The best way to explore Jordan Pond is by riding their on one of the free Island Explorer shuttle buses.
I will break down the free Island Explorer bus run along with points of interest along the route. As the name states, to ride any of the Island Explorer buses is free. You can board the free shuttle buses from the Bar Harbor Village Green along Main Street, you want to board the Jordan Pond bus. The first stop along the route is at the Hull's Cove Visitor's Center. Route 3 runs past the Visitors Center, and a short walk along route 3, just down around the corner is The Chart Room with dining on a deck over looking the ocean. This restaurant was placed on the map when than President Bushe's wife, Laura Bush, chose it to have dinner at while here on a tour of the National park.
The next stop along the bus route is the Cadillac Mountain North Ridge Trail, a much quicker route to hike up Cadillac Mountain than the South Ridge Trail. The bus than passes by the Cadillac Mountain Summit Road and stops at the Bubble Pond parking area. As of this writing, the National Park Service is not allowing cars to park at the Bubble Pond parking area any more, so you either hike, bike or take the bus there.
Bubble pond is a beautiful area with one picnic table at the head of the pond, and a smooth carriage road running along one side of Bubble Pond. This carriage road offers many nice places along the shore to relax or have a picnic, as well as a good number of places to take beautiful photos of the pond. You may also see horses passing along the carriage road as well.
Jordan Pond is the next stop with the Tea House and gift shop being major attractions, as well as the stunning view of the pond with the Bubbles in the background. The Jordan Pond Trail circles the pond and makes for a good hike. A path behind the gift shop runs through a short section of woods and comes out at a carriage road with trail heads here for hiking. Horse drawn carriages often pass by along that carriage road. Of special interest is the Jordan Pond Gate House almost across the roadway from the Jordan Pond parking area. The Gate House is a large old stone building with tall chimneys and though the building itself is not open to the public, you are allowed to cross the road and explore the property and take photos of it.
The next stop for the bus is Seal Harbor, where the bus stops at the Seal Harbor Beach parking lot. Directly across the road is the public beach, a favorite spot for locals. A path by the parking lot leads up to Main street with its small shops.
Of special interest, at the beach, look out toward the ocean, now turn to your left, on that hill is the summer estate of Martha Stewart, once visible from the beach, she had large trees brought in to block the view. From time to time she has been sported at a bakery in Seal Harbor.
The final two stops of the bus are both in the village of Northeast Harbor, the first being at the start of Main Street. The second stop is down by the Northeast Harbor pier where many boats of different shapes and sizes fill the harbor.
Main Street has at least one old book shop as well as a nice pizza place. Off on a side street is the stunning Saint Mary's By The Sea Church, an old church whose many stained glass windows are just stunning as is just about everything inside this old building. During the summer months visitors are allowed to walk throughout the building and explore nearly the entire inside of the church and it is always one of my favorite stops on any visit to Northeast Harbor.
