5 Reasons You Need to Visit Acadia National Park
My husband and I just recently moved from New Hampshire to Maine and, this summer, we visited Maine's Acadia National Park for the first time together! Acadia is the oldest U.S. national park east of the Mississippi. It is situated on an island off the coast of Maine and consists of beaches, lakes, forests, and mountains. It's the perfect place for hikers of all ages and abilities, vacationers who love to relax on the beach, sightseers who want to drive around and hit all of the main attractions, and for those who love to camp. I am going to share just a few of my favorite reasons to visit Acadia!
1. Mount Desert Campground
Staying at Mount Desert Campground may have been my favorite part of our visit and I decided that it's my favorite campground I've ever stayed at. We had a waterfront site that was super spacious, had a platform for our tent, and unbeatable sunset views from the hammocks we strung up in the trees along the water.
BONUS: Dogs are allowed during the slower months of May-June and September-October.
2. amazing Views everywhere, all the time
No matter where you are in Acadia National Park, the sights are simply stunning. Whether it's the crystal clear water at Sand Beach, the pink granite rocks along the water, the mystical forest trails, or the outstanding panoramic views from atop Cadillac Mountain, serious beauty is a guarantee.
TIP: Take a drive along Park Loop Road, a 27 mile road with a great number of scenic stops and pullover viewpoints. Don't skip out on taking the stairs down to the beach for the best view of Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse!
otter cliff trail, off of park loop drive
on top of cadillac mountain
ship harbor trail
us on top of cadillac mountain
thunder hole
bass harbor head lighthouse
3. The park's Dog-Friendliness
As I previously mentioned, Mount Desert Campground is dog-friendly during the slower months, but Acadia and most of its trails are dog-friendly year round. This is pretty hard to come by with national parks and an AWESOME plus if you love traveling with your little buddies (most national parks do not allow dogs on any trails or in campgrounds). Our pup, Remy, was able to accompany us on our adventures all throughout the park. If you bring your BFF along, just make sure to double check in advance whether the trails you want to explore definitely allow dogs.
4. Bar Harbor
Bar Harbor is the largest town on Mount Desert Island and the gateway to Acadia National Park. It is the main hub for shopping and dining on the island and offers lodging of all types (in case you aren't into camping). You can spend an afternoon meandering around its streets, laying on the grassy hill overlooking the harbor and watching the ships, or - my personal favorite - grabbing some ice cream! We tried out Mount Desert Island Ice Cream and loved its unique flavors like blackstrap molasses banana and lemon poppyseed blackberry swirl.
5. Trails for all levels
Acadia is a wonderful place for hikers of all ages and levels. If you're looking for a tough, thrilling hike, try out the Beehive Loop Trail or Precipice Trail, both of which feature areas of exposed cliffs with iron rungs to climb - not for those with a fear of heights. If you're on the hunt for something simpler and flatter, try Ship Harbor Trail or Great Head Trail.
TIP: AllTrails is my favorite trail-finding website/app for finding hikes all over the country; I highly recommend using it to browse all of the different hikes Acadia has to offer: Best Trails in Acadia National Park
the beehive, as seen from sand beach
cadillac mountain
ship harbor trail
ship harbor trail
have you visited acadia national park?
What are your favorite reasons to go or your favorite sights to see while you're there?
