• Pretty Marsh Picnic Area - The Pretty Marsh Picnic Area is coming up soon, featuring majestic trees and a staircase leading directly to the shore. During low tide, it’s an ideal spot for tide-pooling. Tide pools are small pockets of seawater left on rocky shores as the tide goes out. The best time to explore these miniature ocean ecosystems is during low tide.

Note: This 56+ mile-long tour highlights the essentials of Mount Desert Island in 2-3 hours.

Purchase once, enjoy for a year! Perfect for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.

• Bass Harbor - This traditional fishing village was once called McKinley. How did it get that name? When the federal government wanted to set up a post office nearby, they asked the villagers for a name. Allegedly, the villagers said, “You can name it after the president for all we care!” So, it was named after William McKinley! Eventually, their descendants weren’t fond of this name, so they petitioned to change it to Bass Harbor in 1966.

• Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse - This is one of the three light stations managed by Acadia, but it’s the most photographed along the main coast. And who doesn’t love a lighthouse? This one dates back to 1858! Unfortunately, neither the tower nor the keeper’s house is open to the public. But there might be a good reason for that. One of the more recent keepers, Robert Burchell, moved in with his family in 2004. He mentioned that most tourists were respectful, but some were overly curious and tried to open the door to his house!

• Ship Harbor Nature Trail - The Ship Harbor Trailhead is approaching. This easy 1-mile hike should take about half an hour. It follows the shore of a narrow cove and offers great views, but some say it’s haunted! The story goes that in 1741, 200 people sailed from Ireland to Philadelphia, fleeing persecution from England. A storm wrecked the ship on this coast. Everyone escaped to shore, but they were stranded. No aid arrived, and many perished. Some swam to the mainland for help but were never heard from again! Finally, Native people found the survivors and carried word to the English settlements. Rescue arrived at last. Or did it?

• Wonderland Trail Trailhead - The Wonderland Trailhead is coming up soon. It’s an easy 1.5-mile hike that takes you right to the water’s edge. It should take less than an hour to complete. This is also a very popular spot for birdwatching and exploring tide pools!

• Seawall Acadia National Park - Acadia’s natural seawall is coming up soon on our right. Nature did some impressive work when creating this seawall! Ocean storms built it over time. When waves break, they carry rocks from the bottom of the beach all the way to the shore. Over and over. As the tides ebb and flow, the heavier stones stack at the top, while the lighter stones settle at the bottom. The result is a natural wall like this one!

• Charlotte Rhoades Butterfly Park - The park is named after Charlotte Rhoades, a former resident of Southwest Harbor in the mid-1900s. In 1970, her family generously donated the property to the town with one request: They wanted it to be a peaceful park for children and their families. The town fulfilled their promise!

• Echo Lake - Echo Lake and Beach are coming up soon. The lake is the most popular freshwater swimming spot on the island! Trails that climb both Beech Cliff and Beach Mountain also start from here, offering some marvelous views on a sunny day. The Beech Cliff trail is a fairly strenuous 2-mile hike that will take about two hours to complete. Although this trail doesn’t go all the way to the top of Beech Mountain, it has a series of ladders that will lead you through some really cool cliff formations.

• Little Long Pond - We’re almost at the Little Long Pond Trail. The 2-mile trail is an easy hike that should take less than an hour to complete. The trail loop takes you through the woods on old carriage roads and past a field beside Little Long Pond.

• Seal Harbor Beach - Seal Harbor Beach is just ahead. It’s a large sand and pebble beach that’s typically less crowded than Sand Beach. There’s a diving platform if you’re in the mood for a splash. It’s also a great spot to search for sea glass washed onto the shore!

• Seal Harbor - The town of Seal Harbor is coming up soon. The area around it has long been a haven for the rich and famous. Some of these little roads veering off to the right lead to an enclave of wealthy summer homes, including Skyland, the Cottage that Henry Ford built in 1925 for his son. Do you know who owns it now? Martha Stewart! Since 1997.

• Otter Creek - We’re approaching Otter Creek, a small village just south of Bar Harbor. In a way, this village is an island unto itself. How? Well, it’s completely surrounded by Acadia National Park! But how did that happen?

• The Tarn - The lake coming up on our left is called the Tarn. The name comes from an Old Norse word “tjorn” meaning “small mountain lake.” It formed when the weight of a glacier simply depressed the ground beneath it. After a few too many dry summers in a row, the Tarn has become less of a pond and more of a marsh.

• The Jackson Laboratory - In 1929, the Jackson Laboratory began operating as one of the world’s first centers for the study of cancer genetics. George Dorr donated the 13 acres of land that the campus was built on. Is there anything this guy didn’t do?

• Bar Harbor - Bar Harbor is just ahead. But did you know it wasn’t always Bar Harbor? Back in 1796, it was known as the Town of Eden. The name only changed in 1918! It’s the largest community on the island and has been a hotspot for summer vacationers for over two centuries, and that’s not likely to change anytime soon!

• Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
• Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
• Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
• Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
• Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
• Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
• Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
• Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!

• Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations

Embark on a picturesque journey through Acadia Mount Desert. Delight in the coastal and rocky shoreline vistas while discovering the history of the Maliseet, Wabanaki, and Glooskap. Wander through Charlotte Rhoades Park, rich with lush vegetation and glacial remnants, and uncover stories of George Dorr and the Rusticators. Savor Acadian cuisine, observe marine life, and unwind at Little Long Pond. Celebrate the vibrant heritage of Bass Harbor.

Purchase one tour per vehicle, not per individual. Everyone can listen together!

After booking, check your email to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. These steps require a reliable internet/Wi-Fi connection. From there, follow the audio instructions and the route.

Buy once, enjoy for a year! Perfect for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.

This is not an entrance ticket. Please verify opening hours before your visit.

• How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email and text with instructions: • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password • Download the tour MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular Works offline after download
• How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
• Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
• Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
• Savings tips: Driving tours: purchase just one tour for everyone in the car
• Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.