Acadia National Park via Rhode Island

“National parks and reserves are an integral aspect of intelligent use of natural resources. It is the course of wisdom to set aside an ample portion of our natural resources as national parks and reserves, thus ensuring that future generations may know the majesty of the earth as we know it today.” -- John F. Kennedy

Cadillac Mountain at Sunrise

So, our first two days of traveling to Acadia National Park (NP) were a bit of a washout. It rained a lot, or should I say, it poured most of the time. As we entered Rhode Island for our first overnight, there was nothing to see but raindrops on our windshield. We did stop in Rhode Island just so I could say I’ve slept in all 50 states - except for that- the stay was pretty uneventful. Our next day, we stopped at Freeport to visit the LL Bean campus and then headed to Camden, a charming seaside town. We had planned a hike to Mt. Battie, but the rain was pouring and the views were a total bummer. But, we still enjoyed the town for a nice meal and a short walk.

Guess what? The day we arrived in Bar Harbor, Maine, and Acadia National Park, the sun was shining brightly, and the weather was absolutely perfect! We started our adventure by visiting the Acadia Gateway Center and the Hulls Cove Visitor Center. At Hulls Cove, we grabbed the Island Explore bus, which offers free transportation around the National Park and into the charming town of Bar Harbor. Our first stop was Sieur de Monts, where we saw the Wild Gardens of Acadia and took a short and easy 1.8-mile hike. Next, we headed to Sand Beach to explore the stunning 2+ mile Ocean Path that leads down to Otter Point. We made a quick stop at Thunder Hole to witness the powerful waves crashing against the rocks, or so they say (we were there at low tide). After our hike, we hopped back on the Island Explorer to pick up our van at the visitor center. Then, we drove to our campground, Blackwoods, which is part of the national park. We ditched our hiking clothes and hopped back on the Island Explorer, heading straight to Bar Harbor. There, we indulged in some mouthwatering lobster at the Lobster Co. and chilled with a few scoops of ice cream at CJs. Trust me, you gotta try their blueberry soft serve! The day was an absolute blast, filled with breathtaking views, yummy food, and the best company ever.

Our second day at the park was unbelievable! We woke up super early -- before 4 am -- to fuel up with a quick breakfast and a lots of caffeine. Then, we hopped on the Cadillac Mountain Shuttle and headed straight to Cadillac Mountain for sunrise. It was absolutely breathtaking! After that, we biked 14 miles around the Tri-Lake Loop Carriage Roads. We started at the Jordon Pond House, then rode past Jordon Pond, Eagle Lake, and Bubble Pond. We also biked around Day Mountain before calling it a day. Back at the campground, we took a nap before heading back to Bar Harbor. Before dinner, we walked out to Bar Island on the gravel land bridge that’s only open during low tide. And then, we had an awesome dinner at Macky's Pubhouse. Highly recommended!!

Our third and final day at Acadia NP was filled with some unexpected, yet fascinating sights. We started with a 3-mile round-trip hike up Gorham Mountain for some exercise and breathtaking views. Then, we headed to the Northeast Harbor along the coast to catch an afternoon tour to Isleford Historic Museum. Unfortunately, due to maintenance issues, our tour was canceled. So, we ended up driving along with the GuideAlong Tour to the least visited part of the national park from Northeast Harbor around Sommes Sound to Southwest Harbor and the charming towns of Seawall, Bass Harbor, and Bernard. Along the way, we hiked the short 1.5-mile Ship Harbor Trail, visited the Seal Cove Auto Museum - it was super fascinating, and we even spotted the most photographed bridge on Mt. Desert Island, the Sommesville Bridge. That evening, we had an incredible ranger-led Acadia’s Night Sky program at Sand Beach. We not only saw the Big Dipper (photo), but we also witnessed a brilliant meteorite streaking across the sky and even spotted the International Space Station flying by!

Here are my top 5 recommendations for Acadia National Park:

1. Take the Island Explorer whenever you can - it’s free and helps the environment.

2. If you’re camping, stay at Blackwoods Campground. It’s not fancy, but it’s worth it, and the Island Explorer stops every hour to pick up and drop off passengers.

3. See the first sunrise of the US at Cadillac Mountain - it’s the highest point on the eastern seaboard of the US.

4. Bike the Carriage Roads - they’re amazing, thanks to John D. Rockefeller.

5. Hike the trails - there are many easy to moderate trails, but some are more challenging. Pick your favorite and go!

Here are some interesting facts we discovered about Acadia:

- All the land was donated.

- Acadia has its own unique carriage roads.

- Blueberries can be picked and eaten in August.

- George Dorr is the father of Acadia National Park.