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.

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.

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.

It is certainly very well kept and very cute. There were plenty of flowers in bloom in early June…read more It is quite small though. Expect to spend no more than 15 minutes. We walked around in 5 because it was rainy and cold. I did observe that it would be a PERFECT place to come back for a light picnic on the benches because it overlooks a beautiful pond. Parking may be limited so come early!

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.

Located inside Acadia National Park. It has a parking lot across the street for you to park and…read morewalk over. I liked that there are steps at various levels, so you can get a range of different views of the rocks and water. Plus it's a great place to get your steps in (if thats important to ya). I really enjoyed this spot on our way out leaving the park. Beautiful scenery to enjoy nature. One could spend a few minutes here or a couple of hours here taking it all in. It was not high or low tide, so I did not get to here the "thunder" but still really cool to look at. According to the internet: "Thunder Hole is a popular inlet known for the loud thunder like boom and spray created when the waves crash into a narrow sea cave. The sound and spray are most dramatic 1 to 2 hours before high tide, but it also interesting at low tide for a closer look at the cliffs." While it was cloudy and chilly on my visit, I still had a great time with my group. Enjoy!

This may have been our favorite place to visit in Bar Harbor. Loved exploring the rocks, the sounds…read moreof the waves, and the scenic view. Hike wasn't bad, was able to park along the road and walk along the way on a paved pathway. On a beautiful sunny summer day, the sound of the waves and smell of the salty ocean was perfect.

Finding these gardens was pretty much the happiest accident ever. We happened to be driving through…read morethe area when we spotted a beautiful little bridge from the road and decided to turn the corner and pull in. There were only a few rows of parking and it was a little tight. I got a little nervous because there was no real signage and I wasn't even sure if I was allowed to be there. I left my husband with our dog in the car and walked up to check out the entrance. Unfortunately it wasn't dog friendly, which meant we couldn't stay very long, but we definitely wanted to check it out. Walking into this garden is like walking into another world. It's so incredibly well manicured and peaceful. There are short trails and the plant life is beautiful, especially considering that we visited outside of what would typically be a blooming season for vegetation. There are beautiful flowers and moss covered stones and carefully shaped trees creating this amazing space that made us want to stay forever. There's also lots of water features like a stream and a pond and little waterfalls. This is definitely a spot that you would want to sit for long periods of time and just relax and meditate. Even though we wanted to stay longer and we had to cut our visit short because we don't like to leave our dog in the car, I'm so grateful that we stumbled upon this garden. It's honestly one of the most serene, beautiful and magical places I have been in a long time. I can't even imagine how beautiful it must be when everything is in bloom. There is a $5 donation requested to visit but it is well worth it. If you ever have a chance to visit this garden, don't pass it up.

On my last day in the area before hitting the road, I decided to stop by Asticou Azalea Garden. It…read morewas a quiet Tuesday morning, and I was one of the few visitors to the garden. The helpful staff provided me with a map and suggested that I make a donation to visit the garden, which I happily did. I thoroughly enjoyed walking the paths which were delicately raked and taking in the beauty of the garden. I appreciated all of the various sitting areas where I could quietly ponder and reflect, especially the one overlooking the sand garden. If you find yourself near Acadia national park and are looking to do something a little different, I would highly recommend checking this place out.

The walk around Jordan Pond is beautiful and stress free. We stopped here with a group of 5 and 2…read moredogs. We made sure that we got to the parking lot early (8 AM) on a weekday to ensure easy parking. During a past trip, we arrived in the parking lot at 11 AM and it was utter chaos. We did not want to make that mistake again. The early start meant that the trail was very quiet with low traffic when we visited in early June.

We took an absolutely delightful, relaxing walk around Jordan Pond and is a must-do. This 3.3 mile…read morehike is relatively easy with only one small section where you have to walk/climb across some rocks (but still easily do-able). Saw plenty of kids doing this hike without any issues. It takes about an hour to do and is absolutely worth it. Beautiful views of the pond with so much surrounding greenery - it's amazing. We came when it was super foggy so couldn't see too much which was a shame, but I can only imagine how beautiful it would be in the sun. Jordan Pond House is just a very short walk away from here, and if you can make reservations to grab a bite (or a popover) to eat, you should do it. We came for a breakfast of popovers, and then did the hike. Super enjoyable experience, overall! Even if you don't eat there, they have bathrooms, a water bottle re-fill station, and a gift shop here so definitely stop by to refresh. Parking can definitely be rough here as they have smaller parking lots. So plan ahead and be prepared to have some patience looking for a spot. Overall, definitely recommend this trail as one of your hikes during your trip.

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.

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.

This was my favorite hike in Acadia! A bit challenging, but worth it…read more If you are even remotely afraid of heights, this is probably not the hike for you. My husband turned around and bailed, and several people I passed were scared and stuck at difficult spots throughout the climb. It starts with some serious rock scrabbling and then it only intensifies from there. You have to be able to climb vertical metal bars punched into the stone and navigate some pretty narrow ledges with sheer drops (think mini version of the worst parts of Angel's Landing) to get to the top. It's not long - less than a mile - to the top. But, it got a little intense. I LOVED it. Wonderful views throughout, beautiful and just challenging enough to get the blood pumping. It's not encouraged to go back down the way you came - and you can easily continue on hiking as it meets up with a loop to come back down to the parking area or you can continue on some other trails to continue your journey.

This was my FAVORITE hike from Acadia National Park, and in the top rankings as one of my favorites…read morehikes in the national parks. I love finding more unique hikes that really make the experience memorable, and this one is different than a lot of the other hikes I experience both in Acadia and in the national park system. It was much easier than I was expecting (but could definitely be a problem if you're afraid of heights). Since you are climbing some metal rungs on the way up and need to have good footholds at times, I would definitely avoid doing this if it's raining or has recently rained for safety purposes. It was foggy and cloudy the day we hiked, so the views were limited - but even those views were gorgeous, so I can only imagine how beautiful the view from the summit would be on a nice, sunny day. On your way back from the summit, I'd recommend taking the "detour" and doing The Bowl trail. It's about an extra 0.5 miles I believe, but it's a simple little hike that takes you to a pond where we found some hikers taking a quick dip. Definitely recommend the Beehive Trail as long as the weather is dry!