Bar Harbor

If you want a honeymoon trip that captures the essence of New England charm and natural beauty, plan a visit to the resort town of Bar Harbor and the nearby Acadia National Park. They are part of the region of Maine known, for complicated reasons to do with shipping, as Down East. Located on Mount Desert Island, Bar Harbor has been a summer playground for the rich and the artistic. It is a center for yatching and maritime activities, and makes a great base to explore the coastline and for visits to Acadia National Park.

Acadia National Park is the only National Park in Maine and is worth visiting any time of the year. The park’s varied scenery includes the rugged Maine coastline, mountains, lakes, forests and streams, covering thousands of acres. Wildlife includes bears, foxes, deer, otters and bald eagles. The park is also famous for its biodiversity. The carriage roads are not open to cars, and are a great way to see the park on foot or horseback.

The majestic scenery and sea air provide a romantic setting for the park and the town. At Bar Harbor, you’ll find art galleries and museums, whale watching cruises or sailing trips to see the lighthouses and the puffins, music festivals in the summer, and fresh caught Maine seafood. Luxury resorts will wrap you in comfort, and for a different kind of experience, you can pitch a tent for two at one of the two campgrounds within the park. There are also plenty of inns and cabin rentals to suit all tastes and budgets.

This part of Maine was originally settled by the French, and you’ll find traces of the language, culture and cuisine everywhere. You’ll also find all kinds of cuisines, and your favorite may well be a Maine breakfast of pancakes with blueberries.