lame but hey we picked it, dang. It is a relatively small theater so definitely order your tickets early. We did maybe 3 days beforehand and there were lots of seating options.

In a world of disappearing arts venues, here's another place to support! Excellent independent film…read moreofferings, good pizza, friendly staff... we have an obligation to keep these civic arts venues going! Go see a film!!