3 to 4 hours (Approx.)

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Overview

Discover bountiful nature, rich history, and quirky culture with this pair of self-guided tours through Portland and Acadia National Park in Maine. Hear about Portland’s double-founding and the destruction which laid it flat. Get to know historic Portlanders who fought for social change. Then drive through lush Acadia and marvel at boundless natural scenery. Plus, you’ll learn about its wild history, from ancient glacier to endangered species and powerful figures like the Rockefellers!

Purchase one tour per car, not per person.

After booking, you can check your email before downloading the Action Tour Guide app, enter your unique password, and access your tour. The preceding steps require good internet/wifi access. Simply follow the audio instructions and the route from there.

New, extra validity — now, it’s yours for an entire year! Use multiple times over multiple trips!

This is not an entrance ticket to attractions along the route. Check opening hours before your visit.

Description

Pass By: Hulls Cove Visitor Center, 25 Visitor Center Rd, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609

We enter Maine's famous Acadia National Park at the Hull's Cove Visitor Center. As we begin to explore this beautiful natural preserve, we'll learn about the rich forests and why the foliage here is so vibrant in the fall.

Pass By: Cadillac Mountain, Maine

Boasting mountain views, Cadillac Mountain Overlook features accommodations with a garden and a patio, around 5.6 mi from Agamont Park.

Pass By: Park Loop Road, Maine

Our self-guided driving tour enters the famous Park Loop Road of Acadia. We'll follow this loop all around the park, ending at the summit of Cadillac mountain.

Pass By: Sieur de Monts Spring, Behind the Nature Center, Maine

Our tour takes us past the Sieur de Monts Spring, which plays a significant role in the history of Acadia National Park. In a symbolic sense, it can be said that the birth of Acadia National Park took place in this very spot over a century ago.

Pass By: Beaver Dam Pond, Beaver Dam Pond, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA

Secret spot in Acadia National Park ... The Beaver Dam Pond sits along one of the nicest wooded stretches of the Park Loop Road.

Pass By: Egg Rock Overlook, Park Loop Rd, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA

This spot looks out over Bar Harbor’s Frenchman Bay. You might be able to spot a little island in the bay. This is the home of Egg Rock Lighthouse.

Pass By: Precipice Trail, Maine

The Precipice is part of the east face of Champlain Mountain. The Precipice Trail is the most challenging and well-known hiking trail in Acadia National.

Pass By: Schooner Head Overlook, Schooner Head Overlook, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA

Schooner Head Overlook is located on the east side of Mount Desert Island, just outside Acadia National Park. It can be reached from Bar Harbor without entering the national park via Schooner Head Road or via the Park Loop Road, just prior to the entrance gate to Sand Beach.

Pass By: Ocean Path, Maine

Here we've got a second option for a detour: Ocean Path Trail. If the steep inclines of Precipice Trail weren't your style, the gentle, winding path here is a great alternative

Pass By: Sand Beach, Maine 04609

Next up: Sandy Beach! At just 290 yards long, the beach is small, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in fascinating natural history. You might notice a slight greenish tint to the sand. That’s because of the sea urchins!

Pass By: Old Soaker, Old Soaker, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA

As we continue driving through Acadia, we'll pass Old Soaker. The waves crash against the vertical face of the rock, shooting water up into the air.

Pass By: Thunder Hole, Maine

We'll also see Thunder Hole, a natural rock inlet where waves crash with a thunderous boom.

Pass By: Monument Cove, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609

Monument Cove is another example of the seemingly miraculous force of nature. Water and time have worn away at the granite over the centuries, leaving behind a twenty-foot tall pillar of rock that looks like a man-made sculpture.

Pass By: Gorham Mountain Trail, Maine

As our tour continues through Acadia's Park Loop Road, Gorham Mountain rises to the right. The steep trail up this mountain features a false summit, where it appears to plateau before continuing up further. But both the false and real summit offers a wonderful view of the surrounding landscape!

Pass By: Boulder Beach, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA

The rocks on this beach are large, egg-shaped stones. The rough waves of the ocean have tumbled these stones into smooth, bowling-ball sized rocks.

Pass By: Otter Cliff, On the east side of the Park Loop Road, Maine

Next up as we drive as the stunning Otter Cliff and Otter Cove. At the top of Otter Cliff, it’s a steep 110-foot drop down to the chilly Atlantic.

