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!

I'd have to say that Acadia is one of my most favorite national parks…read more So much beautiful nature to see all around when hiking about. The park boasts over 120 miles of hiking trails. There are spots for swimming and kayaking and other water activities. Biking the trails is another great way to see wildlife on their natural habitat, foliage, and more. Granite peaks (like Cadillac Mountain) with spectacular views. A wonderful way to become with nature whilst checking the cost off your must-see list.

The compromise that seems to have been made involves a set of private properties that go near to…read morethe shore, but then a path that is open to the public right on the shoreline. It is a narrow space but plenty wide enough to walk in two directions. The views are majestic, so thankfully people that didn't invest in waterfront property have access to them. The length of the path is modest and it adjoins other parklands, and there is no reason not to stop by when in town.

Breathe in the sea air along this easy walk along Shore Path. Guests and locals have been strolling…read morealong this peaceful path since the late 1800s. Start at Agamont Path and follow the trail along the edge of Frenchman Bay. It winds past the historic and once exclusive private Reading Room, now the restaurant of the Bar Harbor Inn, former private residences and summer homes, including The Briars (Nelson Rockefeller's birthplace), and Balance Rock. During the last Ice Age, approximately 10,000 to 30,000 years ago, a glacier creeped along the mountains in Acadia carving the landscape, creating what became lakes as the ice melted and moving huge boulders known as glacial erratics to where they sit precariously today. Balance Rock is a beautiful example of a huge rock that was picked up and moved by the glacier many miles from where it was originally. Geologists estimate that it may have come from a location near Bangor which is 40 miles away. The pink or white roses that grow along the Shore Path are Rosa rugosa which are native to China and Japan. Rugose means "corrugated" or "wrinkled" and refers to the wrinkled leaves. This is in contrast to native Maine roses that have smooth leaves. After the rose hips bloom and the blossoms fade out, the fruit of the rose can be eaten. They are a good source of Vitamin C. So nice to be able to spend a tranquil summer morning walking along this scenic walkway.

Cadillac Mountain is a must-see when traveling to Bar Harbor, Maine…read more It gives a great overview of the harbor and a real rugged experience. But be prepared. Make reservations in advance online; you can't make them in person. You must buy park tickets, which are $35 (kind of ridiculous for a state park), and $6 bucks to tour the top of the mountain. They had a small gift shop and only one working restroom with two portalets close by. Some people drive it, some hike it to see the sunrise and some bike it. I would only recommend driving it given how narrow the road is and it's off the side of a cliff. It was a nice overall experience.

We opted for the one and a half hour shore excursion that takes you to the top of the highest peak…read moreon the North Atlantic Seaboard. You enter Arcadia National Park. Today it was foggy yet as we ascended up we climbed above the clouds: surreal and beautiful. There is a gift shop and a restroom.

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.

Less than an acre, this is a nice short stop along the Park Loop Road. During our visit in late…read moreJune, there were a few flowers blooming. The plants are labeled for easy identification. Parking is readily available.

A beautiful garden with labeling of the plants. There is an on-site nature center. There was also a…read morebeautiful easy trail that loops back to the garden. The Holman / Dorr paths were easily accessible from the garden trail. These two trails were more difficult since vertical hiking and climbing were required. Due to miscalculation of time and prior commitment, our party of six didn't summit and cross the pass of Dorr Path. We had to turn back. My family will return and take care of this unfinished pleasure. Parking was plentiful.

Cadillac Mountain is an iconic summit in Acadia National Park…read more It makes for a wonderful hiking destination because of the panoramic views. From this summit you can see Porcupine Islands, Bar Harbor, and Frenchman Bay. Here are some interesting facts: Named after the French explorer, Antoine de la Mothe, Sieur de Cadillac. When going to the Bar Harbor area it's always more than worth it to make the short trip to the park for this magnificent pink granite. It's covered with wild blueberries, spruce, and more. I find the hike to be easy to moderate in difficulty. The hike takes longer than driving but it's the best way to see it. Connecting with nature all around. This summit is the highest point on the eastern seaboard. The Cadillac Summit Center is just as you reach the summit and it has visitor information and bathrooms (pretty clean too).

