The Harborside Hotel, Spa & Marina

Bar Harbor's roots as a premier retreat go back to when families like the Rockefellers and Vanderbilts built summer mansions on Mount Desert Island off the coast of Maine. Today, the Harborside Hotel, Spa & Marina invites guests to experience the lap of luxury twenty-first century style while viewing the same rocky coast and Acadia National Park across Frenchman's Bay.

The 193 accommodations include one- to three-bedroom suites—some with full kitchens, dining rooms, fireplaces, and Jacuzzis. Guests meet for business in 4,000 square feet of conference space and off the cuff at La Bella Vita Ristorante, Enoteca Wine Bar, Vanderbilt Lounge, and Splash Pool Bar. Next door, the private Bar Harbor Club welcomes them to its meeting space and restaurant as well—not to mention its state-of-the-art spa, fitness center, tennis courts, and pool.