Rainy days happen. While you can definitely explore the outdoors on a rainy day, sometimes they just call for indoor activity plans. But…when everyone vacationing on Mount Desert Island has the same idea, those popular indoor spots can get a little crowded.
Below is a list of places that we like to check out on rainy days. Also, if staying in and having a quiet day at your rental is your jam, I’ve also included several activity books that we have loved over the years.
Rainy Day Activities
Libraries:
At home, libraries are usually the first place we think of when it comes to doing something on a rainy day. However, to be honest, they are not always the first thing I think of when on vacation.
But they should be! Rainy days or not, libraries can be great (and sometimes air-conditioned) places to reset, relax, and have a quieter morning or afternoon.
Something magical happens when you take a child to a library that is new or not the typical one they venture to. It can provide an hour or two of entertainment where everything is new, books that they are not typically interested in are fascinating, and the crayons at those new libraries are like no crayon they have ever seen! (insert the obvious humor here)
If you are a Maine resident, check out my Reciprocal Use blog to see if your home library and library you are visiting participate. If so, you will be able to check out books from the library you visit AND you will have the option to return them there or at your home library.
If not a Maine resident or if the library does not participate in Reciprocal Use, they sometimes offer weekly or monthly memberships if checking out books is something you want to do.
Mount Desert Island has 6 libraries!! Be sure to check out their websites for the children’s activities and events as well as their hours of operation.
- Northeast Harbor Library
- Southwest Harbor Public Library
- Jesup Library in Bar Harbor
- Bass Harbor Memorial Library in Bernard
- Seal Harbor Library
- Somesville Library Association
The outer islands also have libraries and include Great Cranberry Library, The Swans Island Educational Society, and the Islesford Library. If staying near the Schoodic Peninsula, be sure to check out Winter Harbor Public Library.
MDI YMCA:
Need to burn off energy? Check out the MDI YMCA in Bar Harbor. They have a fitness center, a pool, basketball and squash courts. Day passes for families are $35 or $110 for the week.
Naturalist’s Notebook:
Need some toys around your rental to make the rainy day more manageable? Check out the Naturalist’s Notebook in Northeast Harbor. Their website describes their store perfectly..it’s a one-of-a-kind exploratorium-shop. Think science museum, planetarium, and toy store in one. It’s a great place to find educational toys and gadgets and learn a little about our planet too!
Downeast Railroad:
Located just outside of Ellsworth and off of Mount Desert Island, the Downeast Railroad offers weekend scenic train rides that last about 1.5 hours long and are reasonably priced with discounts to AAA members, veterans/military, and seniors as well. Also, they are just down the road from Momo’s Cheesecakes!
More Popular Places: I anticipate the following to be a little more crowded on rainy days. If checking these places out, try to arrive when they first open and towards the end of the day or be sure to have reservations and tickets in advance.
- The Oceanarium and Education Center. I gave a full recap of our visit here last year in a blog.
- Seal Cove Auto Museum. Located in Seal Cove (not to be confused with Seal Harbor) on the western side of Mount Desert Island, this is a great place to check out some amazing car collections. Children get in FREE and there are discounts for military, veterans, first responders, and seniors.
- Dive-In Theater with Diver Ed. This activity is based in Bar Harbor and departs from the College of the Atlantic. It’s a 2-hour event that goes off rain or shine with the boat heading out in Frenchman Bay and Diver Ed heading to the ocean floor with a live camera and bringing creatures up the boat for children to check out. Take a look at the weather a week before you leave and decide if this is for you. It’s definitely a splurge and reservations are necessary.
Activity Book Recommendations
This officially wraps up The Acadia Series on The Wandering Chickadee. I hope you have enjoyed the series! Be sure to follow along all summer as I share budget friendly activities, campground reviews, and will continue to always give you the low down on the bathroom situations wherever we explore!
Thank you for reading!
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