Things to do in Southwest Harbor, Maine (ME): The Best Tours

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!

We offer private and shared sailing trips aboard our two Friendship Sloops, the Alice E. and Helen Brooks, as well as outings and nature tours on our wooden lobster boat, the Elizabeth T. Escape the crowds of Bar Harbor and view Acadia National Park from the beautiful shores of Northeast Harbor and Southwest Harbor -- Mount Desert Island's "Quietside".

Come sail in one of the most beautiful places in Maine. We offer private and group sailing lessons for adults, children and families of all sailing and racing abilities. We offer weekly boating and sailing programs for children ages 6 to 17. We host the MDI High School sailing team - racing in drysuits! We have year round lectures and work days for volunteers to maintain the Center's boats.

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.

Explore Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park from the decks of Premise: a classically beautiful 37' wooden yawl. Available for day, week, and month-long bareboat charters from spring to fall out of Southwest Harbor, sailing aboard Premise is an adventure you are never to forget! Premise sleeps five, has a fully equipped kitchen, a composting toilet, sound system, and even a grill! For more than 15 years, our customers have been chartering Premise and sailing her up and down the coasts of Maine. We take pride in knowing that with Premise's brightly finished hull and classic look, she is by far the prettiest boat in any harbor! Charter Premise to enjoy a simpler and more relaxing way of life as you explore the Maine coast as you have never seen it before! Please visit our website for more information, including rates and chartering information for Premise. We look forward to hearing from you!

Private photography tours and instructional photo workshops offered daily in Acadia National Park, Maine. We can drive to the most iconic locations around Acadia National Park or hike to hidden vantage points, it is up to you. We can talk the basics of photography or just tour around and shoot. We will build this photographic experience exactly as you want it, to fit your needs.

We have a fleet of class 1 ebikes for use on the Acadia National Park Carriage Roads. We also have a selection of class 2 ebikes to head up Cadillac Mountain or cruise the park loop road. We can deliver the ebikes to you for free at Hull's Cove Visitor Center to start your ebike ride. You can also park your vehicle at our shop and head out on the ebikes for nice rides to many park locations.

Combine all that is spectacular about Mount Desert Island, and you will see it from another angle on this ocean fishing trip. Not only do we offer a great ½ day or ¾ day trip for you and your friends and family, but we also haul lobster traps for each person on the boat (weather and time permitting). Legal Lobsters are divided or raffled, yours with our compliments! Yes, That is right! Most likely free lobster with your trip! This also gives our guests an idea how lobsters are caught on our Maine Coast. Enjoy seals, porpoises, eagles, osprey, sea birds and ducks. The 3/4 day fishing trips can take you to Mt Desert Rock Lighthouse (weather permitting). This unique area is where the the Lighthouse is the furthest offshore and the first place the sun rises in the USA, as well as the home to large population of seals, and near the migration area of whales. This trip is a great trip for kids