Acadia National Park
Explorer Giovanni Verrazano sailed past the rocky coast of the Gulf of Maine in 1524 and dubbed this picturesque paradise “Acadia” named for an area of Greece that looked similar. In 1929, Acadia National Park became the first national park located east of the Mississippi. There are 26 majestic mountains in Acadia National Park – the tallest is Mount Cadillac at 1,530 ft. The summit is accessible by road. Mount Cadillac has the unique distinction of being the first place in the U.S. from which you can see the sun rise, from early October to early March. There are numerous lakes and ponds in the mountains and valleys of Acadia’s 47,000 acres.
Over two millions visitors a year travel to Acadia National Park. Once a summer playground for the wealthy, Arcadia National Park and the nearby Bar Harbor area have become a year round travel destination, whether it is for the beaches in the summer or the famous New England foliage in the fall. Starting in mid-to-late September, the beautiful leaves of the Acadia forest transform into brilliant shades of reds, yellows, and oranges. Skiers and snowshoe enthusiasts flock to Acadia National Park to revel in the winter blanket of snow
With its forests and ocean, Acadia is an ideal park for birdwatching. Warblers, sea ducks, migrating birds of prey, and more than 273 species of birds have been spotted. Ranger-led birdwalks are offered from late spring to mid-fall. Peregrine falcon and hawk watching programs are popular activities. Puffins are often seen on islands off the coast of Mount Desert Island. Though moose and bears inhabit the park, they are not often seen.
There are 120 miles of walking and hiking trails, and 45 miles of bicycle trails in Acadia National Park. There are two swim beaches - one freshwater and one saltwater. Park rangers lead programs in Acadia's natural and cultural history designed for both adults and children. A Junior Ranger program is available for children.
Acadia National Park is open year round but some parts such as the Mount Cadillac summit road and the Park Loop Road may not be accessible or open in winter.
Bar Harbor
Once the summer playground of the very wealthy during the Gilded Age, Bar Harbor Maine is one of New England’s top attractions. The quaint and beautiful resort village on the east end of Mount Desert Island is still a popular summer, beach destination with its mild temperatures and cool ocean breezes, but Bar Harbor has long since become a year round destination. Fall attracts visitors from all over the world for the famous New England fall foliage, and Acadia National Park attracts the winter sports enthusiasts. Spring through early fall is the time for visitors to enjoy the water life that makes their way to the harbor – humpback whales, dolphins, and seals. Birdwatchers enjoy sightings of the rare and beautiful species, or the ever-popular puffin or the incredibly fast peregrine falcon.
Surrounded on three sides by Acadia National Park, and the fourth, by the Atlantic Ocean, Bar Harbor offers a unique vacation experience – mountain views and endless coastlines dotted with imposing granite cliffs. The village of Bar Harbor is populated with 4,500 people. Downtown Bar Harbor has four major streets. On the first street visitors find the finest mansions from the turn of the century. Some have been converted to inns. West Street is the “waterfront” district where cruise ships mingle with fishing boats. From here, Shore Path leads visitors along a path past the summer cottages of the rich. Main Street is the place to find the shops, cafes, and parks.
In addition to the mansions, the historic portion of Bar Harbor showcases the historic churches of the past. Museums highlight Bar Harbor’s wealthy past, the heritage of the natives who once lived there, and the natural ecosystem of the Gulf of Maine.
Kennebunk and Kennebunkport
When the Europeans explored the coast of Maine, they discovered a wealth of trees and rivers ideal for sawmills, the lumber from which was used to build ships. By the 1600s, settlements grew up around the shipbuilding and trading ports along the Kennebunk River. The more lumber harvested, the more popular the port became as ships came to carry off harvested wood. By the late 1800s, Kennebunk and Kennebunkport were prosperous and the wealthy shipbuilders and merchants built mansions reflecting their new wealth. In 1872, the Boston & Maine Railroad brought tourists to the area and the Kennebunks became one of the top vacation spots in New England. Grand hotels and vacation cottages sprang up.
Celebrating the “old Maine” charm, the historic village tour begins at the Brick Store Museum, which offers guided historical architecture tours. Sites include Christ Church (1828 Greek Revival), Nathaniel Frost House (1799), the Benjamin Brown House (1788), the Baptist Church, and the Horace Porter House (Greek Revival). The Summer Street homes showcase centuries of change, from Colonial, Federal, Queen Anne, Greek Revival, and Italianate residences. Other historical venues include the Seashore Trolley Museum, which houses the world’s largest collection of “mass transit” vehicles. Open-air trolley rides are offered.
With over 5,000 miles of coastline, Maine beaches wide sandy beaches are popular attractions. The beaches at the Kennebunks are renowned for their size and beauty. Beachcombers, tidepoolers, sunbathers, surfers, and swimmers are drawn to this part of the Atlantic Ocean.
Around the Kennebunks, visitors find what is often symbolized with Maine and the Atlantic coast – lighthouses. Maine has its share of the Atlantic seaboard’s most historical beacons of light. Goat Island Light (1833) was the last manned lighthouse in Maine before it was automated in 1990. The Wood Island Light (1808/1858) is one of the oldest and is rumored to be haunted. The Boon Island Light (1811) is the tallest lighthouse in Maine. The Cape Neddick (Nubble Light) Lighthouse stands on Nubble Island just off Cape Neddick Point. Some of these lighthouses are open to the public.