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| Acadia's oceanside cliffs in winter ... |
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| Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park, established in 1916, is the oldest National Park located east of the Mississippi River. As the only park in the entire northeastern U.S., Acadia is consistently among the top 10 most visited parks each year, with an annual average of 2 million visitors. Geographically, Acadia is located mostly on Mount Desert Island, which it shares with the town of Bar Harbor. The park also occupies most of Isle au Haut as well as several smaller islands and a section on the mainland near Winter Harbor.
Acadia has several miles of well-maintained carriage roads through the hilly forests of Mount Desert Island. These trails are off-limits to motorized vehicles, helping to preserve the serene atmosphere of the park. We rode our bikes over several miles of carriage roads and thoroughly enjoyed it. Although the grade can be challenging in some spots, overall the trails are relatively easy and definitely family-friendly. The canopy of trees overhead and the ocean breezes help keep temperatures cool during the summertime. Alternatively, you can ride horses on the carriage roads or take a tour in a horse-drawn carriage.
Our favorite part of Acadia is climbing Cadillac Mountain. This mountain rises 1,528 feet from sea level and is the highest mountain within 25 miles of the Atlantic Ocean in the entire US. The hike up is not too strenuous, but remember to bring plenty of water so you don't get dehydrated! Alternatively, you can drive up Cadillac, but we highly recommend the hike for seeing the natural beauty of the mountain. Once you reach the summit, the views of the surrounding area are amazing. On a clear day, it is said that you can see Mount Katahdin and the mainland of Nova Scotia. Cadillac Mountain is also the first place in the US to see the sunrise during the fall and winter months.
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| ... and in summer. |
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