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I have loved National Parks since I was little and got to hear my grandparents’ and mom’s stories about their summer adventures when they would pack up their station wagon and drive across the country to a new state. Usually to a National Park, because they were cheap and beautiful, and my grandpa could take pictures of anyone and anything. So I finally got a chance to cross one of my bucket list with Acadia National Park. (AND my mom has never been, which is truly an accomplishment.)

Acadia National Park is a group of beautifully preserved islands in the coastal area of Mount Desert Island. The beauty of the Park lies in the gorgeous contrast of the ocean to the cliffs and trees. With over 158 miles of hiking trails, beaches, and even a restaurant, there is something for everyone at Acadia. Bar Harbor is the most popular town on Mount Desert Island, and is the perfect place to explore when you’re not in the park.

Now, let’s start your adventure!

Day One

Start at the Acadia National Park Visitor’s Center

Before you head into the park, you must have an entrance pass. They cost $30 for a single vehicle for a week. They can be purchased online or in person at the Hull’s Cove Visitor’s Center. (Definitely recommend buying ahead of time!) Rangers are stationed at the Visitor’s Center to give assistance to anyone who is finding their way around the park. I definitely recommend stopping by to get a map, and to go over your plans with a ranger if you’re a new hiker.

Drive Park Loop Road

Park Loop Road is the 27 mile paved road that goes through the entire park with gorgeous overlooks throughout. Stop as many times as you want during your drive because, believe me, you are going to want to take in the views. The beauty of Acadia is absolutely overwhelming. This drive is amazing for the views, but is also a great opportunity to orient yourself within the park so that you’re more prepared.

Hike Ocean Path

Ocean Path is the perfect place to start your vacation to Acadia National Park. It’s an easy hike that has no steep inclines, and there are many short paths that lead closer to the water with absolutely gorgeous views of the Atlantic. This is definitely a beginner hike, and would be great for the whole family. Get here early if you want to park at the beginning the path, but if not, there is plenty of parking along the side of the road. Ocean Path starts at a small parking lot near Sand Beach and goes all the way to Otter Cliffs. The whole path runs along the side of the Sand Beach road, so you can really start anywhere.

Eat a lobster roll

A trip to Maine is incomplete without a lobstah roll, as the locals call them. There are lobster pounds everywhere, and many are just small stands on the side of the road. In any other place, I wouldn’t trust a roadside seafood stand, but in Maine the seafood is so fresh that anywhere you get it, it will be delicious. (Guys, they literally had crabmeat at a gas station store, and I almost went for it.) We got seafood from two different spots, and they were both fantastic. But my lobster roll from Beal’s Lobster Pier was definitely the highlight! Beal’s is in Southwest Harbor, so about 25-40 minutes, depending on where you’re staying in the area, but I think it was definitely worth it!

Watch the sunset on Cadillac Mountain

Everyone goes to Cadillac Mountain to see the sunrise because during the months of October to March, it is the first place in the United States to see the sunrise. However, we visited in August and, honestly, we didn’t want to drive up the winding roads in the pitch dark. Instead, we decided to watch the sunset, and it was definitely the right choice. We got there about 1.5 hours before the official sunset time, (with our pizza from Sweet Pea’s Cafe, honestly what a great idea, I’ll take the credit for that, thanks) and parked at the Blue Hill Overlook. I definitely recommend parking at Blue Hill because it directly faces the sunset on Cadillac Mountain. There were quite a few people there, but it definitely wasn’t overly crowded.

Day Two

Hike The Bubble

One of the coolest hikes to do is The South Bubble because it’s a relatively easy hike, but it has a cool story at the top. When you get to the top of the Bubble, you will get to see the famous Bubble Rock, a huge boulder that is sitting very precariously on the edge of the mountain. Seriously, it looks like it could fall at any time, but somehow it’s just hanging out right on the edge. Science side of the internet, please don’t ruin what seems like magic and explain to me the physics behind why it’s there. I’m impressed by your knowledge, but I would like to pretend that something otherworldly is keeping it from falling.

Do the Jordan Pond Loop

Or just admire the Pond. If you park in the Jordan Pond parking lot, walk down the boat ramp for some gorgeous views of the water with The Bubbles in the background. We did not do the loop because we forgot how out of shape we were and got tired after the South Bubble. The Jordan Pond Loop is supposed to be a relatively easy trail, with little to no inclines.