Pass By: Hunters Beach Overlook, Park Loop Rd, Mt Desert, ME 04660, USA

A trip to Acadia National Park would not be complete without doing a hike to one of Mount Desert Island's cobblestone beaches.

Pass By: Aunt Betty Pond Carriage Road, Aunt Betty Pond Carriage Rd, Mt Desert, ME, USA

In addition to Acadia's beautiful hiking trails, there are also over 45 miles of carriage roads built by millionaire philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr. between 1913 and 1940. Originally conceived as a way to give city folk an escape to the natural world, the carriage road system wanders through some of the best forested and lakeside scenery and is enjoyed by bikers, hikers, and horseback and horse-drawn carriage riders alike. Rockefeller also financed, designed, and supervised the construction of 16 majestic stone bridges that were built at several stream and gorge crossings throughout the carriage road system. Since each bridge is a unique work of art, it is fun to try to visit them all!

Pass By: Jordan Pond, Maine

Our self-guided tour brings us to Jordan Pond next. We'd highly recommend pausing here to appreciate the views and the restaurant. Jordan Pond was carved out of the earth twenty thousand years ago by a massive glacier.

Pass By: Bubble Pond, Park Loop Road, Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine

Bubble Pond is another glacial remnant, hollowed out of the ground tens of thousands of years ago by a massive ice sheet descending on the island from the Arctic.

Pass By: Eagle Lake Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine

Our drive brings us past Eagle Lake, which serves as the water source for Bar Harbor. It’s also a food source for local birds.

Pass By: Cadillac Mountain North Ridge Trail, Bar Harbor, Maine

Finally, we begin the drive up to the summit of Acadia's crown jewel: Cadillac Mountain. The views from the top are unmatched!

Pass By: Bar Harbor, Bar Harbor, Maine

Your tour of Bar Harbor begins on the pier by Agamont Park, where you'll find plentiful parking. As you walk through this historic town, you'll see tons of beautifully preserved architecture, phenomenal ocean views, and much more. Plus, you'll learn plenty of fascinating history along the way!

Pass By: Bar Island Trails, Bar Harbor, Maine

Bar Island Trail is a totally unique walking trail. It's a sandbar trail leading out to one of Bar Harbor's beautiful islands, but it only appears at low tide! If you're here at the right time, it makes for a positively magical stroll.

Pass By: West Street, West St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA

The West Street Historic District features rows of breathtaking historic homes, all dating between 1870 and 1910. Here, you'll learn how to identify which ones are the oldest!

Pass By: Bar Harbor Historical Society, 127 West St, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609

Built in 1902, La Rochelle is a simply jaw-dropping estate. This enormous mansion has 41 rooms and a ton of history. It's now owned by the Maine Seacoast Mission Society, which purchased the property for only a dollar.

Pass By: Primrose Inn, 73 Mt Desert St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA

Built in 1878, this iconic structure only barely survived a huge fire that swept through Bar Harbor in 1947. Today, it continues to welcome visitors as a cozy bed and breakfast!

Pass By: Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 56 Mount Desert St, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609

This is a church which simply must be photographed. The impressive stonework, the imposing tower, and the gorgeous windows are all just begging to end up on Instagram!

Pass By: St. Saviour's Episcopal Church, 41 Mt Desert St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA

St. Saviour's Episcopal Church is a quirky architectural oddity. This church was built in multiple sections, with the oldest parts dating back to 1877 and the newest to the 1930s. The end result is an oddly endearing and totally unique structure.

Pass By: Jesup Memorial Library, 34 Mount Desert St, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609

This historic library dates all the way back to 1877. At the time, it had only 250 volumes, almost all of which were donated by the town's wealthy residents. Since then, that small collection has continued to expand.

Pass By: Abbe Museum, 26 Mount Desert St, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609

Abbe Museum celebrates the heritage of the native Wabanaki. Also known as the People of the Dawn, the Wabanaki lived in Bar Harbor long before it was Bar Harbor. Museum founder Robert Abbe wanted to honor that long history, and the museum now features exhibits encompassing 12,000 years of Native history in the region.

