Acadia National Park had been on the bucket list for quite a while. Acadia National Park encompasses a large area of Mount Desert Island off the coast of Maine. This beautiful setting is known for its stunning vistas, scenic hikes, and ocean views from Cadillac Mountain. This is also the first place in the U.S. where you can see the sunrise between October and early March. If you’re visiting in the peak of summer, you can swim at Sand Beach when the water temperature is more tolerable. We drove from Albany, NY, and it took us about 7 hours to get there. Acadia National Park is about a 4.5-hour drive from Boston and an 8-hour drive from New York City.  If you’re not close enough to drive, you can fly into Bangor International Airport, about 50 miles from Bar Harbor. We used Bar Harbor as our base camp and gateway into Acadia National Park.

Day 1: Cadillac Mountain

We arrived at Bar Harbor late afternoon, about two hours before sunset. We stayed at the Hampton Inn, located just 5 minutes from the park entrance, and used that as our base camp for this trip. Since it was a clear day, we entered the park and drove to Cadillac Mountain to catch the sunset. The cost to enter Acadia National Park is $25 per vehicle, and the pass is good for seven days. Park Rangers routinely check for the passes (they must be hung over the rear-view mirror), so remember to purchase them before entering.  

There are incredible sunset views and plenty of photo opportunities. Cadillac Mountain has plenty of pull-outs, so utilize them and drive up the mountain. For dinner, we came across a tavern called Thirsty Whale. Their lobster rolls were delicious and highly recommended.

 

Day Two: Jordan Pond and Bubble Rock Trail

Our second day in Maine was overcast, with a slight drizzle at times, but nothing would keep us from exploring Acadia National Park further. On this day, we decided to hike the trail around Jordan Pond and climb up South Bubble Rock. Jordan Pond is a small lake, and swimming is not allowed as it is the primary source of drinking water for residents in the area. You can bring a kayak or small boat and utilize it on Jordan Pond. The circular trail around Jordan Pond is 3.4 miles long and isn’t difficult at all. We saw people of all ages, from 5-year-olds to senior citizens. The hike up Bubble Rock is a different story. It’s only 0.4 miles, but it’s all vertical, and you have to climb in some areas. I wouldn’t recommend this trail for kids or those not fit enough to climb vertically. Please wear proper hiking shoes for this hike or any other at Acadia. They get precipitation often, and gym shoes on slippery rocks are a recipe for disaster. Once at the top, the views are magnificent.

 

For dinner, we stopped in town at a restaurant called Geddy’s. Their haddock sandwich was delicious. Seafood from Maine is on a whole different level.

Day Three: Bowel Trail, Beehive Trail, Sand Beach, Cadillac Mountain

Day 3 gave us perfect weather, and we took full advantage. First on the agenda was the top of the Beehive Trail. There are actually two ways to get to the top. The first is taking the most direct route, the Beehive Trail itself, and vertically climbing straight to the top. There are handlebars as you get higher, and if you’re afraid of heights or a novice hiker, this route isn’t for you.   The other way to get to the top of Beehive Trail is by taking the longer Bowel Trail. The hike is longer (1.4 miles), and you gain elevation gradually. This trail also offers multiple picture opportunities and allows you to loop around a small lake. If you hike the Beehive Trail to the top, you have to hike the Bowel Trail on the way back down, as the Beehive Trail only has one-way traffic going up. From the top of the trail, you’ll get spectacular views of the ocean, the park, and many islands around Mt. Desert Island.

 

After hiking, we walked across the street to Sand Beach for an up-close look. The water looked very enticing, but given that it was still early May, it was still too cold to go for a dip. Perhaps late June through early September would be a good time to go for a swim. The beach is very well maintained, and the water is as blue as it looks in the picture.

Since we would pass Cadillac Mountain on the way back, we figured we would stop by and soak in the views from the vantage points we missed the first day.

We returned to Geddy’s for dinner because of our wonderful experience the day before. This time, we all opted for the fish and chips. And man, it did not disappoint.

This was our trip in a nutshell. I want to point out that there is a very steep and challenging trail called the Precipice Trail, which is closed between March and August due to falcons nesting between that time. If you go outside this timeframe and are physically fit to hike the trail, check it out because I’ve heard nothing but great things about it. During our visit, the whale-watching season was still a few weeks away, but if you’re in the area and are interested, it’s an excellent opportunity to see humpback, minke, and finback whales. If you plan on visiting Acadia National Park, budget at least 3 days. 4 or 5 days would be optimal if a day or two isn’t productive due to the weather. This was a memorable trip, and Acadia National Park has endless beauty and plenty of things to do. We had a blast, and we hope to visit again soon.