Bar Harbor Whale Watching

by Allison
(Ohio)

Have you ever seen a whale up close and personal? If you visit the Bar Harbor Whale Watching Company at 1 West Street in Bar Harbor Maine, you can.

(Liz's note... This is actually the Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co.)

Aboard the Atlanticat catamaran, my husband and I spotted five whales; a couple swam directly beside our boat!

Other species we encountered included puffins and seals, which made this experience remarkable for two wildlife lovers. To improve your voyage, I have a couple of pieces of advice.

First, bring a medium weight, hooded jacket, because even during Summer, the ocean breeze combined with the high speed of the boat makes for a chilly expedition.

Second, if you have never been on a boat, or know you suffer from motion sickness, take some Dramamine before boarding. I say this because my husband suffered from seasickness!

Since we enjoyed seeing the live whales, we ventured up West Street to the Bar Harbor Whale Museum, which houses a variety of aquatic creature skeletons, as well as a wealth of interesting information.

Best of all, museum admission is free, although you may desire to make a donation to help the museum continue its mission.

A gift shop within the museum features many exciting items, if you wish to find the perfect memento of your travels.

After procuring some Dramamine, we hopped aboard another boat to see the majestic lighthouses that line the shores. Not only did we see lighthouses, but also osprey nests and bald eagles.

Back on dry land, we drove to the Bass Harbor Head Light in Tremont, Maine. A U.S. Coast Guard family actually lives in this light house. The rocky shore and the endless ocean and sky make for some fantastic photographs.

In addition to the lighthouses, many other opportunities for photographic masterpieces abound in Acadia National Park.

Visit Thunder Hole to witness the phenomenon of the waves rushing into a crevice along the shore. Orange, rocky outcroppings and sandy beaches add to the appeal of this area, which made it a terrific place to watch the ocean waves roll in.

Frenchman Bay is yet another area where we witnessed the beauty of a vast cerulean ocean blending into the equally brilliant blue sky.

Strange as it sounds, drinking blueberry soda is one of my most vivid memories of Maine. You can find it in some of the shops along Main Street.

Or you can visit the Atlantic Brewing Company, a micro brewery in Town Hill, Maine. The restaurant on the premises serves tasty barbecue and burgers, as well as the full selection of ABC ales. Whenever a friend or family member says they are going to Maine, I tell them to embark on a Bar Harbor whale watching cruise...and bring home some blueberry soda for us!