Acadia is a beautiful National Park. The Park Loop Road provides an excellent overview. Although generally fairly quiet, July is a busy time so bring along a little zen – it’s worth it! Other hot spots: Bass Harbor Light (so iconic it’s on stamps); the top of Cadillac Mountain; Seawall; Northeast Harbor; Seal Harbor.
The hikes, bike rides and drives within the Park require an Acadia National Park pass (or a senior/annual pass if you have one). You can get a pass online in advance or from several retailers and locations around the island. [https://www.nps.gov/acad/planyourvisit/fees.htm]
Acadia has more than 200 quintessential trails, from 30 minute easy hikes to 4 hour treks. Favorites: a) Flying Mountain (near SW Harbor) – easy 45 minute round trip over the top to Valley Cove and back on the fire road; b) Ship Harbor – Seawall near Bass Harbor – easy one hour figure eight trail along coast; c) Acadia Mountain – near Southwest Harbor – moderate 2.5 hour trek – go past the peak for a great view of Somes Sound. For the full experience, cross the highway at the end of your hike and follow the short path to Echo Lake ledge and take a cooling swim; d) Cadillac Mountain via the Northridge or Gorge trails – a more challenging 3-4 hour round trip to the highest peak in Acadia (those in a hurry can drive to the peak); e) South (and North) Bubble – moderate 1.5 hour trek to adjoining peaks with views of the park and Jordan Pond. Let me know if you want something bigger and bolder like the Precipice, Bee Hive, or Jordan Cliffs.
Echo Lake near Southwest is a perfect swimming lake – warm, beautiful and home to some loons. Start at Echo Lake Beach at the south end of the lake and head north past the crowd.
Acadia has a unique network of historic carriage path roads that are reserved for biking and walking – no cars. Bikes and racks can be rented from shops in Bar Harbor [Bar Harbor Bicycle Shop – 141 Cottage; 207-288-3886] or Southwest Harbor [Southwest Cycle – 370 Main Street - 207-244-5856]. Favorite route: Eagle Lake/Jordan Pond Loop (about 14 miles) – starts at Eagle Lake parking lot (or park along the road if it is full). Shorter-but-great alternative: Witch Hole Pond loop (also starts at Eagle Lake parking lot).
Southwest Harbor: Red Sky, great food and a nice bar (207-244-0476); Rogue Café, excellent, non-tourist favorite (207-244-7101); Sips – great café open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (207-244-4550); Beals Lobster Pier (207-244-3202); Milagro, the SWH coffee place. Bar Harbor: Havana, pretty restaurant with excellent food (207-288-2822); Parrilla, casual tapas bar adjacent to and run by Havana; Bar Harbor Inn, dine under umbrellas on the shore looking at Bar Harbor and the schooner Margaret Todd at sunset – walk-in only (207-288-3351); Ben n’ Bill’s ice cream (more than 31 flavors including lobster, if you’re feeling crazy); Mt. Desert Ice Cream, another favorite with some unusual flavors.
Perfect restaurant– you dine outdoors overlooking Jordan Pond and the Bubbles. Full menu but popovers are the focal point. This is a huge draw for park visitors but it is well worth the 45 minutes it may take to park and get a table (walk to the shore, pick some blueberries, or take a look in the shop while you are waiting). This is also about ½ way along the Eagle/Jordan bike ride and makes for a great stop (and avoids the challenge of parking)!
The ubiquitous crustacean can be enjoyed at: Thurston’s Lobster Pound in Bass Harbor; Beal’s Lobster Pier in Southwest Harbor; Stewman’s Lobster Pier in Bar Harbor.
Take a ferry [Cranberry Cove Ferry – 207-244-5882] from Southwest Harbor Upper Town Dock [110 Clark Point Road] to Little Cranberry and enjoy lunch or dinner at our favorite, quintessentially Maine, restaurant: The Isleford Dock Restaurant [call three days ahead for a reservation – 207-244-7494]. While you are there, take a short walk around and visit the art gallery.
The Wendell Gilley – extraordinary bird carving exhibition right in Southwest Harbor; The Seal Cove Auto Museum – surprising display of early automobiles (a beautiful 15 minute drive from SWH); The Abbe Museum in downtown Bar Harbor – Wabanaki Native American people and culture.
Two golf courses welcome the public: Causeway Club in Southwest Harbor - 9 holes (watch out for #2 and #7), pretty, short course [207-244-7220]. Kebo Valley Country Club near Bar Harbor – full length, 18 hole course. This is the 8th oldest course in the U.S. – watch out for #17 where President Taft carded a 27 [207-288-5000].
Unique, two screen movie theater in Bar Harbor where you dine on great pizza at tables, couches or chairs - I particularly like the popcorn (207-288-3828).
Kayak, whale watching, lobstering trips can all be arranged in Bar Harbor (ocean can be a crisp 54 degrees so kayaking not to be undertaken lightly). Canoe on Long Pond [canoes can be rented at north end of pond from National Park Canoe & Kayak Rental – 207-244-5854].