Location: Southwest Harbor
Top Things to do in Southwest Harbor
Top 5 Hidden Gems Things to do in Southwest Harbor, Maine (ME)
Southwest Harbor is a town in Hancock County, Maine, United States. Located on Mount Desert Island, the population was 1,764 at the 2010 census.
Restaurants in Southwest Harbor
1. Maine State Sea Kayak
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 650 reviews
Paddle. Nature. It’s that simple really! We paddle the most remote sections around Acadia National Park. Our guides are passionate, we have the cleanest gear (washed after each trip), offer picnic lunches, and we are the only MDI Sea Kayaking tour provider offering a wildlife guarantee! Come explore the power of Acadia with us!
2. Acadia Lobster Cruise
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 101 reviews
Create a truly memorable vacation with this Lobster Dinner Cruise on a vintage 1967 wooden lobster boat built right here on Mount Desert Island. Learn how lobsters are harvested and enjoy the fresh salt air with views of MDI while Captain Jason Clark prepares your downeast lobster bake and shares his personal knowledge of the area with views of lighthouses and abundant wildlife.
3. Wendell Gilley Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 58 reviews
Discover where people, art and nature meet in Maine. The Wendell Gilley Museum is a community center that celebrates the life and work of Wendell Gilley, a pioneer in the field of decorative bird carving. It teaches the art of bird carving and presents art exhibitions and educational programs with a special focus on people, nature and art. Enjoy a casual visit, enroll in a workshop, or join our members' carving club. Discover one of the "hidden gems" of Mount Desert Island.
Reviewed By charleswha
We visited the Wendell Gilley museum class in September 2020, as part of a trip to Acadia. On their website, we learned they were offering outdoor, distanced bird carving classes, and we signed up for a Thursday morning 2-hour class. When we arrived, a museum staffer named Tammie gave us a great tour of the museum's incredible collection, which spans the work of Wendell Gilley, the artist-in-residence Steve Valleau, and many other wildlife artists, and the collection spans from miniature carvings, to large scale birds, to other artforms like woodcuts and paintings. Because we visited during COVID-19 distancing, the carving workshop was set up in a tent on the lawn. I carved a small loon, and my partner worked on a small black-capped chickadee. The instructor Steve did a great job of explaining the fundamentals of bird carving and gave us tools to borrow for the day -- and it was a good mix of easy to pick up, but challenging to get right. I've attached a picture of the bird I carved in class. I believe that the classes are usually offered in summer on Tuesdays and Thursdays, more information can be found at their website -- I'd recommend the museum and the classes to anyone visiting Bar Harbor! They have given me a new appreciation both for birds and for wood carving -- and though we did this class on a lark, I think I may have discovered a life-long hobby (I'm already taking a longer zoom class with Steve the museum to carve a more intricate piece!)
4. Flying Mountain Hiking Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 129 reviews
Reviewed By NYCmusician - New York City, United States
A beautiful easy hike with gorgeous views and ending on a nice beach. We went in the afternoon and there were only a few other cars in the lot and we encountered only several other hikers. A great perch to watch boats on the sound and get away from the crowds.
5. Charlotte Rhoades Garden and Butterfly Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 63 reviews
Reviewed By P6703MIjenniferm - Chicago, United States
Talk about a hidden gem for people of all ages! This magnificently maintained spot is full of butterflies and beautiful plants and flowers. When the docents are there, they will help you release butterflies into the world and to learn about butterfly migration and eating habits. Really a wondrous place for everyone.
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