Where do you even begin to review a national park as gorgeous as Acadia?…read more Sand Beach and Thunder Hole are a must see. Beautiful sights. Cadillac Mountain is worth it.

Acadia National Park has been on my list of "must visit" parks for years. I've been talking to…read morevarious friends about a trip there for a while. While searching for a last-minute 4-day weekend birthday trip - the timing seemed to work out to visit Bar Harbor and Acadia. I was here from 30 April - 03 May and loved it. Not everything was open, but enough was open that I was able to explore and see most of what I wanted in Acadia (Cadillac mountain opened ON 30 April so, we were able to drive to the top, park and walk around without a permit/pass before season starts in a few weeks. We hiked Beehive, Jordan Pond, Ocean Path, Homan's Trail and a few other short park and walk items. By far, my favorite was Beehive as it's just scary/steep enough to give you a thrill, gorgeous views. I also loved Homan's trail - easy and short, but beautiful rock work. The ranger also told me that one of the women who originally donated a ton of the land for Acadia and wanted to do so anonymously was last name Homan, so this is honor of her. And what a beautiful trail it is! The visitor's center is small but as always, friendly and helpful rangers who helped me prioritize my must-sees and map out the best use of time/driving to get to everything I wanted to do in two short days. Schooner Point lookout is also an easy/quick stop off before entering one of the park entrances - and a beautiful view of the ocean. Bar Harbor is charming and fun and welcoming and at that time in late April/early May - no waits for anything as season is just beginning. Can't wait to come back!

This place is the former estate of a female ornithologist. You can walk on a wood boardwalk…read morethrough the forest and there are additional dirt trails. Use bug spray though as there are a ton of biting insects here! When you park you will notice a number of cages. These cages are housing injured raptors. You can really get to see them up close although it is a little sad that they are stuck in cages. There is a visitor center though I was there too early in the morning so I cannot comment about it.

Such a great find! Many people come to the region specifically to explore Acadia. But I highly…read morerecommend you take a little time to explore this gem just outside of Ellsworth. It is quiet and gentle and gorgeous. We walked the white trail -- the longest of 4 miles of intersecting walking trails through the picturesque and peaceful woods. Then we visited all the bird habitats with owls, hawks, ravens, vultures, and geese - all of which have been rescued and given a second chance in this lovely place. Be sure to take the time to read the placards about the birds and the venue to really appreciate what's going on here. Lovely!

Nice sandy beach ! Nice view ! Nice picnic area across the street with out houses . Not a huge…read morebeach .

This is a great spot. Parking , bathrooms and a long empty beach. Lapping waves. Very cold water…read more Lots of sea birds This is a pay to park beach, honor system.

Loved this little butterfly park. There are such beautiful signs and explanations of what a certain…read morecollection of bushes and trees support in the butterfly life cycle. The park has a Venmo and the suggested donation is $5. There is a small play area for children under 6. There is wonderful view of the water and a picnic area for those who want to enjoy an outdoor meal.

This place has a beautiful garden. We went on a very overcast day and did not see any butterflies,…read morebut we did see hummingbirds! It's definitely worth a stop if you're driving by, and it's a good place for kids.

This was something I wanted to explore as I found it online while researching…read more We came here before entering the park and I found the short walk/hike down to the rocks easy (maybe 0.2 of a mile?) and the rocks are flat enough here that you can easily walk around a little and see the view from different angles. No one else was here while I was visiting (01 May) and I was able to take photos and enjoy the ocean. Gorgeous views.

What a stunning location. Turn before you hit the park entrance pass station,and you'll come out in…read morea parking lot that was, at the time we visited, nearly empty. The views from the lot are lovely enough, but the short (.25 mile) hike down to the cliff edge is absolutely worth it. If you are severely mobility challenged, you will probably want to stick to the parking lot overlook. If you are comfortable with a paved downhill slope, the views along the water are worth it. As you get to the end of the path, there will be natural rock steps toward the water and tidal pools. Avoid taking early shortcuts -- the path down to the incredible tidal pools is easier if you follow the path to its natural conclusion. I'd recommend wearing sturdy, waterproof shoes with a good grip, and taking extreme caution with every step -- even at the best possible viewing time (maybe an hour or so before low tide) -- the rocks will be slippery and falling is very easy. You will see tidal pools all along the shoreline, and there is a stunning sea cave accessible during low tide. I would continue to the natural end of the path and double back along the shoreline and tidal pools to get to the cave. Otherwise the scramble down is quite rough. The sea cave is worth the effort if you arrive prior to low tide. However, this is an area where the dangers of rising tide are acute. Be safe. Be smart. And enjoy!!

Don't miss Agamont park if you are visiting Bar Harbor. This park has much to do and see. I'm not…read moremuch for the tourist shops so I enjoyed seeing the boats in the bay. You need to pay to park but not after 9:00 pm. There are restrooms conveniently located near the parking area. During the summer the sun rises at 4:00 am and sets around 8:00 pm. It provides for secular evening photos. The gazebo was so beautiful. I would like to do a family photo here next time.

if you are in the bar harbor area, you will cross this park multiple times, across the Geddy's. it…read moreis an urban park in bar harbor. green space offers stunning views of the ocean and nearby islands, with a full 180 degrees of natural beauty on show from the northwest right around to the southeast. It's probably the best view in Bar Harbor. it is a popular viewing point for tourists. locals say- it is a popular viewpoint to watch the Fourth of July fireworks each year. This is such a peaceful spot to look out at the ships anchored in Frenchman Bay as well as the many islands near Bar Harbor. Grab a space on the lawn to relax or have a picnic and enjoy the view.

