Best way to see Bar Harbor?

For anyone with recent experience, what are the pros and cons of the free Island Explorer bus vs. the $30 Acadia National Park Tour?

For anyone with recent experience, what are the pros and cons of the free Island Explorer bus vs. the $30 Acadia National Park Tour?

Aloha :D

Apparently you've been cruising for quite a while so as you know, it depends on what you like. You haven't said when you would be in Bar Harbor or for how long, so again, it depends.

Most people like to choose from the Oli's Trolley list http://www.olistrolley.com/ which has details of their different tours. If you need more information that is on the site, toll-free: 1-866-987-6553, Local: (207) 288-9899

Booking directly with Oli's Trolley will save you the cruiseline's upcharge. It's almost always cheaper to book directly with the tour operator and you can see what the options are. For example, on the Acadia National Park Tour, scheduled stops are Cadillac Mountain Summit, Thunder Hole on Ocean Drive, and the Sieur de Mont’s Spring area, including the Wild Gardens and Nature Center of Acadia. All tours depart from Olis Trolley Station, the Boardwalk at the Harborside Hotel (55 West Street in downtown Bar Harbor) about 200 meters from the tender dock.

With the free Island Explorer bus, you have to really study the routes and time tables and understand that this isn't a narrated bus.

We have driven to and stayed in Bar Harbor a couple of times so we have been to Acadia, Cadillac Mountain, had "tea" at Jordan's Pond, etc. We actually took the Oli's Trolley Acadia National Park Tour one year.

On Sun. 9/13, our cruise will anchor off Bar Harbor at 7am and sail at 6pm. Bar Harbor itself is not a very big town so walking around probably won't take too long. We plan to walk over to the Lazy Lobster Deli, 7am-3pm, and eat. My wife was looking at some of the breakfast items and maybe just pick up a couple or three Hot Boiled Maine Lobsters to eat later.

We will spend the rest of the time just wandering around and window shopping. The weather has always been cool when we've been there in the summers. There appears to be some kind of walkway around the tender dock heading east so if my feet don't hurt, I'll probably want to do that.

If we get tired or bored, we'll just go back to the ship and relax.

Aloha :D

We did Oli's Trolley tour then just walked around town. As mentioned it is not a big place so walking won't take long. We ate lunch at Stewman's (right next to Oli's pickup/drop-off location) and it was wonderful!

Aloha :D

 

Apparently you've been cruising for quite a while so as you know, it depends on what you like. You haven't said when you would be in Bar Harbor or for how long, so again, it depends.

 

Most people like to choose from the Oli's Trolley list http://www.olistrolley.com/ which has details of their different tours. If you need more information that is on the site, toll-free: 1-866-987-6553, Local: (207) 288-9899

 

Booking directly with Oli's Trolley will save you the cruiseline's upcharge. It's almost always cheaper to book directly with the tour operator and you can see what the options are. For example, on the Acadia National Park Tour, scheduled stops are Cadillac Mountain Summit, Thunder Hole on Ocean Drive, and the Sieur de Mont’s Spring area, including the Wild Gardens and Nature Center of Acadia. All tours depart from Olis Trolley Station, the Boardwalk at the Harborside Hotel (55 West Street in downtown Bar Harbor) about 200 meters from the tender dock.

 

With the free Island Explorer bus, you have to really study the routes and time tables and understand that this isn't a narrated bus.

 

We have driven to and stayed in Bar Harbor a couple of times so we have been to Acadia, Cadillac Mountain, had "tea" at Jordan's Pond, etc. We actually took the Oli's Trolley Acadia National Park Tour one year.

 

On Sun. 9/13, our cruise will anchor off Bar Harbor at 7am and sail at 6pm. Bar Harbor itself is not a very big town so walking around probably won't take too long. We plan to walk over to the Lazy Lobster Deli, 7am-3pm, and eat. My wife was looking at some of the breakfast items and maybe just pick up a couple or three Hot Boiled Maine Lobsters to eat later.

 

We will spend the rest of the time just wandering around and window shopping. The weather has always been cool when we've been there in the summers. There appears to be some kind of walkway around the tender dock heading east so if my feet don't hurt, I'll probably want to do that.

 

If we get tired or bored, we'll just go back to the ship and relax.

 

Aloha :D

I have said this several times before, but if you are in Bar Harbor at low tide, take the walk out to Bar Island. You are walking on the harbor floor, maybe a 1/4 mile to Bar Island. It is a very wide strip of land, some even take their 4 wheel drives on it. It is fascinating to think you are walking on what will be covered with 25 -30 feet of water at high tide.

It is a lot of fun and you never know what you may find along the way. OH, you won't be alone in this walk there are many, many, many people who do it also. They usually sound a horn when the tide starts to come in so you know when to start heading back.

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/Maine/IMG_3472_zpsd09e1ec5.jpg

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/Maine/IMG_3473_zps60d8569a.jpg

DW on the route

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/Maine/IMG_3465_zpsdd53c7f1.jpg

finding 'creatures' along the way

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/Maine/IMG_3471_zps562452a8.jpg

We loved this.

Cheers

Len

I have said this several times before, but if you are in Bar Harbor at low tide, take the walk out to Bar Island. You are walking on the harbor floor, maybe a 1/4 mile to Bar Island. It is a very wide strip of land, some even take their 4 wheel drives on it. It is fascinating to think you are walking on what will be covered with 25 -30 feet of water at high tide.

 

It is a lot of fun and you never know what you may find along the way. OH, you won't be alone in this walk there are many, many, many people who do it also. They usually sound a horn when the tide starts to come in so you know when to start heading back.

 

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/Maine/IMG_3472_zpsd09e1ec5.jpg

 

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/Maine/IMG_3473_zps60d8569a.jpg

 

DW on the route

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/Maine/IMG_3465_zpsdd53c7f1.jpg

 

finding 'creatures' along the way

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/Maine/IMG_3471_zps562452a8.jpg

 

We loved this.

 

Cheers

 

Len

That sounds really cool!

For anyone with recent experience, what are the pros and cons of the free Island Explorer bus vs. the $30 Acadia National Park Tour?

The Island Explorer only runs until Columbus Day, observed. So when is your visit?

IE is public transportation, not a tour bus. There is no commentary from a tour guide. You will need a tour book, and have decided in advance where you want to go. Most important is that one of IE routes must be close to where you want to go. Advantage, you are not limited to a 15 minute photo op stop. You are responsible for getting back to the cruise ship before departure.

On a tour, you have a tour guide providing ongoing commentary of what you are seeing and answering your questions. Any photo stops are limited to about 15 minutes, and if the passengers are slow getting on/off the tour bus the stops could be shorter. You will know in advance what you will be seeing, and if you want to stay at a particular stop longer for photos or to explore, you're SOL.

A lot depends on what kind of tourist you are.

SBtS

We had a great day walking to Bar Island and then using the Island Explorer to explore a part of the island. This service is GREAT ! There are multiple routes which are clearly laid out in a guide map entitled Free Acadia Shuttles which is available everywhere . It clearly spells out the various bus routes and timetables . These are useful however these buses will actually pick you up or drop you off anywhere on their circuits by signalling the driver . Very nice. :)

We took the Sand Beach #3 which like many of the other routes left from the Bar Harbor visitor center square . We got off at Sand Beach and waved the next bus down as we walked along the spectacular Ocean Path toward Otter Cliff.

This is a tremendous service . No it is not a guided tour . It is better for those who wish to walk or hike a little and see the park on their own.