Where to Eat, Stay, Hike + Play in Coastal Maine

If you’re eloping in Acadia, you’re already starting your love story in one of the most magical places on the East Coast. But the feeling of awe and wonder doesn’t stop after your vows—it’s just beginning.

Whether you’re planning a week long trip or a full honeymoon, this guide is for couples who want to soak up every last drop of wild beauty, good food, cozy stays, and local charm that coastal Maine has to offer.

As someone who photographs elopements here all season long (May-October), I’ve experienced Acadia in every kind of light—fog-draped mornings, golden hour cliffs, moody skies, and starlit tides. Let me show you the Maine I know and love—through the lens of someone who’s wandered its trails, shared vows beneath its pines, and knows where to find the best coffee, local eats and hiking trails.

Bar Harbor + Mount Desert Island

Where to Eat & Drink

• Choco-latte Cafe – Grab your coffee and go on your way into the park.
  
• Coffee Matter – Open air dining or pick up and go, more than just coffee, yummy brekki sandwiches + baked goods too.
  
• Cafe This Way – Dinner plate sized blueberry pancakes, eggs beni, you can’t go wrong!
  
• Thrive Juice Bar + Kitchen – Smoothies, green juices, and bowls that taste as good as they look. Amazing vegetarian and vegan options.
  
• 2 Cats Café – Best eggs benedict biscuits in Bar Harbor and beautiful flower gardens. Sit outside!
  
• A Slice of Eden Bar Harbor – Yummy baked goods, steak + cheese egg wrap, wedding cakes + coffee!
  
• Sassafras Café – Homey, fresh, and full of local flavor. Also offers private parties.
  
• Bar Harbor Lobster Pound – Super chill, outdoor dining camp vibe – lobster rolls and an ice cream truck, say what?
  
• Abel’s Lobster Pound – A classic coastal gem nestled on the shoreline with epic sunset views over the harbor. Mouth-watering haddock + old fashions.
  
• Project Social – Cozy garden patio outdoor dining for all the vibes, yummy tapas, excellent cocktails (and mocktails). Chic but relaxed.
  
• Table Salt – Elevated fine dining that will leave your mouth watering
  
• Havana – You’ll never be the same after the seafood paella.
  
• Thirsty Whale – The pub energy you crave after a hike.
  
• The Salt Market – Breakfast pastries, picnic goods, curated snacks.
  
• Sunday Farmers Market (May–Oct) – Local florals, veggies, handmade gifts. A great place to wander post-vows.
  

Where to Stay

• Balance Rock Inn – Historic, close to the water, and quiet.
  
• Modern Bar Harbor Rentals – Clean design, great light, central to everything.
  
• Salt Cottages – Picture-perfect with coastal charm.
  
• Terramor Outdoor Resort – Glamping in the woods? Yes, please.
  
• Airbnb & VRBO Recommendations – Ask me for my curated list. I share the most photogenic, light-filled, elopement-ready rentals with my couples.
  

What to Do

• Walk to Bar Island at Low Tide – Feels like stepping into another world.
  
• Rent Bikes or E-bikes – Cruise 46 miles of Carriage Roads.
  
• Jordan Pond at Sunrise – So still it looks like a painting + beat the crowds.
  
• Hike the Bubbles at sunrise or sunset – For panoramic views and windswept hair.
  
• Abbe Museum – Learn about the Wabanaki, stewards of this land.
  
• Thuya & Azalea Gardens – Quiet, romantic strolls with ocean breeze.
  

Southwest Harbor (The Quiet Side)

Where to Eat

• Vacationland Coffee Roasters – It’s a whole vibe, trust me, go for coffee, stay for breakfast or lunch.
  
• Eat-a-Pita – The go-to for breakfast fuel.
  
• Peter Trout’s Tavern – Rustic, creative, and one of my personal faves. Try the fried chicken sandwich or oysters. Sit on the porch with a crisp white.
  
• Beal’s Lobster Pound – A classic. Order early, grab a cone, and eat with your feet dangling off the dock.
  
• Harbor Table – Elevated and cozy, with water views to match.
  

Where to Adventure

• Wonderland Trail – A peaceful, flat walk through coastal forest to tidepools and granite slabs. Nap here.
  
• Flying Mountain – Short, steep climb with a big reward—end with a secret swim cove.
  
• Seawall – For slow moments and smooth stone gazing. Bring dessert.
  
• Bass Harbor Lighthouse – Historic lighthouse! Go early, can get crowded
  
• Seal Cove Auto Museum – Rainy day? Perfect indoor historical car and truck exhibit
  

Photographer Tip: Spot a roadside pie stand? Pull over. Trust me. Homemade magic. Usually cash only.

