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.

Gorgeous views! It's worth paying the extra fee to get up on Cadillac Mountain. If you can snag the…read moremorning sunrise, DO IT, because this is the highest point on the eastern seaboard - Cadillac Mountain sees the first sunrise of the day. It's amazing.

I was a bit confused and thought that Acadia National Park and Cadillac Mountain were one in the…read moresame when reserving our time?! Ugh ... Once we were situated, we drove up the winding mountain to breathtaking views - large rocks and lakes! We saw some pretty wildflowers and birds as well. Was it worth the almost three hour drive? I don't know but we'll most likely never be here again so ... I'm glad that we experienced God's beauty in gorgeous Maine together :) We hiked a bit and even climbed some big rocks. Life is short - book the trip and buy the shoes !!!

Acadia National Park is one of those places that genuinely lives up to everything said about it,…read moreand it stands apart from the big western parks in a way that makes it its own distinct experience. I found the combination of rocky coastline, dense evergreen forests, and mountain summits accessible within a relatively compact area meant there was always something worth stopping for. The scenery shifted constantly as I moved through the park, and keeping a camera within reach at all times was not an exaggeration. Cadillac Mountain is the natural anchor of my visit. The drive to the summit is worth doing on its own, but I chose to hike the Gorge Trail leading up to it on foot. It was a serious undertaking that included real rock climbing sections and rewarded me with views that felt genuinely earned. I budgeted a full half day for the hike rather than driving. The summit itself has a gift shop, and the views from the top looked out in every direction with nothing obstructing them. A reservation for the Cadillac summit road costs a few dollars and needs to be booked online in advance, so I handled that before I arrived. The Beehive Trail is another strong option for hikers who want something with more exposure and elevation gain than a standard walk. I also built Sand Beach and Thunder Hole into my loop drive, and the carriage roads offered a different pace entirely, peaceful and scenic with no vehicle traffic to contend with, making them ideal for biking if I had access to wheels. Parking was a genuine challenge during peak season and on weekends in particular. Arriving early in the morning was the only reliable way to secure a spot at the popular stops without waiting an hour or more. A late fall visit would hit a sweet spot where crowds thin out considerably, the air is crisp, and the park takes on a quieter quality that peak season cannot offer. I made sure to buy my park pass at the visitor center and did my research on seasonal hours before I went, as services and shuttles wind down toward the end of October.

Did we go in a wrong entrance or something?!…read more I was underwhelmed for sure. We walked a few trails and took some photos but ??? Im very glad we hit Cadillac Mountain - that's where it's at!!!

I went on their group lesson/tour and had a great time. There were only two of us on the tour and…read morewe were both experience paddlers so we spent the whole time paddling on Long Pond with the instructor. Long Pond is gorgeous and our guide was prompt and very professional. Highly recommend!

We had so much fun paddle boarding on Little Long Lake with our guide, Nell. She was super patient…read morewith our 9 and 13 year old girls. She gave us a super informative lesson prior to getting in the water and then more instruction once we got in (but not so much we got bored!). We played games on the water, did a little yoga and practiced some tricks. We had a fabulous time and would recommend for anyone visiting!

Shaun is a business owner that gets it. His insight and service is top tier. A true professional to…read morethis area and industry. We rented two tandem kayaks for our family vacation from him and couldn't be any more satisfied with the equipment and service we received. Take a look at his website and you can see the dedication he has put in to mastering this area to be able to help guide people to having a great experience. Next time we visit this area we will 100% be calling Shaun for equipment!

Very pleased with the service and equipment we received from Kayak1. My wife called numerous…read moreplaces and struck out. They all had rentals but you had to use them at their "lake." Kayak1 delivered to our doorstep. Because we prepaid via PayPal, we did not have to be at our rental when the kayaks showed up. We got a text saying everything was delivered. Included the kayaks, life vests, paddles, and dry bags. The equipment was great quality and even had metal rudders which we were not expecting. The six of us had no real issues in getting around and probably the biggest problem was getting them back up to dry land and they are heavy! Overall, we had a good time using the kayaks and the customer service was top of the line. We would recommend if you're in the area. $130 per tandem kayak for two days. $20 delivery charge. $410 total.

Can take the buses around the loop road and to Jordan pond; pets are allowed! Instead of parking…read morethis helps to take different buses to certain locations

Park Loop Road is a 27-mile loop through Mount Desert Island. If you're short on time (like us),…read moreyou can still enjoy the scenery of Acadia National Park from the comfort of your car. Acadia's Park Loop Road follows 27 miles on a paved highway passing some of the best attractions in the park. Along the way, you'll see lakes, mountains, rocky coasts, and forests. Some of the notable stops are: Sand Beach Thunder Hole Otter Cliff Jordan Pond Cadillac Mountain All vehicles must display a park entrance pass so it is clearly visible through the front windshield. IMP: Starting in Bar Harbor, drive the Park Loop Road clockwise. as you drive along the shore, you will pass the trailheads for the Precipice Trail and the Beehive Trail, and then come to Sand Beach, Ocean Path, and Thunder Hole. Park Loop Road continues around Otter Point and then heads inland towards Jordan Pond. As you head north, you will pass the turn off to Cadillac Mountain and then arrive back at Bar Harbor.

This is a new business at the same location as a previous one (Seascape Kayak and Bike). Before…read moreour visit we had read a story online about the woman who owned Seascape and a couple of years ago had to close it. Luckily, a young lady who worked for the previous owner recently re-opened for business. Her name is Skye and she (and her dog Rosie) are running the place with the help of her father (who we met while Skye was out on a kayak tour). She is very energetic and knowledgeable about the area. The shop is located right outside of Acadia National Park on the Schoodic peninsula side. There is great biking on the peninsula with plenty to see along the way - much less crowded than the main part of the park and just as beautiful.

We had a beautiful e bike ride along Scoodic Peninsula. The bikes were great and easy to use. We…read morehad taken the ferry over from bar harbor and walked the 15 minutes to the shop instead of taking the free shuttle. The bikes are not delivered to the ferry but that was not a problem. The bike route is full of incredible views. We stopped frequently to take pictures. There was not much traffic. If you take the bike path across the peninsula, be aware that it is a heavy gravel path with some steep winding curves and downhills. Even as experienced cyclists, we decided to walk that part. There are 2 restaurants on the loop but unfortunately both were closed on Mondays. However we found another restaurant once we returned the bikes. It was a great day.