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 !!!

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.

Point Venture…read more 120-acre park that was opened in '74, and surrounds the site is historic Fort Pownall (British fortification built during the French-Indian War). The Good: *Hiking trails, including a seven-mile loop that goes around Cape Jellison. *Over one-mile of shorefront that can be used for fishing or boating. *Fort Point Lighthouse *Several dirt lots to park at *Informational signs talking about the history of the place *Scenic picnic tables overlooking the ocean The Meh: *Park entrance fees that aren't expensive but still... It is worth noting they're on the honor system to pay, so you do you, boo. The Ugly: *Kinda lame that the lighthouse is now a private residence, and you can't go in or near it. Conclusion: Nice park with great views and some interesting history thrown in to boot.

An easy hiking trail that leads you from Sand Beach to Otter Point, about 4.4 miles round trip…read more They have nice bathrooms at Sand Beach as well. Acadia was not busy when we came, so we had an easy time finding parking at Sand Beach to start the trail. While you'll have beautiful views of the water, the majority of this hike is along the side of the road - so beautiful views one way, cars the other. You'll have plenty of areas to step to the side to take pictures. Thunder Hole is included on this trail, and it's a quick stop off on your way. Once you get to the branch off for Otter Point, you'll get more of a hike with some minor incline changes and rocky paths. View from Otter Point is beautiful. All that being said, unless you have plenty of time, I'd recommend parking near Otter Cliff and just doing the tail end of the hike. Ocean Path is beautiful, but you're literally just walking along the road a majority of the time with pretty much the same views you would get from the car, and Thunder Hole has its own parking lot. Save some time, just do the short walk to Otter Cliff.

Wow the views are spectacular!! So many small paths to go down. Lots of less crowded spots to hand…read moreout on rocks. Great for foraging too!

Perfect for a brief stop along Park Loop Road. The cove is a nice stop to walk to the water's edge…read moreand relax. Views are nice from either side of the bridge. Limited parking available along the right side of the road.

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!!

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 !

Beautiful beach in Acadia National Park. We took the LLBEAN shuttle and it took us right to it, it…read morewas the loop road route. This was convenient as parking looked tough. We weren't prepared to go swimming but we still walked the beach and took some pictures. A lot of people were there to swim and it was pretty crowded. The air was chilly so I was surprised how many people were swimming but maybe the water was warm. I didn't notice lifeguards but there was a park ranger circulating. Plus bathrooms and changing rooms up top. At night they had a stargazing program here which we came back for which was ranger led and honestly one of my favorite memories of the trip.

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.

Walking around Cottage street and looking to rest in some shade? Here's the perfect place! There's…read morelots of benches in the shade, and a grassy area too. Dog friendly too.