Very quaint garden with a gorgeous view and variety of flowers and plants. The volunteers we met…read morewere informative and kind. Make sure to bring your lunch here for a nice little picnic at the tables. A great stop in the Acadia area!

Loved this little butterfly park. There are such beautiful signs and explanations of what a certain…read morecollection of bushes and trees support in the butterfly life cycle. The park has a Venmo and the suggested donation is $5. There is a small play area for children under 6. There is wonderful view of the water and a picnic area for those who want to enjoy an outdoor meal.

I'm no stranger to parks and beautiful natural places, but Acadia is like a dreamscape. There's…read morestunning ocean views from crumbling gorgeous cliff sides. There are lakes, streams, ponds, scenic lighthouses, boats, bikes, trails, gardens, crazy hikes with vertical iron rungs, rolling forest hikes, lighthouses, and more! The main issue you'll run into is crowds.. lots of people want to come here, especially in July and August. Best thing to do, go in as early as possible, do some things, take a break, go back again after 3. If you're early, you can get a parking spot then work from there. If you are flexible on time, take advantage of the shuttles, but be warned, they may be full, and they don't run every 10-15 minutes, so plan accordingly. I would be in the park by 7, have plans maybe on a tour in Bar Harbor late morning or early afternoon, then head back after 4, and I got to all the must-do's, ie hiked the Beehive, the Bubbles, Cadillac Mountain sunrise and sunset (reserve this early as spots sell out, I booked mine 3 months in advance the minute they released and they were sold out shortly later, especially sunrise tickets), Jordan Pond and popovers, Bass Harbor Lighthouse, as well as some boat tours in the area, including very successful whale and puffin watching. For more hints and tips, I watched some YouTube videos, there's great info out there, especially the videos from Ash, a former park ranger, who has loads of helpful tips to get around and not spend your trip sitting in traffic or waiting in a parking spot.

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!!!

Don't miss Agamont park if you are visiting Bar Harbor. This park has much to do and see. I'm not…read moremuch for the tourist shops so I enjoyed seeing the boats in the bay. You need to pay to park but not after 9:00 pm. There are restrooms conveniently located near the parking area. During the summer the sun rises at 4:00 am and sets around 8:00 pm. It provides for secular evening photos. The gazebo was so beautiful. I would like to do a family photo here next time.

if you are in the bar harbor area, you will cross this park multiple times, across the Geddy's. it…read moreis an urban park in bar harbor. green space offers stunning views of the ocean and nearby islands, with a full 180 degrees of natural beauty on show from the northwest right around to the southeast. It's probably the best view in Bar Harbor. it is a popular viewing point for tourists. locals say- it is a popular viewpoint to watch the Fourth of July fireworks each year. This is such a peaceful spot to look out at the ships anchored in Frenchman Bay as well as the many islands near Bar Harbor. Grab a space on the lawn to relax or have a picnic and enjoy the view.

This is a nice little state park that we have driven but never stopped. Im so glad we stopped this…read moreday. Its on the water with a rocky beach. Lots of parking. The trail we walked went right along the ocean and had lots of picnic tables and benches to stop. Such a beautiful spot.

I feel the need to preface all of my nature reviews with this: being 90% forested and having around…read more3500 miles of coastline, Maine has a tremendous amount of spaces, walkways, paths, and trails of all kinds and of all levels. There's something for everyone. What I'm reviewing is how a spot compares to similar outdoor spots in my personal opinion. Being in nature - and remembering to carry in, carry out - is always five stars! :) Parking? Yes. Loop trail? Kind of. Well marked signs? Not really. Element of surprise? No. For Cumberland County folks, Moose Point feels like a combination of Fort Williams Park and Mackworth Island. It's got grassy knolls to picnic on with views of Penobscot Bay, evergreen groves to meander through via wide and well maintained trails (some of which have benches, some of which have little staircases leading down to the pebbled water's edge), a gazebo for events, and during low tide there are tidal pools to explore (during high tide it's much more difficult to navigate because it's mostly just uneven rocks and not much of a shore). I think this is a beautiful spot in midcoast Maine, and I'm glad there are locations like it throughout the state. Personally, I don't necessarily feel the need to come back (except to get my Maine State Parks Passport Stamp!!!), just because we have something soooooooooooo similar so close. But I can see how it's a draw for so many!

Breakwater and Marie Reed Park was the absolute perfect place to spend an end of summer Saturday…read moremorning. Just want to say from my experience I highly recommend grabbing some donuts from local Ruckus Donuts and a coffee from a local cafe and enjoying those down here at Marie Reed Park. After that enjoy the sights and make the trek to Breakwater! Parking is simple enough but due to how busy it may get do arrive earlier rather than later. It's a longer trip out to this lighthouse than most you'll come across but that trip is so worth it. Some advice would be to wear appropriate shoes and just be mindful of your steps to avoid cracks and/or tripping. During our walk out and back we spent a good amount of time taking in the views as well as watching for wildlife. Got to watch plenty of seagulls as well as cormorants which the first cormorant we spotted dove down and came back to surface with a fish. It's a little bit of a journey but well worth the effort if you love beautiful views and being by the ocean!

