USA is known for its dramatic and varied terrain. With
Pacific in the west and Atlantic in the east, world’s biggest tress and rock
formation, USA has some of most amazing natural wonders in the world, which are
on the bucket list of every traveler.
It is also lauded for its world-famous National Parks, which
are dream destinations for many people in the world.
One of such national parks which top the list on East Coast, USA is Acadia
National Park. Situated in the state of Maine, it covers the coastal part of
the Maine which meets the wild Atlantic Ocean. In USA, most of the National
Parks are known for their gigantic mountains and mesmerizing waterfalls, but
Acadia is known for its coastal beauty.
We recently visited this amazing place and here are the 10
must visit places in this National Park :
1. Cadillac Mountain
Start your day with the drive to the summit of Cadillac Mountain, one of the
first place in USA to watch the sunrise from October to March. It is the
largest and tallest mountain in Acadia National Park and the views from the top
are just breathtaking. When we visited the mountain, fog was just lifting and
watching it roll of the water and into the valley was just majestic.
Once the sun is up, you can see the panoramic views of the
islands in the Frenchman Bay. It is really a stunning start to the morning. The
summit road which takes you up and down the Cadillac mountain, also has several
pulloffs which provide stunning views of the ocean.
2. Jordan Pond
After you are done soaking in the beauty of Cadillac Mountain, the next
spot to explore is Jordan Pond.
Though it is called a pond, it is nothing less than a lake. It is situated in a
pine forest and surrounded by small mountains. The water is incredibly clear
and pristine. Once you walk from the parking area towards the pond, the view is
absolutely stunning.
There is also a path that takes full loop around the pond
and is easy and doable for all age groups. Also, there is a Pond house which
serves delicious snacks and bakery items.
3. North and South
Bubble Mountains
You can combine the trip to North and South Bubble Mountains with the
Jordan Pond trail, or if you are short of time you can do them separately. The
parking for the north/south bubble is quite limited, so make sure to come early
in the morning or during late noon to get a spot.
The South Bubble Mountain is famous for the Bubble Rock, which is a large boulder that was carried by glacier and precariously balanced on the edge of the cliff. It is fun to see how such a big rock is balanced on its own at the edge.
The North Bubble Mountain is famous for the “out of the world” views of Jordan Pond from the top.
The to and fro hike to the summit of both the mountains from the parking lot is
around 1.5 miles each and if you combine the hikes of both the bubbles, it is
roughly 2.5 miles from the parking lot.
The hike is easy to moderate level and can be done by people of all ages.
4. Sand Beach
After the bubble mountain hike, if you need to sit and relax for sometime
while taking in the view, Sandy beach is the perfect spot for that. It is a
clean beach surrounded by cliffs and the view of the ocean is just stunning. All
facilities are available here like changing booths, restrooms, and lifeguards.
It is also the start of Ocean Trail. A walk on the beach is a good way to
prepare for the next hikes.
5. Beehive Trail
After a good stroll at the beach, it is time to take your hiking experience
to the next level.
If you are an experienced hiker, I would recommend Precipice Trail for an
adventure of lifetime, but if that is not the case, it is always recommended to
go for less dangerous and Strenuous hike – Beehive Trail.
From the parking lot of Sand Beach, you can hike the Bowl
trail to the Beehive trail, and from the summit you can walk down the same
path.
The difficulty level is strenuous and there are times when
you have to walk through narrow cliffs and climb up metal rungs. So, if you
fear of height, it is advisable to skip this trail.
6. Park Loop Road
One of the best ways to explore Acadia National Parks is to drive the
27-mile scenic Park Loop Road.
It offers absolutely stunning views of the ocean and might remind you of the
Pacific Coast Highway drive in California.
You have lot of pullovers on the right-hand side of the road
to take photos and admire the view.
Few things to take care while planning the drive:
- Try to do in the morning hours when there is less traffic and wildlife is
active.
- Keep in mind that is a one-way drive.
7. Thunder Hole
One of the most dramatic spot in Acadia National Parks is Thunder Hole. It
is a small rock formation like a cave, where the water splashes out of the
inlet when there are high tides. The splash causes a thundering boom.
We were not lucky enough to catch the splash, but it is said
that when the surf is high, the water can shoot up as high as 40 feet in the
air. It is recommended to check the tide condition and when it is ideal time to
watch this wonderful natural phenomenon.
8. Nature Cruise
Trip of Acadia National Park is incomplete without a nature cruise.
Most of these cruises start from Bar Harbor, and depending upon the time of the
year you can choose from various options like - Whale Watching, Sunset Nature
Cruise, Lighthouses tour and general nature cruise.
If it is the time of the year when whales are spotted, go
for Whale Watching cruise, otherwise you can take the sunset nature cruise.
We took one by Acadian Nature Cruises and it was absolutely amazing. The guide
was quite informative and he told us about the history of the park and various
landmarks that arrived during the course of the cruise. We also spotted several
seals on the rocks of Egg Rock Lighthouse.
The sunset views were outstandingly beautiful.
The cruise took all the necessary precautions during the Covid time, specially
the 6 feet distancing. Masks were compulsory. It costed us $33 per person for 2
hours tour.
9. Schoodic Peninsula
If you want a more secluded place to enjoy the coastal views of the
islands, cliffs and ocean, get to this part of Acadia National Park which is
known as Schoodic Peninsula.
It gets less crowd as compared to the Mount Desert Island and hence is a great
place to enjoy the views with your special one or family.
There are few hiking trails here, but the views are no match
to what we get on the summits of Mount Desert Island.
Though we didn’t get much time to explore this area, it is suggested to visit
two points :
- Schoodic Point to watch the
massive rock formations by ancient volcanic activity and the splash of water
when large waves of Atlantic Ocean kiss them.
- Raven's Nest is a photographer
paradise where tallest cliffs of the area surround several isolated coves. It’s
not only a picturesque spot but also a hidden gem of Maine.
It is also a great place for stargazing.
10. Lobster
Restaurants
Finally, Maine is a seafood lover heaven and one thing that you will get in
abundant here is Lobster.
There are number of restaurants serving variety of Lobster dishes especially
Lobster rolls and cakes.
So if you love seafood, especially Lobsters, you should definitely give your
taste buds a treat.
So that's all about Acadia National Park.
Hope you have a great time and fun when you visit it :)
