Located inside Acadia National Park. It has a parking lot across the street for you to park and…read morewalk over. I liked that there are steps at various levels, so you can get a range of different views of the rocks and water. Plus it's a great place to get your steps in (if thats important to ya). I really enjoyed this spot on our way out leaving the park. Beautiful scenery to enjoy nature. One could spend a few minutes here or a couple of hours here taking it all in. It was not high or low tide, so I did not get to here the "thunder" but still really cool to look at. According to the internet: "Thunder Hole is a popular inlet known for the loud thunder like boom and spray created when the waves crash into a narrow sea cave. The sound and spray are most dramatic 1 to 2 hours before high tide, but it also interesting at low tide for a closer look at the cliffs." While it was cloudy and chilly on my visit, I still had a great time with my group. Enjoy!

This may have been our favorite place to visit in Bar Harbor. Loved exploring the rocks, the sounds…read moreof the waves, and the scenic view. Hike wasn't bad, was able to park along the road and walk along the way on a paved pathway. On a beautiful sunny summer day, the sound of the waves and smell of the salty ocean was perfect.

We've been to Bangor two or three times over the years, it's such a quaint town. On our visits we…read morealso stopped here. Even though he's not lived him this house for several years, it's still something fun to do. I mean what's a trip to Bangor without swinging by for pics? The house is actually now used as a retreat for writers. There is a second large house on the property as well (white one). The architecture on both houses is gothic meets Victorian meets Maine. Well-maintained property; the grounds and home exteriors are in top condition. I can only imagine what the inside looks like. Many folks make the pilgrimage to Bangor because of Stephen and his relationship with the town. Our visits were for that very reason. This stop is definitely a must for any fan of his work.

Nice little diversion drive by or park and take a selfie spot for Stephen King fans. Someone had…read moreeven tied a singular red ballon to the gate when we stopped.

This spot was in the absolute middle of nowhere. If you are like us and staying in Bar Harbor, it…read morewas a long drive on one-lane roads with huge potholes to get here. We were in town during the off-season early May before everything tends to open back up about mid-month. So, nothing to eat and nothing to do. Town was deserted. The lighthouse is pretty - but it's not a hike to it, more of a short walk and rock scrabbling to get the instaworthy shot everyone wants. Small parking lot which I can see as a major problem during summer... we had no issues on May 2nd. There are a couple nearby hikes that can be found 2 minutes drive - with super small parking areas.

Great views particularly at sunset...but the small parking lot, which accommodates about 20…read morevehicles, can get full. During our visit, about 40 minutes before sunset mid-week in late August, we, along with about 4 other cars, patiently waited along Lighthouse Road while cars left in order to take their spots. It must have been good timing as about 5 cars left within about 10 minutes. The path from the west of the parking lot, takes you down directly to the lighthouse. The path to the east of the parking lot is very popular as you can take some stairs down to the rocky area which gives you some great views of the lighthouse set to the backdrop of the rising or setting sun. Note that the west path is fairly easy to navigate, but the east path has stairs. You then have to climb onto (some uneven) rocks in order to get a clear view of the lighthouse. This may be difficult for mobility-impaired individuals or those with strollers. Note that during our visit here we did NOT have to show any park pass to enter and park in this area.

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.

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

Balance Rock. A glacial erratic…read more During the last Ice Age, approximately 10,000 to 30,000 years ago, a glacier creeped along the mountains in Acadia carving the landscape, creating what became lakes as the ice melted and moving huge boulders known as glacial erratics to where they sit precariously today. Balance Rock is a beautiful example of a huge rock that was picked up and moved by the glacier many miles from where it was originally. Geologists estimate that it may have come from a location near Bangor which is 40 miles away. The glacier also stripped vegetation and soil molding the mountains rounded with bare granite and boulders exposed. Very interesting and beautiful geological feature.

Stunning engineering, pleasant patrons, warm welcomes, and history galore. Highly recommend! Will…read morebe back!

Not to be confused with the Fort Knox that holds the gold. This was a cool side trip…read more Located on the west bank of the Penobscot River in Prospect, Maine, in an area known as the Penobscot Narrows. Fort Knox is one of the best-preserved military fortifications on the New England seacoast. The fort has many unique architectural features and a rich history behind its walls. It is America's first fort named after Major General Henry Knox. ​ During the country's infancy, Maine was repeatedly involved in northeast border disputes with British Canada. In fact, the area between Castine and the rich lumber city of Bangor was invaded and occupied by the British during the American Revolution and the War of 1812. Fort Knox was established in 1844 to protect the Penobscot River Valley against a possible future British naval incursion. It was designed by Chief Engineer Joseph Totten, with a number of other engineers serving as superintendents of construction from 1844 - 1869, among them Isaac Ingalls Stevens and Thomas L. Casey. The fort was named for Major General Henry Knox, America's first Secretary of War, who was born in Boston but retired to Thomaston, Maine, in 1796. The fort garrisoned its first troops from 1863 to 1866. These troops were mostly volunteers undergoing training before being sent to their active posts and included members of the celebrated 20th Maine. Troops were briefly stationed at the fort during the Spanish-American war in 1898 but never saw military action. If you're in the area and enjoy history, especially military history it's worth your time to tour.

Gorgeous views of the water…read more We did the Ocean Path Trail from Sand Beach to Otter Cliffs, and unless you have plenty of time and are just looking for a nice relaxing walk on the side of the road, I'd recommend parking in the closest lot to the cliffs and just doing the trail from there. This portion is more of a hike with some minor inclines and rocky paths. We came while it was raining and foggy, so the views were nice but limited, and there was no wildlife out whatsoever. However, I can only imagine how beautiful it would have been in the sun with good weather. Definitely be careful here when it's wet as the rocks are smoother and can get pretty slippery. Good stop worthy of the views.

so it was way down from road level and I did not feel like going down, but most of the pictures you…read morewill see in bar harbor stores. - it's from here. it is a wonderful viewpoint that overlooks the coastline and consists of interesting granite rocks. The parking lot for the Otter Cliff Overlook is quite small but it's not as busy of an attraction as some of the other highlights at Acadia National Park.

A lovely little park dedicated to my favorite historical figure of all time. If you don't know…read moreanything about Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain Google his name and the Battle of Little Round Top. From the park you get a nice view across the river to Banfgor. Another fun fact about this site, Stephen King helped pay for it!

While searching for Maine history we found this battle ground site…read more No metal detectors. Parking and a picnic table. Hard to find, it is behind the Fort O'Brien public school. Very peaceful site. There were once four guns there and a barracks. We were attacked by the British here.