In the summer of 2022, we traveled to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. We made a stop on the way up and on the way back for other sightseeing but Maine was the highlight of our trip. We stayed in the Smuggler's Den Campground in Southwest Harbor, which was a short scenic 30-minute drive to either Bar Harbor or the entrance to Acadia National Park.
We started our trip with a drive around the park and found that arriving around 8 am assured us less crowds and easy parking. A second attempt later in the morning, closer to lunchtime showed us the crowds of visitors and limited parking. The next day, we planned an EARLY sunrise trip back into the park with a plan to view it from Cadillac Mountain. Unfortunately, the early sunrise beat us to the location, so instead, we chose to take a sunrise hike around Jordan Pond, a level 3 miles hike with breathtaking views through the wooded shores of the pond. Arriving after 8-9 am will make it very difficult to find parking.
While in Bar Harbor, we had planned a Puffin Lighthouse Nature Cruise with the Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company. Although the waves were choppy and many of the fellow passengers did not feel well (including my brother in law), I was able to take a spot near the front of the boat and photograph to my heart's content including puffins, harbor seals, and lighthouses, until my battery died.
The town of Bar Harbor itself is incredibly cute and lined with souvenir shops, restaurants, and coffee shops for you to visit to your heart's content.
We will be back! Plans are already made for this summer! (with a ticket purchased to visit Machias Seal Island) - - And a BETTER CAMERA!
In the summer of 2022, we traveled to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. We made a stop on the way up and on the way back for other sightseeing but Maine was the highlight of our trip. We stayed in the Smuggler's Den Campground in Southwest Harbor, which was a short scenic 30-minute drive to either Bar Harbor or the entrance to Acadia National Park.
We started our trip with a drive around the park and found that arriving around 8 am assured us less crowds and easy parking. A second attempt later in the morning, closer to lunchtime showed us the crowds of visitors and limited parking. The next day, we planned an EARLY sunrise trip back into the park with a plan to view it from Cadillac Mountain. Unfortunately, the early sunrise beat us to the location, so instead, we chose to take a sunrise hike around Jordan Pond, a level 3 miles hike with breathtaking views through the wooded shores of the pond. Arriving after 8-9 am will make it very difficult to find parking.
While in Bar Harbor, we had planned a Puffin Lighthouse Nature Cruise with the Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company. Although the waves were choppy and many of the fellow passengers did not feel well (including my brother in law), I was able to take a spot near the front of the boat and photograph to my heart's content including puffins, harbor seals, and lighthouses, until my battery died.
The town of Bar Harbor itself is incredibly cute and lined with souvenir shops, restaurants, and coffee shops for you to visit to your heart's content.
We will be back! Plans are already made for this summer! (with a ticket purchased to visit Machias Seal Island) - - And a BETTER CAMERA!
In the summer of 2022, we traveled to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. We made a stop on the way up and on the way back for other sightseeing but Maine was the highlight of our trip. We stayed in the Smuggler's Den Campground in Southwest Harbor, which was a short scenic 30-minute drive to either Bar Harbor or the entrance to Acadia National Park.
We started our trip with a drive around the park and found that arriving around 8 am assured us less crowds and easy parking. A second attempt later in the morning, closer to lunchtime showed us the crowds of visitors and limited parking. The next day, we planned an EARLY sunrise trip back into the park with a plan to view it from Cadillac Mountain. Unfortunately, the early sunrise beat us to the location, so instead, we chose to take a sunrise hike around Jordan Pond, a level 3 miles hike with breathtaking views through the wooded shores of the pond. Arriving after 8-9 am will make it very difficult to find parking.
While in Bar Harbor, we had planned a Puffin Lighthouse Nature Cruise with the Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company. Although the waves were choppy and many of the fellow passengers did not feel well (including my brother in law), I was able to take a spot near the front of the boat and photograph to my heart's content including puffins, harbor seals, and lighthouses, until my battery died.
The town of Bar Harbor itself is incredibly cute and lined with souvenir shops, restaurants, and coffee shops for you to visit to your heart's content.
We will be back! Plans are already made for this summer! (with a ticket purchased to visit Machias Seal Island) - - And a BETTER CAMERA!
In the summer of 2022, we traveled to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. We made a stop on the way up and on the way back for other sightseeing but Maine was the highlight of our trip. We stayed in the Smuggler's Den Campground in Southwest Harbor, which was a short scenic 30-minute drive to either Bar Harbor or the entrance to Acadia National Park.
We started our trip with a drive around the park and found that arriving around 8 am assured us less crowds and easy parking. A second attempt later in the morning, closer to lunchtime showed us the crowds of visitors and limited parking. The next day, we planned an EARLY sunrise trip back into the park with a plan to view it from Cadillac Mountain. Unfortunately, the early sunrise beat us to the location, so instead, we chose to take a sunrise hike around Jordan Pond, a level 3 miles hike with breathtaking views through the wooded shores of the pond. Arriving after 8-9 am will make it very difficult to find parking.
While in Bar Harbor, we had planned a Puffin Lighthouse Nature Cruise with the Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company. Although the waves were choppy and many of the fellow passengers did not feel well (including my brother in law), I was able to take a spot near the front of the boat and photograph to my heart's content including puffins, harbor seals, and lighthouses, until my battery died.
The town of Bar Harbor itself is incredibly cute and lined with souvenir shops, restaurants, and coffee shops for you to visit to your heart's content.
We will be back! Plans are already made for this summer! (with a ticket purchased to visit Machias Seal Island) - - And a BETTER CAMERA!
In the summer of 2022, we traveled to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. We made a stop on the way up and on the way back for other sightseeing but Maine was the highlight of our trip. We stayed in the Smuggler's Den Campground in Southwest Harbor, which was a short scenic 30-minute drive to either Bar Harbor or the entrance to Acadia National Park.
We started our trip with a drive around the park and found that arriving around 8 am assured us less crowds and easy parking. A second attempt later in the morning, closer to lunchtime showed us the crowds of visitors and limited parking. The next day, we planned an EARLY sunrise trip back into the park with a plan to view it from Cadillac Mountain. Unfortunately, the early sunrise beat us to the location, so instead, we chose to take a sunrise hike around Jordan Pond, a level 3 miles hike with breathtaking views through the wooded shores of the pond. Arriving after 8-9 am will make it very difficult to find parking.
While in Bar Harbor, we had planned a Puffin Lighthouse Nature Cruise with the Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company. Although the waves were choppy and many of the fellow passengers did not feel well (including my brother in law), I was able to take a spot near the front of the boat and photograph to my heart's content including puffins, harbor seals, and lighthouses, until my battery died.
The town of Bar Harbor itself is incredibly cute and lined with souvenir shops, restaurants, and coffee shops for you to visit to your heart's content.
We will be back! Plans are already made for this summer! (with a ticket purchased to visit Machias Seal Island) - - And a BETTER CAMERA!
