Our family trip to Maine was so special this year, and definitely one for the books! Last year’s trip was a little rocky at certain points, mostly because of me trying to take on too much while also having a toddler who wasn’t…well…having it. But last year’s trip also taught me so much about how far my mental health has come the last few years, and I feel like this year’s trip was when we finally got to enjoy the phase of life we’ve made it to the last six months. It really feels like we’ve turned a corner when it comes to travel with the kids!

If you’re new to my blog (or social media), our family has had a home on Mt Desert Island (near Bar Harbor) since I was a little girl. I grew up visiting there several times a year to spend time with my Mom’s side of the family, and now as an adult, I bring my kids to the same exact land every summer. It’s been an amazing way to connect with family and to nurture my own inner child, all while creating lasting memories that are even more meaningful that our typical one-off vacation trip. My kids love it as much as I do, and Ian has fallen in love with it as well! If you want ALL the recs and vibes, make sure to read through my trip recaps over the years!

This Summer, it was really wonderful and meaningful to visit the lake house on the heels of our wedding. We’ve been gelling so beautifully as a family recently, and that energy continued for our travels. We played so many games together in the evenings, had dinners out with all three kids that we could actually enjoy, and nobody had to carry Mateo on any hikes this year. That last one may have been my favorite part. My Mom was up there with us for the first few days of the trip– and she had never been at the house with my kids before! It was so cool to show her how great the kiddos have become at adventuring out on the lake. Marlowe even paddle-boarded both her AND Major to a beach one day. And back!

Having all three kids in a great place enabled us to venture out a bit more than we normally did, and we ended up doing so much this trip that we’ve never done all together as a family! We tried some new restaurants, discovered some new-to-us parts of Acadia, and the kids even completed Acadia National Park’s Junior Ranger Program! The day before we left, they got sworn in as Junior Rangers, and seeing the pride on their faces basically made the whole trip for me. I decided that I’m going to make a Reel all about kid-friendly activities in Bar Harbor (since so many of them aren’t that widely publicized) so stay tuned for that if you’re planning on visiting the area any time soon with Littles.

I’m putting some of our favorites from this trip below, but make sure to check out Last Year’s Post as well as all the others that I have on the site if you want a more comprehensive look at the area and what we’ve enjoyed. And don’t forget to check out my blog post about what I packed for the trip as well! As always, feel free to comment with any particular questions you may have that aren’t covered.

Our Trip Favorites

Brasserie Le Brun: We had driven by this restaurant one morning and decided to check it out. I’m so glad we did! The food was so well executed, the produce and seafood were super fresh, and they had delicious cocktails. It’s a fun scene inside as well!

Abel’s Lobster Pound: this is our favorite lobster pound in the area because the lobster is great, but there is also a focus on all the other food on the menu. The drinks are delicious as well, and the beautiful view at sunset is the cherry on top.

Bar Harbor Lobster Pound: We went here for the first time this trip and loved it! The area in the back, filled with string lights and picnic tables, is super charming, and the food was excellent. Very kid-friendly!

Little Notch Bakery: This is our favorite spot for take-out sandwiches and pizza! So yummy after a long hike.

Brrr Harbor Shave Ice & Coffee: My kids love the shave ice at this fun spot, and their lavender iced coffee is my personal favorite!

Beech Hill Farm: We go here every year to pick up produce and some local favorites to take home (Like honey and maple syrup!). They also have amazing sausages, cheeses, and ice cream!

Pirate’s Cove Mini Golf: We went to this spot when we were on Cape Cod, and we had such a great time. The Bar Harbor outpost does not disappoint! The theme is kitschy and fun, and it’s right across the street from a great ice cream spot to celebrate the round’s winner!

Hull’s Cove Visitor Center in Acadia National Park: This was the first year we explored beyond the hikes and walks and areas that I grew up going to as a kid. We actually visited the Visitor Center, and I was blown away by the incredible information desk with volunteers who will chat with you for twenty minutes and provide helpful insights and activity ideas. The kids picked up Junior Ranger books here, and had so much fun filling them out and checking things off their list throughout our trip.

Witch Hole Pond Carriage Road: This is a great hike for kids because it’s paved, and even better if your family has bikes!

Wonderland Hike: This is one of our family favorites. The view is unreal, and there are so many fun tidepools to explore! Highly recommend hitting up Little Notch Bakery either before or after!

Bar Island: This is a really fun experience right off the coast of Bar Harbor downtown. At low tide, a path to the the super small Bar Island is revealed, and kids gather to explore the tide pools. You can even hike the island itself, which my older two love.

Echo Lake Beach: I took the kids here on a whim one day when Ian was working, and I could not even believe how gorgeous it was. It looks like something AI-built! A sandy beach, surrounded by cliffs with towering pines. It’s really something to see. We swam there for hours.

Seal Harbor Beach: This was a nice beach to look for shells and Sand dollars! We had never been before and were extra charmed by the swing set overlooking the water.

Carroll Homestead: My personal favorite of the trip was our morning at the Carroll Homestead, one of the very first homesteads that was settled on Mt. Desert Island in the 1800s. We attended on a special day where Park Rangers come and set up the whole yard with vintage games and crafts from the period, and the house is opened up so you can explore it. It’s very kid-friendly and was so interesting for all of us. I could have spent hours there!

Shop the post…