As a family, we booked an RV vacation which took us along the east coast of the United States. Each of my siblings and I were given the task of coming up with an itinerary for an assigned stop on our RV adventure. We visited northern Ohio, Niagara Falls, Maine, Boston, New York City and Philadelphia.
Each of us was given a location to research and select the activities for the day. My sister, Shelly mapped out our itinerary for our visit to Maine and I was so excited she included Acadia National Park. Sprawling nearly 50,000 acres on the east coast, this mesmerizing, scenic park is full of stunning landscapes and amazing wildlife. I was hoping to see moose at Acadia, and viewing the majestic whales on our cruise of the harbor was such an awesome experience as well.
We started our day by stopping by Hulls Cove Visitor Center to pick up a map and additional information about the park. We were curious to find if there were any educational sessions or ranger talks scheduled. From here, we picked up Acadia’s 27-mile scenic Park Loop Road, eventually reaching the top of Cadillac Mountain. From 1500 feet, we caught an amazing panoramic view of the Atlantic, the park and its nearby islands.
By the late 1800’s, this land became the playground for the rich and famous to include the Carnegies, Vanderbilts, Astors, Fords and the Rockefellers. It was John D. Rockefeller who gifted the park its 45 miles of carriage roads used for automobiles, bikes, horses and carriages. In addition to its carriage roads, the park offers over 150 miles of hiking trails and is one of the most-visited parks in the United States.
Another feature of the park that we thoroughly enjoyed was walking across the Bar Island Land Bridge. At low tide, we could walk across for spectacular views of Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Island. We were warned in advance that we would have about an hour and a half to cross and return before the tide would rise.
The views of Bar Harbor were breathtaking from this charming coastal town. Boats anchored in the cove while others were prepared to transport passengers on a number of whale watching excursions. We enjoyed an afternoon of shopping and made lunch reservations at a nearby restaurant with a seaside overlook.
Shortly after lunch, we boarded a small boat for our own whale watching tour. The weather was perfect for our brief sea escape with the opportunity to see humpbacks breaching out of the water. While mid-April is the best time to see these gentle giants, we could not have been happier spotting a couple of whales during our three-hour tour with Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company.
After we returned from our trip, we boarded our RV and decided to check out the most visited lighthouse in Maine, the Doubling Point Lighthouse. Located along the Kennebec River, it was not an easy route to reach the light, but we loved the beautiful scenery and remote location. We spent about a half an hour here before piling back into the motor coach for our next stop on our itinerary, Boston.
Have you toured around the state of Maine? What were your favorite places to visit? I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Many thanks for reading about my lovely visit to Maine and wishing you many Happy Travels!
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What to See and What to Do:
Acadia National Park
PO Box 177
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Telephone: 207 288 3338
- Admission Fee: Each entrance fee covers 7 days of park entry. Private Vehicle: $30; Motorcycle: $25 and Hiker/Biker: $15 which only applies to visitors 16 years old and older entering the park by foot, bicycle, etc. An annual Pass for Acadia National Park is $55 which is valid for one year through the month of purchase.
- Hours: The park is open seasonally and hours vary, so check the National Park Website for the most up-to-date information.
- Amenities: camping, hiking, boating, swimming, biking, bird watching, climbing, fishing, scenic drives, wildlife viewing, Visitor’s Centers which provide interpretive exhibits and park information and Ranger programs. Guided tours are also available in the park.
- Scenic View: Take in the view from Cadillac Mountain and along the various trails throughout the park.
- Length of Visit: Three days is the minimal recommended time to see all of the attractions at Acadia.
- Tips for Your Visit: If you are looking for animals, winter is the time that they hibernate. Spring is a wonderful time to visit because you can see newborn babies. When viewing wildlife, you must stay 100 yards from bears and wolves, and 25 yard from all other animals in the park. For photographers, you may already know that dawn and dusk are the best times to photograph animals and you will want to bring a telephoto lens for capturing them from far distances. Summer is the busiest time for the park you may find road construction and traffic.
Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company
1 West Street
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Telephone: 207 288 2386
- Rates: Rates range from $32 to $63 for adults on a variety of trips; $20 to $33 for children ages 6 – 14 and $14 for children ages five and under.
- Hours: The activities take place from May to October. Visit the website for each activities and the departure times for these events.
- Amenities: Ferry services
- Length of Tour: Varies by tour, refer to the website
- Tips for Your Visit: Take medication for seasickness should you think the seas may affect you.
Doubling Point Lighthouse
Doubling Point Road
Arrowsic, ME 04530
Email: mspencer@student.uchc.edu,jaehs@aol.com
- Admission Fee: No Admission Fee
- Hours: 8AM to 6PM daily
- Scenic View: The lighthouse and surrounding area
- Length of Visit: No more than one hour
- Tips for Your Visit: Wear bug spray during the summer months. Refer to the website for detailed directions to the lighthouse. The lighthouse is not accessible, but you can look inside only.
Where to Stay:
Bar Harbor/Oceanside KOA Holiday
136 County Road
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Telephone: 207 288 3520
Where to Eat:
Fish House Grill
1 West Street
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Telephone: 207 288 3070
We shared the New England Clam Bake and I also ordered the bacon wrapped scallops served with a maple and brown sugar glaze.
What to Eat:
- Baked Beans and Hot Dogs
- Blueberry Pancakes
- Clam Roll
- Clambake
- Haddock Chowder
- Indian Pudding
- Italian Sandwich
- Lobster, of course and served with butter
- Lobster Pie
- Lobster Roll
- Maine Potato Fries
- Maple Sugar and Syrup
- New England Boiled Dinner
What to Read:
- The Cider House Rules by John Irving
- Empire Falls by Richard Russell
- Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
- The Maine Woods by Henry David
- Most Stephen King books
Photo Guide for Maine:
- Acadia National Park
- Cadillac Mountain Summit
