TRAVEL TUESDAY
Today, I'd like to take you on a visually stunning tour of Acadia National Park. Acadia is located on Mount Desert Island, Maine. Accessible just outside the town of Bar Harbor.
This is one of those National Parks, that if you can find time in your life, it is definitely worth adding to your bucket list. I visited the park during the fall, however I imagine Spring and Summer would be just as amazing! Most of the roads in the park are closed during the winter months.
Acadia is one of those National Parks that if all you can do is take a drive by car, you'll still be able to see a lot of it! The roads climb and wind all through the park, giving you amazing vantage views of the ocean, mountains, rivers, lakes, granite cliffs and more.
The park is famous for all of their 17 different stone carriage road bridges. If you can go off on foot there are 120 miles of hiking trails or walks along the old carriage roads. I recommend doing both, take a day or two and travel by car and get out and take a few walks.
In the fall, the colors are absolutely amazing. Blood reds, brightest of corals, many shades of yellows, oranges, reds and more!
Make sure you bring your camera everywhere with you while you travel the park. There are many stunning pullouts, trailheads and points of interest along the way.
Although Acadia is mostly beautifully green lush forests, there is also a lot of beautiful granite rock.
You'll find the beautiful granite. Both high up in the mountains, and as well down along the coast.
If your lucky, you might even get a chance to see some wild life, seals along the coastal waters, or possibly even a moose in the morning hours drinking from the lakes and rivers.
One of my favorite stops was to the Thunder Tidal Blow Hole. Sometimes this may be closed off closer down for your safety. (It was when I was there.) But it is still a beautiful event to watch the tide come in and shoot up into the sky as it hits the blow hole.
On this particular day, if you stood too close, you got a little wet:) But there was actually a Nor Eastern going on on this particular day, so normally it isn't likely so windy.
Enjoy the 27 mile loop drive along the ocean shoreline and coastal lush forests.
Drive along Somes Sound, the only Fjord along the eastern coast of the United States. This large body of water, almost splits through the entire island.
Enjoy walking along the rivers, and viewing the many waterfalls throughout the park. Most of which can be seen by a short walk on foot.
There are many old carriage houses, and old brick buildings covered in vines that are just amazing to look at. Additionally, there are so many beautiful inns, and bed and breakfasts to stay at around the island that give you a feel for being in a time long ago.
I never got bored just driving through the forest.
Even on the rainy day I was there, it was still absolutely beautiful to get out and drive around and see all the colors. The granite rocks have so many more colors when they are wet, I discovered from the next day when it wasn't raining.
Acadia also has some spectacular sunsets, whether you are driving around the park loop, or sitting a top Cadillac Mountain watching the sun go down.
IF YOU GO:
* Closest small airport is Bar Harbor - Closest larger airport is in Bangor, Maine.
* The National Park has several campgrounds, or Mount Desert Island has many tourist hotels both inland and seaside to stay at.
* There are fee's to enter a National Park, but a pass is good for 7 days. However, if you plan your trip along the FREE park days, you won't have to pay at all. Visit HERE to see what are the free days.
* If you enjoy running, try the Mount Desert Marathon in October
* You can also see Acadia via Air Tour, Boat Cruise
* You can even enjoy a day at Sand Beach (on a warm day).
TRAVEL TUESDAY
Today I'd like to take you to a beautiful island in Maine, Mount Desert Island. To name a few, this is home to Acadia National Park, State Parks, Carriage Roads and Trails, Light Houses, beautiful seaside towns and Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the island and the first place in the continental United States to see the sunrise each day.
It's a place where you can drive or walk down a road, and sit at point like above, and no matter which direction you decide to take its impossible to take a wrong one.
The history is deep on this little island, which won't feel so little once you start exploring. You'll see carriage road gates like the one pictured above that were built long before your time to guard the roads. It will give you a chance to jump into a time before your time and allow your imagination to roam.
Occasionally hidden, and at times in plain site are beautiful old carriage road bridges. Just imagine a time where you sat in a horse drawn buggy and traveled these forests. But you don't have to have a horse and buggy, if your active and love to hike there are miles and miles of hiking trails to get out and explore this beautiful island.
Beautiful lakes and ponds are all around. Wake up and get out early and you might catch sight of a large moose or other wildlife.
Hike up Cadillac Mountain and stand at the top in the early morning and watch the sunrise come and be the first in the continental United States to see the rays of the sun touch the ground that day.
While your up on the mountain, walk around and explore the views around. You can pretty much see the entire lay of the island from up here.
Charter a boat and go whale watching, or fishing for the day.
Or just drive around the different seaside towns and take your camera and appreciate the quiet beauty of the place.
Visit a lighthouse or two, watch for seals and other sea wildlife.
Grab a backpack and hike on a carriage trail and explore the forest, you'll never know where it may lead.
It might end up leading you to a beautifully built old carriage home.
I never got bored just taking my rental car and driving around the island. Taking in the views, and looking at the beautiful fall foliage. This is New England after all, lush green forests become brilliant fall colors of every color imaginable on the color palette. Brightest of oranges, blood reds, corals, yellows of every shade.
Everywhere you go, you'll see something new and beautiful. It's a small peaceful island, so it gives you a chance to visit small town peace and quiet.
Mount Desert Island is a beautiful place to visit, you'll love it! And if you are a runner, they have a beautiful fall marathon. My pictures would have been a tad more brilliant, but I actually visited during a Nor'easter and a lot of the leaves had already dropped from the storm. But no matter when you visit spring, fall or summer you'll love it! I am sure it is just as peaceful and a different kind of beauty in the winter too.
IF YOU GO:
* Bar Harbor does have a small airport, but their aren't many flights. You can fly into Bangor and rent a car and drive the less than an hour drive to the island.
* There are many beautiful hotels on the Island. I chose one that had a seaside view.
* Mount Desert Island is also home to Acadia National Park
* This is a fish and lobster town, if you love fish you'll be able to eat anywhere:) If you are like me and don't love fish I will warn you there aren't many other options. But I did track down all the little pizza and sub shops:)
* I highly recommend renting a car. There is so much to see, you'll want your own vehicle to be able to explore it all.
* Bring a GPS if you have a hard time getting a sense of direction in trees. But if you are like me, after an afternoon of driving around you'll have no need for it after, its very easy to find your way around all the towns and roads on the island.