I'm so glad we did this, but it was challenging with our two-year old…read more There are signs warning you that this is not suitable for those with disabilities and that there are uneven rocks and large gaps while walking so you need to be careful. My toddler had a good time playing and exploring but, we ended up carrying her for most of it and it gets pretty windy which she didn't like. It's a unique walk/trail to the light at the end of the breakwater and walking about .7 miles or so on those large slabs of uneven granite was a very cool experience with the water lapping at each side and occasionally splashing. I'm glad we did it - but, be prepared for a bit of a workout.

Picture this: you're strolling along a pebbly beach tucked away along the most quintessential Maine…read morerocky coast scene in the world during almost-dusk without a care in the world. It's like something out of Downeast Magazine, but really it's the vibe at Birch Point State Park during the off-season (which is open all year round, and as a Mainer you should really, really check out... I mean, is there anything quite as romantic as the ocean during winter?). I came in autumn and parked along the street outside of the entrance, walked the half mile down the access road, and was greeted by a crescent shaped beach bookended by giant rocks/ledges and small green spaces with picnic tables. I know there's a fee during the height of the season, but there's something really special about being able to enjoy this kind of unadulterated nature sans people in the chilly weather - so bring a sweater, a flask, a book... I'm confused though - there was a handwritten note defacing a park sign at the entrance that said, "Screw you State of Maine for closing this park." I don't know what's going on with that, but I hope it's not the truth because this is gem of spot. It seemed closed only for the season when I came, though that didn't stop locals from walking their dogs here.

Such a relaxing place that you don't even read your book much- just watch the water…read more A Sunday in mid-July was not crowded when we arrived at 1030 but by the time we left at 1, parking was rare and most people were parked on the long gravel drive into the park. The beach is a typical Maine one with dark, packed Sand and lots of seaweed. There's a lot of bugs in the seaweed that will go everywhere if you try to move it. Rocks are on either side of the beach and can make a less comfortable but quieter site. I was disappointed to see a giant pile of poo when we walked in. I think it was from a dog. Please, please clean up after your dog or leave them at home. This is a state park for all of us to enjoy. The water is frigid cold but we saw quite a few swimmers today. There are some grill to the left as you walk in that are shaded. Dogs must be on a leash.

This spot was in the absolute middle of nowhere. If you are like us and staying in Bar Harbor, it…read morewas a long drive on one-lane roads with huge potholes to get here. We were in town during the off-season early May before everything tends to open back up about mid-month. So, nothing to eat and nothing to do. Town was deserted. The lighthouse is pretty - but it's not a hike to it, more of a short walk and rock scrabbling to get the instaworthy shot everyone wants. Small parking lot which I can see as a major problem during summer... we had no issues on May 2nd. There are a couple nearby hikes that can be found 2 minutes drive - with super small parking areas.

Great views particularly at sunset...but the small parking lot, which accommodates about 20…read morevehicles, can get full. During our visit, about 40 minutes before sunset mid-week in late August, we, along with about 4 other cars, patiently waited along Lighthouse Road while cars left in order to take their spots. It must have been good timing as about 5 cars left within about 10 minutes. The path from the west of the parking lot, takes you down directly to the lighthouse. The path to the east of the parking lot is very popular as you can take some stairs down to the rocky area which gives you some great views of the lighthouse set to the backdrop of the rising or setting sun. Note that the west path is fairly easy to navigate, but the east path has stairs. You then have to climb onto (some uneven) rocks in order to get a clear view of the lighthouse. This may be difficult for mobility-impaired individuals or those with strollers. Note that during our visit here we did NOT have to show any park pass to enter and park in this area.

Wonderfully clean and quiet state park, with honor system parking. There is a sandy and pebbled…read more beach on one side facing Englisman Bay and Simpson pond on the other. Flat walking trails and picnic areas. It was not at all crowded when we visited just after Labor Day 2026. A lovely way to spend a few hours or the entire day alone or with friends and family.

Nice sandy beach ! Nice view ! Nice picnic area across the street with out houses . Not a huge…read morebeach .

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.

Such a sweet play space while visiting Bar Harbor! When my kids got restless I just walked them…read morehere and it was lovely and clean!

Playground has something for everyone. Equipment is all new and well taken care of. Nice wood chips…read moreno dogs allowed so no pee or poop to worry about. Kids could complete a whole obstacle/ninja course. Kids are 7 and 5.