This is a great Museum. If you ever wonder what Champlain was thinking of when he described MDI on…read morehis Maps... It was Granite. At this museum you can learn everything about this mineral resource.

This museum is remarkable, all because of Steve Haynes. He has an extensive workshop and also…read moreoffers tours for whoever shows up at no cost (donations accepted). We got a private 1 hour tour of his historical collection of memorobilia *and* we got to actually split some granite ourselves. Very interactive, and we got some polished stones to take home. This tour was absolutely the highlight of my 4 year old son's trip (mine also). There is a whole setup for school groups, so there is a lot here for kids to see and do. We so enjoyed talking with Steve, he answered all our questions. His extensive collection of photos and his knowledge of the history of Maine's granite industry is fascinating. This is a *must do* for anyone nearby, and be sure to leave a generous donation.

I absolutely adore this art gallery in downtown Bar Harbor! I purchased a small piece here four…read moreyears ago and had it shipped home and so when I returned this year I was so delighted that the shop was still open. I came in here completely only intending to buy one piece of artwork and wound up purchasing five total- although three of them were gifts for others! The art is completely reasonably priced and all the prices include the frames which is a huge bonus considering half the cost of purchasing a piece of art is getting it framed properly! They do ship the art at reasonable prices to locations within the US so don't worry about not having enough luggage space to bring something home. The gallery owner is clearly passionate about what he does and very knowledgeable about all the artwork and is more than willing to help you pick out the perfect frame for your picture. I will definitely be back on my next trip to Bar Harbor!

My husband and I have been in this shop each time we have visited Bar Harbor. They have absolutely…read morebeautiful artwork including local landscapes. The gentleman who assisted us today was so enthusiastic and eager to discuss any painting we were interested in. He definitely knew his art and encouraged us to spend time picking out a piece and then assisted us in matching it with the perfect frame. We spent about 45 minutes with him and I have to say, I feel as though we learned a lot. We fell in love with a gorgeous oil painting on canvas and were very excited to purchase from him. He was able to tell us the technique used to create it and told us a little bit about the artist too. Plus, everything was half off, frame included. Great guy, awesome art shop to peruse and possibly purchase from. It's hard to leave without taking something with you.

The guy is a crook. I live in Boston, I have a summer house in Bar Harbor and I try to support…read morelocal businesses in Maine whenever I can. He has two prices, one for locals and about 75% higher for out of towers. He is smug. He is slow. He has no taste when suggesting mats or frames for art work. My finished frame looked like it bought it online. He overcharged me who I picked up the piece. Avoid this guy. Take your framing elsewhere.

We have had many works of art framed at Fahringers Gallery through the years. We are always…read morepleased. Several paintings were old things we'd had around for years that were in less than pristine condition. He made them whole, framed them beautifully, and now we have the pleasure of living with them. We have never been disappointed. We would highly recommend his work.

A great place. The artist passed away and the shop is now closed. There may be some of his work…read morestill on ebay.

My entire family absolutely loved Ernie's. He has fascinating unique sculptures that, true to the…read morename, feel very steampunk. Many of them have a nautical theme (tugboats, lighthouses, sailboats made out of teacups), as well as other things like hot air balloons made out of globes. I loved it all! He's got a great personality and we spent time chatting away. I highly highly recommend a stop!

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.

The Cryptozoology Museum in Portland is a fun and very weird place to visit. It is full of neat…read moreexhibits about hidden animals like Bigfoot and the Yeti. The museum is small, but every single room is packed with strange models, footprints, and cool toys. It is a great stop if you like fun mysteries and want to see something totally different.

The International Cryptozoology Museum is a museum that opened in Portland, Maine in 2003. It was…read morefounded by cryptozoologist, author and TV personality Loren Coleman. Although he has a background in social work, Coleman has had a passion for cryptozoology (the study of animals whose existence is unproven: aka cryptids) for several decades. Originally from Virginia, he relocated to Maine in 1980 and wrote a number of articles and books on cryptozoology. In 2003, Coleman opened the museum in the first floor of his home. As his collection of cryptid artifacts grew, so did his need to find a larger museum space. The museum moved a number of times before it ended up in its current location in Portland's Thompson Point in 2020. There are plans to move the museum to an even larger space in Bangor in 2026. My extended family and I visited the museum this past summer while we were vacationing in Maine. I've wanted to visit it for several years. I'm very familiar with Coleman's work from his books and TV appearances on documentaries on A&E or the History Channel. The museum is loaded with an absurd amount of artifacts all related to cryptozoology. I would say that a majority of the artifacts are dedicated to Bigfoot (Sasquatch), the Abominable Snowman (Yeti) and other legendary ape-like hominids. There were plenty of sculptures, footprint castings, and other various artifacts. The highlight for me was the 8.5-foot-tall Crookston Bigfoot sculpture made by taxidermist Curtis Christensen. There are also artifacts dedicated to cryptids such as Lake Monsters (Loch Ness Monster, Champ, Ogopogo, Cadborosaurus), Swamp Monsters, the Feejee Mermaid, the Montauk Monster, the Mothman, the Dover Demon, the Jersey Devil, the Beast of Bray Road, and others too numerous to mention. We all really enjoyed exploring the museum and we highly recommend it to anyone who's interesting in all things strange and unusual.

We stopped in for a short visit during Saturday hours. Our two volunteer guides were great --…read moreexperienced and knowledgeable about telephone history from manual switchboards to electro-mechanical switching! Lots of working equipment with hands-on demonstrations. Very open to questions.

As retired telephone people, my husband and I were thrilled to stumble onto the Telephone museum…read more We shared stories with David about our lives at Ma Bell. He was very knowledgeable and entertaining!

On my last day in the area before hitting the road, I decided to stop by Asticou Azalea Garden. It…read morewas a quiet Tuesday morning, and I was one of the few visitors to the garden. The helpful staff provided me with a map and suggested that I make a donation to visit the garden, which I happily did. I thoroughly enjoyed walking the paths which were delicately raked and taking in the beauty of the garden. I appreciated all of the various sitting areas where I could quietly ponder and reflect, especially the one overlooking the sand garden. If you find yourself near Acadia national park and are looking to do something a little different, I would highly recommend checking this place out.

In mid-May, this small garden was bustling with a colorful assortment of flowers of different…read moreshapes and sizes and lots of happy insects buzzing about. The air smelled of flowers, and I had such a peaceful walk around the gardens. The cobra lilies were particularly unique and unlike any other flower I've seen before. One of the highlights for me in Acadia.