The Maine Attraction Bar Harbor at its Best

By Jane Morris

For a luxurious lobsterpalooza, head to Bar Harbor, Maine, where the scenery is as delectable as the crustaceans. And for accommodations as satisfying as the seafood, do yourself a favor and book a stay at the Harborside Hotel, Spa, and Marina, sitting directly on Frenchman's Bay.

Located downtown, about three minutes from Bar Harbor's Main Street, in what could be the town's most picturesque location, the hotel is ideal. With the perfect melding of modern and classic design details, the Harborside Hotel, a member of Preferred Hotels® & Resorts, manages to combine that flawless blend of New England charm and grace with modern amenities and creature comforts. And you can practically dive off their property into the water. Furthermore, it's about a five minute drive from Acadia National Park, which many consider to be one of the country's most breathtaking natural wonders.

The Harborside Hotel features 187 deluxe rooms and suites, all of which have balconies, most of which look directly onto the water. They are very spacious, impeccably maintained, tastefully designed, and perhaps best of all, simply perfect for sipping a coffee in the morning while feeling the sea air breathe life into the day, or a glass of wine in the evening while watching the sun set over the bay. Marble bathrooms with luxurious amenities and plush, welcoming beds complete the picture. The hotel also offers deluxe studios, one, two and three bedroom suites, some with a full kitchen, dining room, private balcony, Jacuzzi and a fireplace—perfect for crisp Maine evenings in the late spring and early fall.

With all that Bar Harbor has to offer, you might not want to spend too much time in their beautiful rooms, but with the hotel's dining options, you'll probably find it difficult to leave the property. There's La Bella Vita, reminiscent of an Italian trattoria, with indoor and outdoor seating and a serene, lovely atmosphere, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and emphasizes wholesome ingredients, including garden-grown vegetables. There's the casual Pool House in The Bar Harbor Club, serving light fare at their gorgeous pool and Jacuzzi. And there's Enoteca, a wine bar adjacent to La Bella Vita, serving antipasti and small plates. Each of the restaurants serves top quality, delectable dishes, and they are some of the finest in Bar Harbor.

Harborside guests enjoy a heated pool, a top-notch fitness center, and a state-of-the art spa, offering luxurious accommodations and fabulous treatments such as the Rose Petal Envelopment and Bayside Island Wrap body treatments. A day shopping in Bar Harbor or hiking in Acadia National Park is best ended with a massage in Bar Harbor's finest spa.

Finally, guests of Harborside have access to the historic Bar Harbor Club, reopened in 2009 after a major renovation. The Bar Harbor Club, adjacent to the hotel, is a grand, stately Tudor facility steeped in Maine history that was the playground of Bar Harbor's elite in its heyday. Here, Harborside guests can enjoy its two-story poolhouse, oceanfront pool and Jacuzzi (where you can enjoy a waterfront lunch and cocktails), the fabulous Bar Harbor Club Spa, a luxurious fitness room, oceanfront tennis, private function rooms, and access to the pier, marina, whale watching sails, and more. The Bar Harbor Club, in conjunction with the Harborside Hotel, is the perfect combination of seaside Maine luxury and stellar accommodations.

For more information:
theharborsidehotel.com