Summer 2012

Best Sellers in Bar Harbor, Maine By Robert Levin

Bar Harbor is a vibrant mountain town by the sea that grows from a cozy hamlet in the winter to an energetic city of 18,000 in the summertime. The town has long been a seasonal magnet for tourists and entrepreneurs.

Over 200 years ago, traveling Native Americans sold handmade ash baskets and other high-end crafts to the area’s early “rusticators,” as the wealthy summer people of the day were known. Since then, gifts and souvenirs of every type have found their way to shops in this busy town.

Millions of tourists now trek to the area annually to visit the pristine lakes, mountains, and ocean side cliffs of Acadia National Park, all located on land once held by those early rusticators. The crush of visitors makes for a colorful, bustling experience downtown. Here, fine restaurants bump into T-shirt shops and ice cream cones can be had on every block. Prominent in the mix is a hearty sprinkling of unique, captivating gift shops, all of which cater to the customer looking for quality merchandise, thoughtful attention, and something just a bit off the beaten path.

Robert Levin

Robert Levin is a Maine freelance writer, professional journalist, photographer and avid gardener. He might report on a town council meeting, review an art exhibit, profile a new business or show up at a school science fair with his camera over the course of a regular week. Levin can be reached at roblevincompany@gmail.com