See the Sun Rise (and Set) in Bar Harbor, Maine

I have always dreamed of eating lobster with melted butter dripping everywhere, and I found the perfect place in a small town called Bar Harbor, Maine. Located about 3.5 hours north of Portland along the Atlantic coast, it has something to offer every type of traveler.

Since Bar Harbor is on the East Coast and right on the ocean, I thought it would be expensive, but it was quite reasonable. Our first day, we decided to go on a whale and puffin watching tour. I figured that since I was on the boat, the whales would be hibernating, but instead a beautiful humpback played around our boat for about 45 minutes. We saw whales, dolphins and seals and then headed out to what is called 'puffin island'. The only place that puffins nest in the United States is on a few islands off of Maine, so it really is a treat to see these fantastic birds (albeit from a distance, you don't get to pet them or anything). We were about 30 miles off the coast, and it was COLD, so remember to dress warmly if you go. It was 80 degrees on land and probably 45-50 degrees out at sea. By the way, if you want to see the puffins, you have to go between May and early August as they are only on the islands for breeding season.

After whale watching, it was time for dinner, and what a fantastic town Bar Harbor is for eating! The downtown is very clean, and we didn't come across a bad restaurant our entire stay. You can walk everywhere (which is good since parking space is minimal), and eat lobster or ice cream on just about every block. For those who do not want to indulge in all the 'nature' the island has to offer, it is also a great place to shop. Also, always remember to obey the crosswalk signs as pedestrians will walk right in front of your car.

The next day was our trip to Acadia National Park. The size of this park does not compare to Yellowstone, but there is a lot to do. We chose to spend the day at Sand Beach, which is an inlet on the Atlantic Ocean. The waves were about 2 feet, which was perfect, but the water was a bit chilly. The sand was soft and clean, but pack a cooler as there is not any concessions in the area.

For hikers, you can climb to the top of Cadillac Mountain, which is the highest point along the Atlantic in the country. You can watch fantastic sunrises and sunsets from the mountain as it offers a 360 degree view. There are also other hiking trails throughout the park, along with rock climbing, canoeing and more.

Our last stop at the park was a spot called Thunder Hole. Thunder Hole is something you truly have to see and hear to fully understand. It is a tiny natural inlet in the rocks and there is a small cave at the end. You can't go in the cave, but when the waves come crashing in, they make a thunderous, booming sound. It may not sound exciting in print, but it really is unique.
There was so much more to see and do at Acadia, but we were limited on time as there was more eating to do.

Overall, I cannot say enough positives about Bar Harbor Maine. It is a very peaceful location that I thought could never live up to the expectations I had from friends that had gone. However, it exceeded them. The only downside for me is that it is so far from Detroit, as there are so many things I didn't get a chance to see the first time.