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.

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.

This was a medium effort hike to an absolutely amazing view! At the end of the trail there are two…read moreadirondack chairs just waiting for you, although we sat in the sun on the rocks soaking in the gorgeous scenery. This is very much worth your time if you are in Bar Harbor and are planning to go to Acadia. It's nestled among a residential area so pay particular attention to remaining on the path. Far off in the distance you can spot some seals; bring binoculars! You can walk out (or in) via a paved road or through the woods. We walked through the woods going in...there are a lot of roots to step over so a good pair of hiking boots will really be worth it for this short hike. Also a bit muddy after a couple of days of rain so also bring some insect repellent.

super close to acadia, showers work great and are hot :) would definitely recommend staying thereread more

Drove in to take a look but fee was $6 per person from those out of town. We were looking for a…read morehiking trail which we were told they had one about an hour hike. It looks to be a campground and boating facility. We took a look around but decided not to stay.

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!!

Have you ever visited a tidal island?…read more So interesting to cross the Bar Island Path to walk from Bar Harbor to Bar Island. Check the tide schedule for the daily times for high tide and low tide. For about 90 minutes before and after low tide, the submerged sand and gravel bar is exposed creating a path to safely pass. If you don't come back in time, you will be stranded for the next 9 hours on Bar Island.

We knew about the strong tides, but had no idea it was so cool! This is a must in Bar Harbour…read more While you pay for parking everywhere in the Northeast, if you have EV, the museum charger is free and a nice walk to the sand bar and shopping/dining. You would think with an exposed ocean floor there would be more to see, but it was pretty much the same across. Oyster, mussel, clam, mollusk shells and snails. Bring water shoes as it sharp if you plan on going into the tide pool areas, or tennis shoes are fine. We went out about an hour before low tide. Just beautiful!!

We finally made it to Arcadia National Park. How beautiful a drive through the park loop road. Many…read moreclosures & detours to maneuver around. Good news is there are limited visitors now only being May 6th. Come this Memorial Day weekend entrance fee is free this year. Anne one of the parks employees telling me the place will be a full house. I now have a lifetime pass for national parks up to 3 people per car. Have a great summer everyone

This is a small visitor center compared to some, but was nice…read more Lots of stairs if you park in the lower lot (my husband was counting them off). I spoke to a friendly park ranger who easily took my thoughts and helped me map out my day the most efficiently. Much appreciated. Love speaking to them to get my bearings. Saves so much time! Not a ton of stuff inside for purchase, but enough for you to get a shirt, a pin, a stamp, or something else to commemorate the visit. They sell park passes outside at a kiosk from the lot.

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.

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.