Mount Desert Island's Hidden Gems: Gardens, Harbors & Lighthouse Magic

Bass Harbor

For our final day exploring the Bar Harbor area, we ventured around Mount Desert Island to discover the quieter side of coastal Maine—charming harbors, historic lighthouses, and breathtaking gardens that felt like stepping into a fairy tale.

Southwest Harbor: Victorian Charm Meets Working Harbor

Just 20 minutes from Bar Harbor, Southwest Harbor welcomed us with easy parking and small-town charm. We couldn't resist a cinnamon roll from Little Notch Bakery—the perfect fuel for our island adventure. The town beautifully blends 1880s Victorian homes with harbor views and art galleries, though Friday morning traffic was already building as we pushed on.

Bass Harbor: Authentic Maine at Its Best

Bass Harbor captured our hearts with its picturesque, working harbor atmosphere. The ferry service to Swan's Island and Frenchboro reminded us this isn't just a tourist destination—it's a living, breathing coastal community.

Bass Harbor Light Station (built in 1858)

sits majestically on the rocky coastline. While Acadia National Park's coastal trails were closed for rehabilitation, we still enjoyed scrambling across the massive granite boulders for stunning ocean views and photos.

Northeast Harbor: Art & Maritime History

Continuing our island-hugging coastal route, we stopped frequently for scenic photo opportunities and to appreciate the rhythmic waves against Maine's rugged shoreline.

Northeast Harbor offered another dose of Mount Desert Island charm with walkable shops and small art galleries. Though the Marine Museum was closed, the town's quiet elegance made for a pleasant stroll before our day's highlight.

Garden Paradise: Asticou's Double Delight

Asticou Azalea Gardens became our absolute favorite discovery—a fairy tale garden where every turn revealed something more beautiful than the last. Flamingo pink azaleas strategically planted against multi-blooming white varieties, graceful trees creating natural canopies, and small streams with stepping stones created pure magic. Despite challenging parking (street construction didn't help!), the gardens were spacious enough that crowds dispersed naturally, letting us enjoy peaceful moments on benches surrounded by butterflies and bumble bees.

Just up the street, Asticou Terraces & Thuya Gardens offered a completely different experience—terraced gardens climbing 350+ feet up the mountainside with winding granite-walled trails and moss-covered pathways opening into cultivated garden spaces.

Note: Wild Gardens of Acadia made our "next time" list—there's always more to discover!

Perfect Finale: Lobster Bakes with a View

As Friday crowds descended on Bar Harbor, we escaped to The Lobster Bakes near Hulls Cove—and what a find! Easy parking, water views, and excellent food made it the perfect ending to our Maine adventure.

Lobster Bakes Restaurant

Our picks:

- Manny: Lobster Mac & Cheese (creamy and excellent)

- Kim: Jamaica Jerk Haddock Sandwich (surprisingly delicious!)

Reasonable prices, good service, and that perfect Maine harbor view—exactly what we needed before saying goodbye to the Pine Tree State.

Maine Farewell

What a week it's been! From Bar Harbor's bustling energy to quiet fishing villages and fairy tale gardens, coastal Maine delivered every bit of charm we'd hoped for. As we cross into Canada today, we're carrying memories of lobster-filled adventures, scenic coastal drives, and those magical Asticou gardens that felt like stepping into another world.