Bar Harbor, Maine is one of my favorite places on this earth. And even though I have visited Acadia National Park 10 times, I still find myself longing to go back. These statements baffled my husband, who wonders why we have spent 4 summers there in the past 6 years.

We started camping in Acadia when our daughter was only 10 weeks old. She was 6-years-old at our most recent visit, and we still love this area and everything it has to offer.

Here’s our Acadia and Bar Harbor bucket list. When we return each summer, these are our must-do activities.

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What’s on our Acadia National Park Bucket list?

Catching an epic sunrise or sunset (ideally at Cadillac Mountain)
Going for a family-friendly hike (or 2 or 3)
Playing in the water and tidal pools
Getting out on the water (kayaking or a boat tour).
Visiting Jordan Pond house (the only restaurant in the park)

1. Experience Sunrise or Sunset at Cadillac Mountain

Cadillac Mountain is one of Acadia’s claims to fame. And there’s a good reason for that. The view of the bay and lakes from the top of Cadillac is beautiful. Before we had a kid, I used to get up at 4am in the summer and watch the sunrise from the top of Cadillac.

Now that we have a little kid, we usually head up just before sunset. We spend about an hour walking around the paved loop at the top of the mountain, and explore the large granite slabs while we look out at Frenchman’s Bay. After that, we drive back down before it gets dark.

The summit of Cadillac Mountain is very busy, and because of this, the National Park System has implemented a reservation system. If you want to hike up Cadillac, you can do this for free. But, if you want to drive up, you need to make a reservation ahead of time on recreation.gov. Time slots are released 48 hours in advance, so just download the app and book when you are able to check the weather during your trip.

2. Walk to Bar Island at low tide

If you are in downtown Bar Harbor, in the middle of all the shops and restaurants, then you are never more than a few blocks away from the bay. At low tide, twice a day, you can walk out on the sand where the bay parts. You can also walk all the way across the bay to Bar Island (but this is abit far with young kids unless you time it perfectly.) It’s a beautiful (and free) way to explore the land and wade in the shallow waters.

Be warned! The tides change daily and you can get stranded on Bar island. While there are signs everywhere, people get stuck there every year.

We always park our car near the grocery store on Cottage Street or another nearby street, so we just walk a couple blocks to the bay and back.

Bring a small towel, and extra shoes or clothes if your child is little and does not like being wet on the walk back to the car. Also- I would not recommend going barefoot in this area; there are too many small animals and sea shells. When our daughter was a toddler, she cut her ankle open on some shells. So you will want good water shoes for this visit and a full coverage bathing suit or pants if you have a toddler.

Playing in the water at low tide between Bar Harbor and Bar Island

3. Get out on the water: boat tours around Acadia

Bring close to the water is part of what makes Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park so beautiful. The islands that dot the bays are home to sea birds and seals, and are also worth exploring. If you take a boat tour (either with your own power on a kayak or with the captain of a small boat), you will be rewarded with beautiful views and stories.

Over the years, we have tried a few different boating excursions. Older children and teens would likely love all of these options, but here’s what we have tried so far.

Which boating option will work best for your family?

Kayaking: If you are traveling without small kids, or have older kids and teens who have been on the water before, a guided kayak tour around Frenchman’s Bay can be a perfect way to explore. Keep in mind, the water is cold, so your outfitter will provide you with a spray skirt to keep the bay water out of your kayak.

Boat tour to visit seals and lighthouses: Perfect for families with smaller children.This is an educational tour on a larger boat that will allow your whole family to join in. (In fact, we did this with lots of kids and adults one summer). We booked with Acadian Boat Tours, and booked a nature and sightseeing cruise. This will take you through the harbor and out past Egg Rock Lighthouse which often includes a viewing of at least 20 seals sunbathing on the shores in summer.

Lobster boating: On our most recent trip to Acadia, we drove down to Southwest Harbor (the quiet side of Acadia) and took a tour around there. We learned about lobsters and crabs, and caught a few. The boat we were on released all sea creatures at the end of the trip. We booked with Sail Acadia and there were only 12 people on our tour for the day.

Cranberry Islands Ferry: Another boat the leaves from Southwest Harbor is the Cranberry Islands ferry. This gives you a chance to do some exploring in other areas of the bay. Great Cranberry Island is only two miles long and one mile wide, but it has a year round community that lives there. There is also a general store, a library, and a historical society. If you want a break from the crowds, an afternoon on the ferry and exploring the Cranberry Islands is a great way to enjoy Maine and live the island life for a few hours.

4. Eat popovers at the Jordan Pond House

Jordan Pond House is the only restaurant inside Acadia National Park. It’s the perfect place to park for a family hike around the pond and to see the classic view of The Bubbles. (It’s a 3.3 mile hike, so if you do the whole thing, it will take quite some time. There’s also a bit of rock scrambling on one side of the lake.)

In the 1840s, the Jordan Pond House began as a small tea house, and there is now a large restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating.

We do not go to the Jordan Pond House for a full meal. There are better places for that in town. But, we do always stop in for post-hike popovers and blueberry lemonades. In the past few years, they have also added a to go shop upstairs that includes popovers with ice cream. If you’re doing some strenuous hiking and don’t want to pack lunch, you can stop here afterwards.

Warning: It’s very hard to park here; you will want to arrive long before they open. It’s best to go at least one hour before opening or to come close to close or on a rainy day when fewer people are in the parks. Bikers and hikers often get here early in the morning to grab a spot and will leave their cars for a few hours. (I know because I’m one of them!) This also boasts the largest public bathroom within Acadia, too.

5. Play at Sand Beach

Sand Beach is so-named because it is the only real sandy beach in Acadia National Park. We love to use Sand Beach as a home base for a morning of hiking and exploring, and we sometimes stop by in the late afternoon.

You can use Sand Beach as a starting point for hiking the Great Head Trail and the Ocean Path. Great Head has a little bit of scrambling, but is doable for kiddos. (We hiked it with an infant in a carrier, and had to be extra careful for a small section.).

The beach offers a great place to relax, but the water is usually cold. We always travel with a small wet-suit for our kiddo. The waves are also a little intense for smaller children, so a life jacket is recommended.

Sand Beach also boasts bathrooms, feet wash areas, changing rooms, and an area to wait for the shuttle bus.

6. Hike along the Ocean Path

Ocean Path in Acadia National Park is a winding coastal trail that stretches about 2 miles along Mount Desert Island’s shoreline, linking Sand Beach and Otter Point with spectacular views of the Atlantic. If you’re traveling without kids, it’s easy to walk the 2 miles from point to point.

The path offers lots of places to stop on exposed granite ledges, and explore tidal pools. We love to spend an hour or two walking from Sand Beach to Thunder Hole with stops on our favorite little ledges for exploring. This is the maximum distance my daughter was willing to go on a summer day.

The dirt path is pretty level and flat, making it accessible for families. The views of the ocean are amazing.

Be aware- this does run parallel to Park Loop Road, so it’s one of the the busiest sections with cars, and it can get busy. But knowing that you can step off the main path for a side adventure makes it all worthwhile.