Welcome to Mount Desert Island! You dreamed of the day when life would calm down just enough so that you could come to visit… And now, you’re here!

We would like to help make your visit to The Island as (pleasantly) unforgettable as possible.

No one has paid us anything to recommend the restaurants or shops we feature on our website. We chose them because each one is a high value, great experience establishment… Yet the crowd that floods our backyard like the time does not seem to notice them…

Bar Harbor, as seen from Porcupine Island across the bay

Our recommendations are not for those who prefer to stand in line for long periods of time.  They are not for those who prefer to buy “authentic” China-made souvenirs instead of locally Maine-made goods.

And if you are in a rush to see the Island as fast as you can so that you can check it off of your bucket list and head home, then press the back button on your browser immediately.

The Margaret Todd

Part of the experience of a vacation on the Island is to enjoy ocean breezes and lighthouses, the whales and wildlife, and moments with family and friends you’ll never forget.

To enjoy Mount Desert Island at its best, follow us, and other locals like us, as we lead you away from the beaten pathways, to places where there is still room to sit, and watch the tide come in and go out.

Here are some suggestions to make your stay on Mount Desert Island more pleasant:

• If the service you receive isn’t what you expected, please let someone know about it as soon as possible. Send your plate back to the cook if your meal isn’t exactly what you asked for. Return the goods to the store if there is a problem with their quality or fit.
• If a server treats you rudely, let the manager know about it. I get so mad when a decent business owner receives a bad review on a travel website over something they would have made right if only they knew about it.
• If you are staying on the mainland, do your best to cross the Trenton Bridge before 8 AM. Once you are across, stay on the Island until after 7 PM.
  

  Whale Watching tours are very popular on Mount Desert Island

• During peak season, try to stay in a hotel, cabin or campsite on the Island. The extra rest you’ll get in the morning, and the extra peace you’ll enjoy after sunset, will definitely be worth the extra $20-50 you spend to stay on the Island instead of off it.
• Be at least 15-30 minutes early for your cruises, ferries and boat tours. At the same time, boat schedules are affected by the weather, so you may not leave on time. Have a book to read, with snacks and water bottles, just in case.

How to approach the Island

How you approach the island will affect what you receive when you get here. Keep your list of things you want to do, see and eat, short.

And unless you are an author, a photographer, an artist or a musician, it is “against the law” to catch up on work while vacationing on Mount Desert Island. 👮🏼

While you are here…

• Go into the places and visit the sights that others are passing by.
• Keep it simple
• Don’t try to do too much.
• Keep a journal
• Take lots of pictures, with that fancy camera, with your cellphone or electronic device …
• and, most of all, take in photos, with your heart…

Click above to download our Mount Desert Island guide of hidden gems