Unwind - West Street Hotel
When looking to get away from your daily stress and rigorous schedule, I suggest taking a trip up north and spending some time at the West Street Hotel in Bar Harbor, Maine. This is a place I frequent and have fallen in love with as the hotel and surrounding area offers a lot to do to stay busy or have a nice relaxing few days if you want to unplug.
Bar Harbor is a small coastal Maine town outside of Acadia National Park. The hotel is a quaint boutique hotel that is perfect for a quick vacation, as well as being in a perfect area in terms of its proximity to downtown Bar Harbor, as well as being right on the water where you can park the car and leave it for the week. Everything is within walking distance or a short bike ride. When leaving the property, you can head right up the hill to the main street for lots of shopping and a quick bite to eat. It is the quintessential coastal Maine town that you have to visit at least once, Offering lots of little shops to grab some Maine blueberry pies or a new sweatshirt and a ton of restaurants that range from a cafe with the best blueberry donuts you'll ever have to a 5-star dining experience when looking to treat yourself to a nice meal.
If you have the desire of heading into the park, find a bike rental spot in town of which there are plenty, and hop on the carriage roads and go explore. I find biking to Acadia to be a much more convenient way of travel as it can get quite busy and finding parking can be tough at times, often adding an extra hike to the trailhead of that desired route for the day. It is also a very easy way to bop around and see the beautiful pines that are dotted around the rocky coast. Biking is definitely the way to go.
When staying at West Street, you have access to the adult-only rooftop pool, which overlooks the harbor and is a great way to kill a few hours if hiking isn't really your thing. When choosing to stay there, you also have access to the Bar Harbor Country Club, originally built for the Roosevelts when they would visit for their weekends off. The club was acquired by the hotel and is open to guests. There is another pool and amenities such as tennis and a spa. This is one of the best perks of West Street and a reason I choose them over any of the different lodging options. The rooms are quaint, keeping the coastal Maine aesthetic with a very clean and fresh take. Many of them overlooking the water. The staff is extremely friendly and will definitely have some ideas on how to spend your day if you are uncertain.
The main lobby has a wood burning fireplace that is tended to daily, which is a fantastic addition, and yes even in the summer. Find a little nook and read next to the crackling fire. I couldn't think of a better way to spend a rainy day or unwind after a long adventure. I'm sure you will be a frequent guest, much like I am, after your first stay you will just be counting down the days till you get to go back.
