Best of Acadia National Park
Last fall we drove from NC all the way to Acadia National Park in Maine. Acadia had been top of my list forever, and it was 100% worth all the hype.
We spent 4 days in Acadia and we could go back for 100 more. There is so much to see & do and every bit of it is absolutely gorgeous. It’s hard to know what to prioritize, especially with kids in tow. We traveled with 6 kids between the ages of 6 and 11 and everyone had a blast. Our kids talk about it all the time and are so eager to go back!
Read on for our picks of the Best of Acadia National Park.
Best Family Friendly Activity: Biking the Carriage Trails
Actual quotes heard on our bike ride on the carriage trails…
“Just keep biking, we just fed you guys…” – my husband, age 38
“Oh my gosh, I can’t even feel my legs!” – Lucy, age 6
“This bike ride was so worth it because look at that beautiful mountain view the lake! When we get home, I’m going to draw that.” – Max, age 8
That pretty much sums up biking through Acadia.
My dad warned us that we were insane to bike without e-bikes, and suggested that it would be too hard for the kids. Chelsea swore it was no big deal and we’d all be fine. Turns out when her family biked the carriage trails, they took their bikes INTO the park on their car, and THEN started biking. I would highly recommend that method.
Since we were biking in the off season (October, but no drop offs in the park) and hadn’t travelled from NC with our bikes, we rented kids & adult bikes from Acadia Bikes in Bar Harbor. They were fantastic and so easy to work with, and I’d rent again in a heartbeat. HOWEVER, biking from Bar Harbor into Acadia is straight uphill, and young kids can’t rent e-bikes. Hence the not feeling our legs.
Even with a more challenging ride than we anticipated, we all absolutely loved our experience biking the carriage trails. It was the most fun way to see the park. No worries about parking or driving, just fresh air, plenty of stops for snacks and water, and beauty all around us! Highly recommend and we all agreed we’d do it again even if we were biking from in town.
Here’s an e-bike option if you’re traveling with older kids and/or prefer to feel your legs the whole day.
Best Sunset: Cadillac Mountain
Everyone talks about sunrise from Cadillac Mountain, as it’s the first light to hit the US each day. One day I’ll go back for that, but with 6 kids we opted for a Cadillac Mountain sunset instead. It did not disappoint!
We purchased a daytime vehicle pass with a timed entry to give us plenty of time to get to the summit, explore a bit, and watch the sunset. Make sure you save your digital ticket so you’re not relying on cellular data to be able to access it in the park!
It also gets cold QUICKLY as the sun goes down (at least in October), so be sure to dress appropriately and bring a blanket, drinks & snacks to enjoy as you stargaze!
I won’t lie, the sunset from Schoodic Point (read below) also did not disappoint. Highly recommend planning your evenings around sunset views from these spots!
Best Overall Experience: The Quiet Side
I had heard (from Chelsea & others) how incredible the “quiet side” of Acadia is, but holy cow. Y’all. After a day of trying to drive in Acadia, specifically near the Jordan Pond area, the quiet side was quite literally a breath of fresh air.
Schoodic Peninsula, aka The Quiet Side, has all of the gorgeous Acadia views you’re expecting, but in a way that makes it feel like it’s just for you. Breathtaking beauty, peaceful hikes, the sounds of the waves hitting the rocks, and the smell of Christmas trees everywhere. With wayyyy fewer people and 0 crowds (at least when we went). It legitimately does not get better than this.
Scenic Loop Road is a 6 mile one way road that offers the most incredible views of the ocean, islands, sea birds, and lighthouses. Stop as often as you can to explore, take photos, climb on the rocks, and soak up this magic.
Don’t miss sunset from Schoodic Point. Gorgeous views, lots of rocks for jumping and exploring, pools of water for touching (I know this can’t just be my kids), and the moment of serenity we all need.
Best Ocean Views: Evening Cruise
We knew the kids would love seeing Maine by boat, so we booked a sunset lighthouse & national park cruise with Acadian Boat Tours.
We all loved the boat ride, the views of the rocky cliffs & gorgeous trees from the water, and seeing parts of the coastline that you can’t see from the shore. The guide said that we got lucky and saw more wildlife than they had seen in awhile. Seals, eagles, harbor porpoises, osprey and so many others!
I may or may not be a little lighthouse obsessed, so Egg Rock was one of my favorite parts. Seeing the insane cliff-side “cottages” (this means something different in Maine than it does in coastal NC) and hearing the stories surrounding them also really brought coastal Maine to life.
Best Hike: Sand Bar Walk at Low Tide
I’m not actually sure if this should count as a hike, and obviously Acadia has MANY incredible hikes that legitimately make the “best hike” list. BUT. This was the coolest experience and everyone’s favorite walk.
At low tide, you can walk Bar Island Land Bridge to get from Bar Harbor to Bar Island. Once you get to Bar Island, there is a hiking trail around the island too, but our favorite part was the land bridge itself. There’s something about walking on what was just (and will quickly be again) the ocean floor.
Our kids loved playing in the tidepools and finding shells, creatures, and a heart rock that had recently been covered by the ocean.
There are signs everywhere warning you not to stay too long because of how quickly the tide comes in. If you stay too long, you may be stuck on the island for 9 hours until the land bridge becomes visible again. Of course there are rescue boat options, but it’s a heck of an expensive “cruise” at a per person cost.
Best Food: Lobster + CJs Blueberry Soft Serve
Lobster, obviously. Any way you’d like it. Rolls, bisque, mac n’ cheese. All of it.
CJs Big Dipper Wild Maine Blueberry Softserve will have my heart forever and ever amen.
Atlantic Brewing Company also has great beer and a blueberry soda that I’ve legitimately considered paying to have shipped to my house. Our kids all loved the soda too, so definitely don’t miss this!
There are so many more great food options, but these are three things you absolutely must try when you’re in Bar Harbor. Some of our favorite restaurants were actually in other spots in Maine, so will share those in another post.
When we were in Bar Harbor it was really busy tourist wise + we had a group of 10, so it was often hard to get into restaurants. I totally understand why it was so crowded – the leaf peeping was incredible when we were there and the weather was great, too – but it made the “city” part a little less enjoyable, if I’m being honest. Hence my preference for the quiet side.
We did have great food (& service!) at Side Street Cafe, and enjoyed trying popovers, ice cream, and other treats throughout town.
Have you been to Acadia? What would you consider the “best of” this gorgeous park?
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