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.

Such a great find! Many people come to the region specifically to explore Acadia. But I highly…read morerecommend you take a little time to explore this gem just outside of Ellsworth. It is quiet and gentle and gorgeous. We walked the white trail -- the longest of 4 miles of intersecting walking trails through the picturesque and peaceful woods. Then we visited all the bird habitats with owls, hawks, ravens, vultures, and geese - all of which have been rescued and given a second chance in this lovely place. Be sure to take the time to read the placards about the birds and the venue to really appreciate what's going on here. Lovely!

Where do you even begin to review a national park as gorgeous as Acadia?…read more Sand Beach and Thunder Hole are a must see. Beautiful sights. Cadillac Mountain is worth it.

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!

Great Pond Mountain is a fabulous spot and there are different ways to get to the top. There's a…read morelot of granite higher up in the trail and there is a nice loop around the summit.

My usual mountain hike areas are not well known and sometimes takes time to find the entrance to…read morethe trail. This is not such a place. Driving into the area, I found a museum for the local fish hatchery, a busy swimming area, and public bathrooms. Such luxury compared to what I usually have when out for a hike. The road to the trail was a dirt road and I believe I traveled about a mile before getting to one of three parking areas. There was a large map showing all of the local trails, mountains, and scenic spots. The trail itself was well marked with wooden blue blazes, well groomed, a well maintained bridge and signs along the way to guide a hiker song the trail they want. Much of the trail was smooth granite that made easy walking and can also make for easy mountain biking as a biker when scooting by me while I relaxed. Near the top of the mountain was where the best views were had. At the very top, the view was not as spectacular but needed so I could say I did the whole mountain. All or nothing!! I will definitely be back with my husband and our bikes to check out the mountain bike trails and to check out the museum.

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.

I visited around 7 am, and the trail was not too busy, but there were some lines and short waits of…read moreless than a minute at the most exposed areas of the trail. I think the cliff exposure is similar to Angel's Landing, but this trail is much shorter and not as strenuous. It's no walk in the park either, so definitely be safe and there's no turning around in the difficult part once you start because there's only room for one-way. If you have rock climbing experience, it makes a huge difference because it felt like a long slab climb with jugs. The trail was honestly shorter than I expected, and I completed the loop returning via the bowl trail in less than 2 hours. Great views throughout with lots of resting points so you could easily spend longer. You can chill by the pond on the loop, or relax at Sand beach nearby afterwards.

The compromise that seems to have been made involves a set of private properties that go near to…read morethe shore, but then a path that is open to the public right on the shoreline. It is a narrow space but plenty wide enough to walk in two directions. The views are majestic, so thankfully people that didn't invest in waterfront property have access to them. The length of the path is modest and it adjoins other parklands, and there is no reason not to stop by when in town.

Breathe in the sea air along this easy walk along Shore Path. Guests and locals have been strolling…read morealong this peaceful path since the late 1800s. Start at Agamont Path and follow the trail along the edge of Frenchman Bay. It winds past the historic and once exclusive private Reading Room, now the restaurant of the Bar Harbor Inn, former private residences and summer homes, including The Briars (Nelson Rockefeller's birthplace), and Balance Rock. During the last Ice Age, approximately 10,000 to 30,000 years ago, a glacier creeped along the mountains in Acadia carving the landscape, creating what became lakes as the ice melted and moving huge boulders known as glacial erratics to where they sit precariously today. Balance Rock is a beautiful example of a huge rock that was picked up and moved by the glacier many miles from where it was originally. Geologists estimate that it may have come from a location near Bangor which is 40 miles away. The pink or white roses that grow along the Shore Path are Rosa rugosa which are native to China and Japan. Rugose means "corrugated" or "wrinkled" and refers to the wrinkled leaves. This is in contrast to native Maine roses that have smooth leaves. After the rose hips bloom and the blossoms fade out, the fruit of the rose can be eaten. They are a good source of Vitamin C. So nice to be able to spend a tranquil summer morning walking along this scenic walkway.

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.

Beautiful place to spend time hiking and exploring the gorgeous coast of Maine…read more Keep it as is...

Highly recommend this beautiful island. Great for hiking, exploring or spending the day at the…read morebeach. I recommend packing a picnic and making a day trip out of it. You want to be there when it is low tide. There is a cool driftwood fort on the beach. Pick up after yourself. No overnight camping or hanging out after dark. It is pristine and peaceful. They host yoga on the beach as well.

Stunning engineering, pleasant patrons, warm welcomes, and history galore. Highly recommend! Will…read morebe back!

Not to be confused with the Fort Knox that holds the gold. This was a cool side trip…read more Located on the west bank of the Penobscot River in Prospect, Maine, in an area known as the Penobscot Narrows. Fort Knox is one of the best-preserved military fortifications on the New England seacoast. The fort has many unique architectural features and a rich history behind its walls. It is America's first fort named after Major General Henry Knox. ​ During the country's infancy, Maine was repeatedly involved in northeast border disputes with British Canada. In fact, the area between Castine and the rich lumber city of Bangor was invaded and occupied by the British during the American Revolution and the War of 1812. Fort Knox was established in 1844 to protect the Penobscot River Valley against a possible future British naval incursion. It was designed by Chief Engineer Joseph Totten, with a number of other engineers serving as superintendents of construction from 1844 - 1869, among them Isaac Ingalls Stevens and Thomas L. Casey. The fort was named for Major General Henry Knox, America's first Secretary of War, who was born in Boston but retired to Thomaston, Maine, in 1796. The fort garrisoned its first troops from 1863 to 1866. These troops were mostly volunteers undergoing training before being sent to their active posts and included members of the celebrated 20th Maine. Troops were briefly stationed at the fort during the Spanish-American war in 1898 but never saw military action. If you're in the area and enjoy history, especially military history it's worth your time to tour.

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.