Maine - Acadia National Park

So far, I’ve talked about the places in Maine I went to in October 2007 and the places I’d like to go and visit in Maine minus one:

ACADIA NATIONAL PARK

 

It’s a vacation all on its own.  It’s that big and there is so much to do there.  It will celebrate its 100^th anniversary in 2016.  It was the first national park east of the Mississippi River, and is located on more than 47,000 acres along the rugged coast of Maine.  Its home to many plants and animals, and the tallest mountain on the US Atlantic Coast.  You can hike, bike, or relax and enjoy the scenery.  But, their visitor center and some of their roads are only open from April through October every year even though they are a year round park so plan your trip accordingly.

There are two scenic byways in the area that shows the beauty of Acadia.  One is the Acadia All American Road.  It’s a 40-mile road that takes you from the shorelines, to the top of granite-capped mountains, past lakes, and through forests. 

Acadia All American Road

Also, there is the Schoodic Scenic Byway.  Along this 29-mile road, you’ll be enchanted by the mountains, local birds, coastal islands, historic buildings, and lighthouses.  Brilliant views await you at every bend and turn on both byways.

Schoodic Scenic Byway

Two lighthouses in the Acadia National Park are the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse and the Bear Island Lighthouse.  The Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse was built along a cliff in the Tremont area back in 1858.  There is free parking to view the lighthouse from different viewpoints. 

 

Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse

The Bear Island Lighthouse was constructed in 1889 in the Somes Sound area, which is the only fjord on the east coast of the US.  This lighthouse is closed to the public and is best viewed by boat.

Bear Island Lighthouse

The carriage roads and stone bridges within the park is a 57-mile network of woodland roads free of cars for hikers, bikers, horseback riders, carriages, cross-country skiing and limited snowmobiling.

 

Also, you can schedule a boat ride to go to the islands just off the coast to see some Atlantic Puffins (often mistaken as penguins).  Here is one such cruise.  In 2008, the Atlantic Puffin population on Eastern Egg Rock eclipsed 100 nesting pairs of puffins to view on such tours.  Many of these tour companies also offer seal cruises, lighthouse cruises, and fall coastal cruises along the shores of Maine.

 
These are just the places I visited or would like to go and visit in Maine.  If you know of anywhere else in Maine we should check out, please leave a comment below.  Next, we’ll explore what’s just round the corner in the state of Maryland.

**All photos were found online.**