What a hidden treasure! This sanctuary has miles of trails to hike and explore and is a sanctuary…read morefor injured birds. The on-site museum of taxidermy, birds' eggs collected and detailed from hundreds of years ago and field notes from the 1800s is amazing!

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.

I'm no stranger to parks and beautiful natural places, but Acadia is like a dreamscape. There's…read morestunning ocean views from crumbling gorgeous cliff sides. There are lakes, streams, ponds, scenic lighthouses, boats, bikes, trails, gardens, crazy hikes with vertical iron rungs, rolling forest hikes, lighthouses, and more! The main issue you'll run into is crowds.. lots of people want to come here, especially in July and August. Best thing to do, go in as early as possible, do some things, take a break, go back again after 3. If you're early, you can get a parking spot then work from there. If you are flexible on time, take advantage of the shuttles, but be warned, they may be full, and they don't run every 10-15 minutes, so plan accordingly. I would be in the park by 7, have plans maybe on a tour in Bar Harbor late morning or early afternoon, then head back after 4, and I got to all the must-do's, ie hiked the Beehive, the Bubbles, Cadillac Mountain sunrise and sunset (reserve this early as spots sell out, I booked mine 3 months in advance the minute they released and they were sold out shortly later, especially sunrise tickets), Jordan Pond and popovers, Bass Harbor Lighthouse, as well as some boat tours in the area, including very successful whale and puffin watching. For more hints and tips, I watched some YouTube videos, there's great info out there, especially the videos from Ash, a former park ranger, who has loads of helpful tips to get around and not spend your trip sitting in traffic or waiting in a parking spot.

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 came to Cascade Park as part of a trip to Bangor. Online, it looked excellent and could have made…read morefor an interesting park. Upon arrival, I was disappointed to see the fountain was out of order. There are trails here but they were very short. The park did have some picnic areas as well. Overall, I was underwhelmed when I came here in Early July 2026.

Super nice place for a break. There are places for a blanket picnic. There are plenty of parking…read morespots. There's a nice water fountain there but no longer in service. They have a short trail around the park. A hidden gem in the area.

Fort Knox in Penobscot, Maine is adjacent to the Penobscot Narrows Bridge. It is situated on the…read moreWestern side of the Penobscot River, with the views of the town of Bucksport directly across. Its a granted fort built between 1884 and 1869, and alrhough it never saw any battles, it was used for training and it is well preserved. It's 125 acres so covers a lot of ground, and involves some walking, including stairs. While the history and the fort are amazing, this is also a place to see eagles and other birds and wildlife that flourish here. And lots of boat watching as well. We did see eagles! There is also a gift shop and restrooms available and staff are eager to share information and answer any questions. We spent almost 2 hours here exploring. Entrance to the fort and observatory for 2026 for 2 non resident adults was $22 ($11 each). You could also.just choose to pay for fort entrance which is less. Plenty of parking and the entire area is clean and well maintained.

Loved our time at the fort! We skipped the observatory this time (it was raining and we had tired…read morekids) BUT the fort was so fun to walk around and the gift shop had so many fun toys and nicnacs! There are bathrooms just behind the gift shop. Loads of parking!

Looking back at the week-long vacation with my in-laws in Maine, Thunder Hole was one of the best…read moreparts. Well to clarify, the trail leading to Thunder Hole. We started our vacation off strong by making it through the long line into Acadia National Park (took almost an hour) and finding parking somewhere along a trail. We walked past the paved path and down to the giant boulders overlooking the ocean. There were lots of neat pockets of water and natural areas for photo ops. My sister and I climbed to the top of every boulder we could find, and that turned out to be the best workout of the week. So fun... I've missed climbing. When we arrived to the actual Thunder Hole, it was underwhelming because we didn't make it in time for high tide. I told myself I would just watch videos online to experience it. I suppose it's unfair to give Thunder Hole itself 5 stars, but even if you start there and rock climb away from it, you'll have a fantastic time.

We didn't get to hear any special "thunder" but the view was wonderful. It was a quick stop for us…read morebecause it was busy and we had more planned. Pretty but didn't hit the spot for us.

Awesome beach with loads of room to sit and enjoy. Small bathrooms available with running water…read more Changing rooms also available. Ample parking and a bus stop. I wish I planned more time to stay and enjoy this spot! It's a must do and take slow to take it in.

When visiting Acadia National Park in Park Loop Road., one place you must stop is Sand Beach. It's…read morebeautiful, peaceful, with cliffs, mountains, what more can you ask for. This is the largest, sandy beach on Acadia. I did not see a lifeguard when I came so be aware when swimming. Sometimes they are not present. You do have to go down stairs to get here. There is parking or you can come in the Island Shuttle that stops here. Then at night, on Sundays and Wednesdays, weather permitting, the Park Rangers put on an excellent Stargazing program to do. I came and really enjoyed it. But dress warm, bring chairs or a blanket to sit on. Whether you are visiting day or night, this beach does not disappoint !

Fairly easy trail along the ocean. Parking can be a challenge or take the Island Explorer bus to…read morethe start of your walk. Ocean Path runs from Sand Beach to Otter Cliffs. Stop along the way to enjoy the stunning views. The 4.4 mile round trip route passes by Thunder Hole and Monument Cove. The views of Frenchman Bay are breathtaking on a sunny summer day. Fun to go off the trail and climb over the granite rocks and boulders. Perfect for taking a family photo. So cute to see so many dogs walking along the trail as well. Great introduction to the trails at Acadia National Park. Take only pictures, leave only footsteps.

Pretty but it is also right next to the road which didn't work for us with young excited kids. We…read moreended up opting to drive to the different points of interest in terms for safety. Otherwise beautiful stroll.

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.

Fort Point lighthouse at the mouth of the Penobscot river is a private residence so there is no…read moreentry to the lighthouse, but you can wander the spacious grounds and view the light and bell tower. The lighthouse was Maine's first river light, and the tower and keepers house reolaced the original granite structures in 1857. It you are a lighthouse lover, this is a must see. Small parking area very close to light. There are also remnants of a 1759 old fort (Fort Pownall) close to the lighthouse , alonng with the resting place of Sam Waldo marked with a large rock. Fort Point State Park has walking and biking trails, picnic areas, and wonderful views. Open 8am til sunset, memorial Day to Labor Day.

Dislocated Point…read more Established in 1836 and then rebuilt in 1857, this lighthouse was erected to aid vessels heading into the Port of Bangor and was the first river light in Maine. The Good: *Located inside 120-acre Fort Point State Park with lots of trails and a beach. *Listed in the National Register of Historic Places The Meh: *Not the most impressive lighthouse (only 2.5 stories tall [31ft]) I've seen, but it scratched an itch. *$4/per entrance fee person The Ugly: *Currently a private residence, so obviously no tours or even walking up to the lighthouse. Conclusion: Nice lighthouse in a swell park, but there's probably no need to go out of one's way to reconnoiter it.

So finely and beautifully thought out and designed. The team is doing such amazing work here! The…read moreraking of the sand and just how clean it all was, was truly remarkable! I had a chance to speak with some of the gardeners there and try take such pride in their park and they deserve to! It's worth a quick pop in and a donation or two to support the ongoing work and the ability to leave it free to enter! There is a bathroom on site.

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.