Get Popovers at Jordan Pond House

Once you’ve completed the Jordan Pond Loop (or you didn’t and you just want to eat some food, no judgment here), head over to the Jordan Pond House for their famous popovers. If you’re not a complete baking nerd like me, a popover is an egg based hollow pastry that is super light and fluffy and pairs perfectly with butter and jam. It’s delicious, just trust me. Tea and popovers have been a traditional snack in Acadia since Nellie McIntire started serving them in 1893. If you’re not a huge tea fan they also have blueberry lemonade and blueberry soda, if you want to try out another touristy snack.

Explore Bar Harbor

Acadia National Park isn’t the only place to see in the area. Bar Harbor is a super fun town, with plenty of fun shops and views to take in. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from, and tons of homemade ice cream shops. My favorite was Mount Desert Island Ice Cream, and let me tell you that shit (sorry, mom) was delicious. Like genuinely, so creamy and tasty. I got Butterbeer, and it tasted just like a butterscotch candy, it was unbelievable.

The shops in Bar Harbor are also super cute! I’m obsessed with tea, as I mention in my post about Buckingham Palace, and Bar Harbor Tea Company has some delicious teas. I already have a ton of loose leaf at home, but I got one small box each of their Downeast Breakfast Blend and their New England Maple. They are so lovely. We also stopped in a few of the more souvenir-y stores so we could bring some stuff back home, but just walking Main Street was super fun. It does get super crowded there and parking is limited, so just be prepared for that.

Day Three

Watch the sunrise from Thunder Hole

This was the perfect place to watch the sunrise on our last day in Acadia National Park. There were probably only two other couples around, and there was zero traffic on the way in. And we didn’t have to wake up at 3 in the morning to get there in time. The sunrise rose beautifully from behind the mountains and shone onto the water. We got a mini morning golden hour, and it was perfect. Catch me humming “Here Comes the Sun” for the rest of the day.

Plus, you’re supposed to get to Thunder Hole about 2 hours before high tide, so this could be the perfect opportunity to hear the loud waves in action. , The thunder doesn’t always make an appearance, so don’t feel bad if you don’t hear it. It really comes down to the weather and timing. But it’s still a super cool science thing and you can definitely admire the view, if nothing else.

Hike Gorham Mountain

I know that every other guide is going to tell you to hike The Beehive, but, listen, not everyone is in that kind of shape and some people are afraid of heights. And there is no shame in that! Instead of doing The Beehive, I decided to hike Gorham Mountain, which I think was a great choice. It’s still considered a moderate trail, so definitely know your limits. I did have to stop a few times to take a breather, but that’s also because I accidentally took the slightly more difficult way up, the Cadillac Cliffs Trail. There is quite a bit of rock scrambling this way, and it gets pretty steep, but I thought it was a fun challenge and really enjoyed it.

At the top of Gorham Mountain, you get stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and the rest of the islands around the park. I got to the top of the mountain around 8am and only came across 4 people. The earlier you get there the better. Plus, if you come during the right season, there are wild blueberry bushes that you can pick from!

Take a nap

Okay, listen, maybe I’m a baby, but I need a nap after all of that activity. Head back to your Airbnb, hotel, cottage, camper or tent, and take a quick snooze. Maybe just take a quick nip in the car, or if you’re ready to go, keep moving. I just know that I need built in nap time.

Stop anywhere you’ve been wanting to

I know this isn’t usually how guides work, but I think travelers need to be flexible. There’s always something that you want to see that you keep saying “we’ll see it tomorrow,” but then you don’t have time and in the end, you don’t get to see it. So, take the time on your last day to go explore somewhere new. Maybe you want to rent bikes and ride the carriage roads, or you do want to hike The Beehive. Maybe you want more time to explore Bar Harbor, or you want to relax on Sand Beach. The rest of the day is yours, so do whatever it is that you want! And let me know where else you go!

Other popular spots:

• Bass Harbor Lighthouse
• Sand Beach
• Acadia Mountain
• Echo Lake

Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor is the perfect place to take your next road trip! It was honestly one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, and I can’t wait to see your photos when you visit! Pin this post for later so that you can plan your next trip to Maine!

If you liked my photos, some of them are available on my Redbubble shop where you can buy prints, t-shirts, stickers and more!

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