Acadia National Park is one of those places that genuinely lives up to everything said about it,…read moreand it stands apart from the big western parks in a way that makes it its own distinct experience. I found the combination of rocky coastline, dense evergreen forests, and mountain summits accessible within a relatively compact area meant there was always something worth stopping for. The scenery shifted constantly as I moved through the park, and keeping a camera within reach at all times was not an exaggeration. Cadillac Mountain is the natural anchor of my visit. The drive to the summit is worth doing on its own, but I chose to hike the Gorge Trail leading up to it on foot. It was a serious undertaking that included real rock climbing sections and rewarded me with views that felt genuinely earned. I budgeted a full half day for the hike rather than driving. The summit itself has a gift shop, and the views from the top looked out in every direction with nothing obstructing them. A reservation for the Cadillac summit road costs a few dollars and needs to be booked online in advance, so I handled that before I arrived. The Beehive Trail is another strong option for hikers who want something with more exposure and elevation gain than a standard walk. I also built Sand Beach and Thunder Hole into my loop drive, and the carriage roads offered a different pace entirely, peaceful and scenic with no vehicle traffic to contend with, making them ideal for biking if I had access to wheels. Parking was a genuine challenge during peak season and on weekends in particular. Arriving early in the morning was the only reliable way to secure a spot at the popular stops without waiting an hour or more. A late fall visit would hit a sweet spot where crowds thin out considerably, the air is crisp, and the park takes on a quieter quality that peak season cannot offer. I made sure to buy my park pass at the visitor center and did my research on seasonal hours before I went, as services and shuttles wind down toward the end of October.

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!!!

While in Acadia we stopped in at the main visitor center to grab some pamphlets as well as prepare…read morefor our hiking trip. This visitor center is fairly large and had a decent selection of information including a topographical exhibit. The staff here was also polite and had some interactive displays for children.

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!

Visiting Acadia National Park was one of the highlights of my summer. The views were breathtaking!…read moreI kept telling myself to stop taking pictures yet two seconds later there wouldbe something else that I just had to get a shot of. In order to go to the summit during peak season, you have to make a reservation at least 48 hours in advance. I did not know this and once I tried, I was not able to get a reservation and thought there was no way that I was going to see the top of Cadillac Mountain. The evening before I left, I drove up to the gate for the summit and spoke with the Park Ranger, and he said that they had openings in the next hour and to go around the corner. Find some bars and register online.i was so excited when I got my confirmation code. Cadillac mountain is the highest point on the U.S. Atlantic coast. Did I mention that I am afraid of heights? I drove the road, gripping the wheel trying not to look over the edge at each hairpin turn. From October through March, it's famously one of the first places in the United States to see the sunrise. While I was there, the sun was rising at 4 AM and for some reason I was wide awake with a piano panoramic view from hotel high up in Bar Harbor. It was well worth the price per pictures that will be frozen in my mind forever.

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.

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.

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.

Very nice narrative of the area, history and some "fun facts". It was neat to see Acadia from the…read morewater after visiting from land the day before.

Rich took our family on a full day tour of Bar Harbor/Acadia. The kids are ages 7 and 9 and he…read moreadjusted the content of the tour based on the likes and dislikes of my kids that I described to him over the phone prior to arriving. We started the morning on 1+ hour hike through a spruce forest to arrive at the edge of a cove. Seals were in the water and birds in the distance. We literally didn't see a single other person on the hike which is incredible given that it was high season (August). It was a testament to Rich's knowledge of the island. We did visit Sieur de Monts Spring and did a flat loop walk on the long boardwalk trail which was also fairly deserted given its proximity to the tour buses pouring tourists out in front of the nature museum there. Lastly, we made a visit to a tidal pool where we spent a solid 2 hours in the water looking under every rock for starfish, crabs, sea anemones, sea urchins and snails galore. Rich knew each species and explained the good and the bad (green crabs -- invasive, not good; Jonah crabs - native, good) Rich did all of the driving and it made for a relaxing exposure to Bar Harbor/Acadia that we would've never been able to do as quickly on our own. Well worth the money.

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.

Stumbled upon this gem during our drive back from Bar Harbor to New York City. Located about an…read morehour west of Bar Harbor/Acadia along Route 1. Saw a beautiful bridge and signs for "Fort Knox" observatory and headed toward that direction. Admission to the Fort alone is about $6.50 for out-of-state visitors and combined with the bridge observatory (recommended) is about $9.50. After paying the fees at the gate, you can either head to explore the fort or down toward the bridge's observatory deck. There is a separate parking area for the bridge observatory. Once there, you head down along the path to the bridge's tower entrance. You then take an elevator up to the top. From there, there are two short flights of stairs to get to the top/observatory section. The views there are spectacular...more than worth the nominal price of admission. The elevator operators/greeters were both super nice and very informative. The fort itself is also great with lots of area to explore on multiple levels. The top and bottom levels offer some great view of the Penobscot River. The gift shop there is also nice...lots of souvenir and snack options. All staff we encountered were very nice and helpful.

We stayed at Tide Watch Cabins for our anniversary and had a great time. The cabin space is perfect…read morefor a couple and a dog. The view is spectacular, and we had a great time watching the tide come in and go out. They also put flowers in the room for our anniversary! The restaurant next door (same owners) brought us food on the patio outside the cabin, so we were able to have a private little dinner. The cabins are very close to the Hull's Cove Entrance of Acadia and about five minutes drive to downtown Bar Harbor, but still nice and quiet. Definitely a place to return to!

Stayed for a short visit to Bar Harbor/Acadia recently. The cabins are small but cute. We stayed…read morewith our pup and there was plenty of room for the three of us. Rooms were clean and had everything needed (microwave, mini fridge, toaster, coffeemaker with thier own coffee blend). They all have water views and a small, covered, outdoor sitting area (with 2 chairs and table for our cabin). The thing I most appreciated was the staff ... service was outstanding. Everyone was very friendly and as helpful as could be. We really enjoyed our stay! BTW, the attached restaurant is very good too!

Great place to stop before starting the day at Acadia National Park. Pick up a map or get…read moreinformation on Park Ranger Programs. Make sure to stamp your National Park Passport with the Acadia Centennial Stamp.

From the owner: Acadia National Park & MDI Chambers Information Center and Fee Station at Thompson Island contains…read morepark and Mt. Desert Island Chambers information. This Thompson Island Information Center is located on Route 3 at the head of Mount Desert Island. Displays of area information can help guide your visit to the area. Facilities include restrooms and drinking fountains. A picnic area is available nearby. Open from mid-May to mid-October