Pass By: Village Green, Main Street / Mount Desert Street, Bar Harbor, Maine

Bar Harbor's village green isn't just any old park. It was designed by Beatrix Farrand, who also designed the Rose Garden at the White House! It features an 1896 street clock, a historic bandstand, and a fountain in the style of 17th century Italian fountains.

Pass By: Frenchman Bay, Bar Harbor, Maine

Frenchman Bay is a picturesque bay named for the French expeditions which came here as far back as the 1500s. Here, you'll learn just who led those expeditions, and what exactly they were looking for.

Pass By: Balance Rock Inn, 21 Albert Meadow, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA

Balance Rock is an unusual landmark which rests right next to the Shore Path. It's a glacial erratic, meaning a glacier dragged it a very long way before setting it down here. This boulder is estimated to have moved about 40 miles before setting up shop in Bar Harbor!

Pass By: Grant Park, 21 Albert Meadow, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609

Once the site of a Gilded Age mansion, Grant Park is now just a pleasant, oceanside green space for all to enjoy. If you're looking for the ideal picnic spot, this is it!

Pass By: Spa at Bar Harbor Inn, 1 Newport Dr, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609

The Bar Harbor Inn is a seaside resort with a very long and complicated history. It was once a reading room where Bar Harbor's wealthy residents discussed literature and the matters of the day. Today, it has been converted into one of the most lavish hotels in the town. Your tour concludes just past this hotel, right near the pier where it began.

Stop At: Commercial Street, Portland, Maine

Portland’s Harbor (the body of water that you just sailed in on) is a “deep water” port, it generally does not freeze over during the winters. the Gulf of Maine has very strong tides, and those tides mix the water column and bring deeper, warmer water to the surface all along the coast.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Victoria Mansion, 109 Danforth St, Portland, Maine 04101

This is the Victoria Mansion. Built by Ruggles Morse in 1858. “the best standing example of Victorian art, architecture and decoration.” He named it “Victoria Mansion” after Britain’s Queen Victoria, It was built as his summer home.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Danforth, Danforth, Maine

On the left-hand side, see the colorful brick rowhouses. These were built originally for the servant class, these rowhouses are now very nice… expensive condominiums. After all those fires, brick was used from that point on throughout the city, not a lot of wood.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: West Street, West St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA

The Maine Medical Center is home of the Barbara Bush Children’s Wing. Mrs. Bush, the wife of our 41st president and the mother of the 43rd president, she lived much of her life in Kennebunkport, Maine, 30 miles south of Portland. She passed away in 2018. Mrs. Bush did so much great work raising money for treatment of kids with terrible illnesses, and her legacy is remembered in the Children’s wing of the Maine Medical Center.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: One Longfellow Square, 181 State St, Portland, Maine 04101

On the right side of the coach we’ll pass the home of Neal Dow. A former Portland mayor, Neal Dow is known as the father of the American Prohibition. In 1851, then Mayor Dow pushed through a statewide prohibition-- banning the sale and consumption of intoxicating beverages--that became the model for the National Prohibition.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Arts District Garage, 511 Congress St, Portland, ME 04101, USA

This is the “Portland’s Arts District”. The area has many independent art galleries, working studios, Coffee houses and restaurants. Up ahead, on the right, is the Portland Art Museum.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Brown Street, Brown St, Portland, ME 04101, USA

Just past the non-descript building on the right—the gray/brown Maine Historical Society headquarters—is the Wadsworth Longfellow House. It’s the brick building set a little back from the road, on the left. This is the house where the poet grew up. Built after the Revolutionary War by Peleg Wadsworth, a Revolutionary War General and the grandfather of Henry Longfellow, it’s the oldest brick house in Portland.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Temple Street, Temple St, Portland, ME 04101, USA

On our left side is the 1st Parish Unitarian Universalist Church. This is the oldest church in Portland. The building is the second building that has housed this congregation.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Portland City Hall, 389 Congress St, Portland, Maine 04101

On the left is Portland’s City Hall, a beautiful building for a small city. This is the third City Hall building on this site. The first two building were destroyed by fire

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Franklin Street, Franklin St, Portland, ME 04101, USA

The tall brick and concrete building to your left is the Franklin Tower, built in the 1970s. It’s the tallest building in the state of Maine at 16 stories.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Eastern Cemetery, 224 Congress St, Mountfort St., Portland, Maine 04101