Cadillac mountain is the highest peak on the eastern seaboard and definitely a notable stop. We…read moremade sure to make a reservation to visit while we were in Acadia National Park. I understand the need for time management and having been to a lot of national parks at this point I know they can be very crowded. Still the reservation system and the extra cost to do this definitely takes away from the experience itself. Timing and conditions also really matter here. When we visited it was very overcast and the winds at the summit were whipping around like crazy. Once we climbed up to the top, the views were very nice in all directions (except the parking lot) but the cold constant gusts made it uncomfortable to linger and the skin on my face was stinging. The dark and sky is definitely dimmed expansive views and we walked around a bit but didn't stay long. The summit is rocky and exposed and there are paths that kind of encourage you to climb around and explore different vantage points which is nice in theory but in practice it's just kind of more of the same. I think that lighter winds and sunny skies might have made the experience better and I definitely don't regret going. I can appreciate the significance of the location, especially from a geographic and historical standpoint. I'm sure if you're able to get your reservation and you have great weather this is probably a five-star stop even if it only lasts a short time.

Very nice narrative of the area, history and some "fun facts". It was neat to see Acadia from the…read morewater after visiting from land the day before.

Rich took our family on a full day tour of Bar Harbor/Acadia. The kids are ages 7 and 9 and he…read moreadjusted the content of the tour based on the likes and dislikes of my kids that I described to him over the phone prior to arriving. We started the morning on 1+ hour hike through a spruce forest to arrive at the edge of a cove. Seals were in the water and birds in the distance. We literally didn't see a single other person on the hike which is incredible given that it was high season (August). It was a testament to Rich's knowledge of the island. We did visit Sieur de Monts Spring and did a flat loop walk on the long boardwalk trail which was also fairly deserted given its proximity to the tour buses pouring tourists out in front of the nature museum there. Lastly, we made a visit to a tidal pool where we spent a solid 2 hours in the water looking under every rock for starfish, crabs, sea anemones, sea urchins and snails galore. Rich knew each species and explained the good and the bad (green crabs -- invasive, not good; Jonah crabs - native, good) Rich did all of the driving and it made for a relaxing exposure to Bar Harbor/Acadia that we would've never been able to do as quickly on our own. Well worth the money.

Wonderful storytelling and sights, especially for the price I (frankly) expected much less. Our…read moretour narrator and captain were friendly, but not in a weird way. You can tell the care taken to educate and entertain safely -- and there are no bad seats! Our boat was nearly full and everyone on board had a great time and chance to see, hear, and experience everything.

When you can learn and have fun at the same time all while enjoying some fresh sea air on the…read morewater, that's a great day! The captain and crew were so knowledgeable and friendly. Two hours was perfect...and "just enough" of each activity. We came for the lobstering experience but found the seal watching a highlight as well. I was also surprised how affordable the fare was. Bring a little cash for a tip as I guarantee you will want to thank your hosts for an great time!

One of the best guided tours I have been on. Casey is an amazing guide and Jesse was great with the…read morelogistics getting us back and forth from the start and finish. The water was relatively calm which made for a nice day of sea kayaking. Casey was great with providing safety instructions before and during the trip. He was a wealth of information about the wildlife, geology of the area, and the history. It was like we had the ocean to ourselves. We saw a couple of bald eagles and tons of seals primarily harbor seals but several gray seals as well. Can't recommend this company enough. Kayak on the quiet side of the island. You won't regret it. My family of four would do this trip again.

Took a guided tour of Acadia with Jackson, and Maine State was perfect. Reservations were easy to…read moresecure, had every thing ready to go, and guide Jackson was fantastic. Highly recommended taking the guided tour.

Great place to come and exercise your dog. Short walk from parking lot. Leash needed for the trail.read more

This pond is very clean, warm, and not real busy. It is part of the Acadia National Park system, so…read moreyou'll definitely need to have a pass to enter. There is a small cliff to jump from on the south east side of the pond. It requires a small hike. The path is well defined and starts from the left of the shore. You can't miss it. A very nice spot to relax. Beautiful!