I feel the need to preface all of my nature reviews with this: being 90% forested and having around…read more3500 miles of coastline, Maine has a tremendous amount of spaces, walkways, paths, and trails of all kinds and of all levels. There's something for everyone. What I'm reviewing is how a spot compares to similar outdoor spots in my personal opinion. Being in nature - and remembering to carry in, carry out - is always five stars! :) Parking? Yes. Loop trail? Kind of. Well marked signs? Not really. Element of surprise? No. For Cumberland County folks, Moose Point feels like a combination of Fort Williams Park and Mackworth Island. It's got grassy knolls to picnic on with views of Penobscot Bay, evergreen groves to meander through via wide and well maintained trails (some of which have benches, some of which have little staircases leading down to the pebbled water's edge), a gazebo for events, and during low tide there are tidal pools to explore (during high tide it's much more difficult to navigate because it's mostly just uneven rocks and not much of a shore). I think this is a beautiful spot in midcoast Maine, and I'm glad there are locations like it throughout the state. Personally, I don't necessarily feel the need to come back (except to get my Maine State Parks Passport Stamp!!!), just because we have something soooooooooooo similar so close. But I can see how it's a draw for so many!

A hidden in plain sight gem of Maine! Moose Point State Park is sandwiched between route1 & the…read moreocean. We visited just before the season &, as such, parked outside the gate & walked in. There are many picnic table to enjoy lunch, a group pavilion, a playground & hiking trails to enjoy the ocean views. It would be well worth the $3/person fee in-season to enjoy this park. In particular, go in to the right ocean corner of the open area past the playground & there's a level easy walking path along the ocean out to a point with 270' water views. Give enough time to take pictures. We met the park ranger & had a lovely conversation about the local birds & the park's resident fox. Allot 1-2 hours, bring a picnic lunch & bring your camera.

This place has a little bit of everything. Big kids, little kids, birthday parties? So many…read moreoptions. Plus, when it's 90 degrees out and your kids have been stuck driving in the car all day there is no better reward than a big old playground with slides, and rope climbs, and tire swings. Bring a swimsuit for the splash pad. There is a serviceable restroom right next to the water area for changing if you need it. Large green areas for running and playing games, and picnic table pavilion for parents to sit at tables and watch, or get snacks ready for kids to recharge and refuel. Seriously, this place was a lifesaver. Thanks so much, Knowlton! We will be back.

This park and entire section of northern California is sensational! It's not the easiest park to…read moreget to if you're not on the west coast, but I promise with every ounce of my being that it's worth the effort it takes to get here. You'll be left speechless at every corner, every Redwood tree sparks awe and joy and wonder, the coastal scenery is iconic.... if you like majestic landscapes even in the slightest, you would have to try really hard to find something here you *don't* like......

Despite having done some research in advance, I had not been aware of this particular opportunity…read more There are many small islands in the region, but this one is notable for having a gravel walkway that sits above the tide for only a few hours a day. An appropriately timed hike yields an array of fantastic views that beggar belief. And this is despite the fact that walking to the end of the trail on the island from downtown, Bar Harbor takes maybe half an hour. Signage warns people not to get trapped on the island when the tide rises as getting a boat is expensive. I could imagine that if the weather is rough one could get into a bit of trouble here, but as long as you're smart about it, this is a fantastic place to visit.

Bar Island is a tidal island connected to Bar Harbor by a gravel and sand bar that is exposed at…read morelow tide and submerged at high tide. So interesting to be able to cross from Bar Harbor by foot and then hike to the top of the island for a view of historic Bar Harbor. The city of Gouldsboro still maintains jurisdiction over the island based on its 1798 articles of incorporation. Many families have tried to build a bridge to the island from Bar Harbor, however John D. Rockefeller, Jr. purchased the half of the island that has the sandbar which stopped the bridge from being constructed. Today, the island is part of Acadia National Park. If you visit, mind the times for the tides. People have been stranded and apparently cars have been washed away back in the days when they parked on the sandbar. Once high tide comes in, you will need to wait approximately nine hours for low tide or pay a hefty fine for being stranded on Bar Island. A unique experience in Acadia National Park.

The cold water didn't stop me from diving right in. The water had a vibrant color. I was in awe…read moreof the landapace surround me! It was so relaxing and refreshing. The sand was so soft and fine. There a good amount of ppl sitting on the beach.

I am not a warm weather person, so the chance to go to Acadia National Park on a very cold day…read moreseemed like Heaven. It sure was. Off season is the perfect time to visit that particular beach. We had the beach all to ourselves, took an amazing walk while the wind whipped and the sand felt like frozen tundra. The whole experience felt like we were last people on the planet and it was fun to pretend, surrounded by gorgeous views of sky and water. We bought annual passes to the park, so I have a feeling that I'm definitely going back a few more times before the beach fills up with people.