Here’s Portland’s Eastern Cemetery, it’s the oldest cemetery in the City of Portland Some Head Stones date back to1768. The oldest markers were wooden, and they were lost to the fires.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Portland Observatory, 138 Congress St, Portland, Maine 04101

Let’s go back to the 1800’s, during that time, ships entering Portland Harbor could not be seen from the docks until they rounded the point of land at Spring Point Ledge and were almost in the harbor.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Waterville, Waterville, Maine

Notice that there are several examples of the “flattop triple-decker” this tenement housing style, which is very typical here in New England, were built in the 1880s to the 1920s.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Munjoy Street, Munjoy St, Portland, ME 04101, USA

Off to the right is Portland Harbor. Part of Casco Bay, an inlet on the Southern Coast of the Gulf of Maine, the City of Portland sits along its southern edge and the Port of Portland lies within.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Casco Bay, Portland, Maine

If you look over your right shoulder, see the land mass with the oil tanks. That's the City of South Portland.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Eastern Promenade Trail, Eastern Promenade Trail, Portland, Maine 04101

The Eastern Promenade is a great space where Portlanders get out and enjoy the nice weather and the sea breezes, at the foot of the Eastern Prom is a little beach called the East End Beach.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Walnut Street, Walnut St, Portland, ME 04101, USA

After the British destroyed city in 1775, Portland’s city leaders decided that they need to build a fort. The green space on the right is the result of that decision.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Fore Street Restaurant, 288 Fore St, Portland, ME 04101, USA

You'll remember earlier we spoke about the streets in Old Portland, how they were named due to their proximity to the water. They are Fore St, Middle St and Back St.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Casco Bay Bridge, Portland, Maine

Continuing our drive here in Portland, we will make our way to the Casco Bay Bridge. The Bridge spans Casco Bay and connects the City of Portland with the City of South Portland.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Meetinghouse Hill, Meetinghouse Hill, South Portland, ME 04106, USA

While we make our way through the City of South Portland we approach Meetinghouse Hill. Meetinghouse Hill is a kind of quintessential New England scene with the cemetery on the left and the Civil War statue on the right and a beautiful church behind the Civil War statue.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Fort Williams Park, 1000 Shore Rd, Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107, USA

We’re now entering Fort Williams Park. You’ll notice several military installations here in the park

Duration: 10 minutes

Schedule

What's Included

What To Bring

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email and an instructions email. Follow the instructions right away: • Download the app • Enter the password • Download the tour • MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular
How to start the tour: Once onsite, open the Action's Tour Guide App: • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If there are multiple tour versions, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction. • Go to the starting point. (Note: no one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided). • The audio will begin automatically at the starting point. If you face audio issues, visit the FAQ. • Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
Amazing savings: • Driving Tours: Save money by purchasing a single tour for the entire vehicle, avoiding individual fees per person like on a bus tour. Connect your phone to the car speakers to share the audio. • Walking Tours: While each person typically needs their tour, couples or small groups can share one using split headphones.
Flexibility and Convenience: • Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. There's no expiration, making it perfect for revisiting on future trips. • Start and pause the tour at your leisure, accommodating breaks and side excursions without the pressure of keeping up with a group.
Comprehensive Tour Experience: •The app provides a full itinerary, travel tips, narrated audio stories, scripts, images, videos, and recommendations for additional activities. • Enjoy a private experience without the crowds, ideal for personalized stops and photo opportunities.
Ease of Use and Accessibility: • The app is hands-free and activates stories via GPS, offering support through call, chat, or email. • There is no need for a continuous cell or Wi-Fi connection as the GPS map works offline.
Memorable Keepsakes: • Utilize the app’s images to create a photo book or share on social media, ensuring you have high-quality, crowd-free memories from your trip.
Preparation: • After booking, download the app and the tour using a strong Wi-Fi connection. • Review the tour at home before your trip for a better experience.
Starting the Tour: • Open the app upon arrival at your destination. • Select the appropriate tour based on your starting point. • Head to the starting location; the audio will begin automatically. • Follow the suggested route and adhere to the speed limit for an optimal experience. • By following these instructions and taking advantage of the app's features, users can enjoy a personalized, flexible, and in-depth exploration of their destination at their own pace and convenience.