Where to Stay

• The Claremont Hotel – Elegant, historic, and one of the dreamiest places to watch sunset with a cocktail in hand.
  
• Harbour Cottage Inn – Coastal charm and walkable to the harbor.
  
• Asticou Hotel– Unwind at The Asticou, where history and modern luxury come together to create an enchanting coastal retreat.
  
• Airbnb & VRBO Recommendations – Ask me for my curated list. I share the most photogenic, light-filled, elopement-ready rentals with my couples.

On the Water

• Sail Acadia – Sunset schooners, local captains, and pure maritime soul.
  
• Downeast Windjammer Cruises – Red sails, sea breeze, and sweeping views.
  
• Kayaking – Sunrise paddle or sunset glow?
  
• Lunch on the Wharf – Grab something from Salt Market and eat dockside, just the two of you.
  

Don’t Miss: Scenic Flights Over Acadia

One of the most jaw-dropping ways to see Acadia is from above. Scenic flights offer a bird’s-eye view of the ocean, mountains, and wild pine forests.

Perk for my couples:
You get 10% off your scenic flight when you book with me—plus photographers fly free (or I can stay on the ground and capture you boarding with my camera + Super 8). I’ll even lend you my Meta glasses to record the flight.

Schoodic Peninsula (The Less-Touristy Side)

Schoodic is the hidden gem of Acadia—fewer people, more space, and dramatic views for days.

Where to Explore

• Schoodic Point – Wild, windy, and stunning.
  
• Hiking Trails – Forest meets ocean. Quiet. Peaceful.
  

Where to Eat

• Treehouse Seaside Grill – perfect romantic dinner on the bay
  
• Lunch on the Wharf–fresh caught seafood on a dock looking at the boats on the harbor
  
• The Pickled Wrinkle – Local seafood and Maine attitude.
  

Where to Stay

• Acadia’s Oceanside Meadows Inn – Historic, quiet, and full of charm.
  
• Schoodic Woods Campground (NPS) – For couples who sleep under the stars.
  
• Winter Harbor VRBO’s – Artsy town, sea air, walk to the ferry.
  

Tip: Bring your bikes! The Schoodic loop is a scenic dream with barely any traffic.

Why You Should Stay Awhile

Acadia doesn’t just photograph beautifully, it’s one of the most accessible parks on the East Coast and feels like home. It’s more than a destination for your love story.

It’s not just the awe-inspiring views that linger with you. It’s the scent of pine needles after a summer rain. The deep quiet of the woods at dawn. The golden light that sets the pink granite cliffs on fire just before sunset. The hush of ocean waves rolling over sea-smoothed stones. The way gulls cry overhead while the fog dances over the harbor. This is a place that asks you to slow down and feel.

That’s why I always encourage my couples to build in time — real time — to soak it all in.

Take a few days before your elopement to ground, connect, get your rest, stay hydrated, and feel into this wild landscape. Pick up your marriage license, have a nourishing breakfast, take a explore the Ocean Path. Let your body settle into this place, known as the land of the Wabanaki, Dawnland.

And after your ceremony? Let it all settle. Go sailing at sunset. Nap on a rock warmed by the sun. Share lobster rolls on a wharf. Watch the sky turn lilac from your cabin porch. These moments matter just as much as the vows.

Acadia isn’t just a backdrop — it’s ancient. A teacher. A quiet witness to your beginning.

If you’re one of my couples, I’ll help you design your elopement experience that is curated to your interests. Because this isn’t just an elopement wedding, this is a place you will want to come back to again and again to make memories. I want you to remember how you felt when you look back at your photos years from now.

This guide is just the beginning. Let the adventure unfold. Planning With Me = Custom Local Insight

📍 Private Location Guides
🏡 Curated Rentals for Getting Ready + Honeymoons
🌮 Hidden Gems to Eat, Drink, + Picnic
🌿 My Favorite Local Vendors (Florals, Hair/Makeup, Bakers)
🛶 Adventures You’ll Talk About for Years—like biking, paddling, and sailing

This is more than a trip. It’s a feeling. Let’s make it one you’ll never forget.

More Acadia Elopement Inspiration!

• Acadia Elopement Guide – Best Locations, Permits & Planning Tips
• How to Plan a Multi-Day Elopement in Acadia National Park
• Second Marriage Elopement with Blended Families
• Intimate Coastal Elopement | Schoodic Peninsula, Acadia National Park, Maine