Tell me about Acadia

[Anonymous]

I noticed many posters in that other thread recommending Acadia National Park. Tell me more .... is there someplace to stay, other than camping? If one camps, is it freezing at night (in the summer)? Are there restaurants? What is there to do other than hiking? We've got a few kids, so am trying to figure out whether and how it will work for us. We're not great campers, but could probably figure it out for a night or two. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

We rented our house through homeaway.com. You do not need to camp. Just find a rental and use it as your home base.

Activities - Lots of hiking (my kids were 9 and 7 at the time we went and could do even the most strenuous of hikes). Go to Jordan pond for popovers! Get to each of your hikes, if you're driving, early as the crowds do come! Plenty of restaurants, great local ice cream parlors (I still think of the homemade blueberry ice cream I had!). The locals are a proud group. They love Maine and can't imagine another place better than their home state.

We were there a week and still felt like there was so much more to do.

[Anonymous]

Rent bikes
Climbing guides
Kayak guides

Amazing place. You won't go just once.

[Anonymous]

http://m.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php?s=13937&cityname=Bar-Harbor-Maine-United-States-of-America

Ayuh. Can be chilly in summer.

[Anonymous]

We camped for a week in August last summer and it was great. It got cool at night, but never outright cold. We worse sweatshirts and shorts mostly at night. Other than hiking (which is fabulous as PP's have said), we did spend a few days just hanging out on the beach- Echo Lake has a good, small, family-friendly beach as well as Sand Beach which is on the Atlantic (that water is cold, but so refreshing especially after doing Beehive or another hike!). We brought out bikes and did a lot of bike riding as well. The carriage trails are really nice for that. And Bar Harbor is a fun touristy town to hand out in- we didn't do a lot of that but I'm sure you could find things to do.

[Anonymous]

My expectations were so high for Acadia. I only wish someone had told me that the drive up Cadillac Mountain was horrific - like a Disney exhibit of nature. SO many cars and tourists that it would make any real hiker blanche. For those that actually hike up Cadillac, they are greeted by a summit of gigantic parking lot. Don't get me wrong, views from Cadillac are great. But just know ahead of time it is a tourist trap. Stick with the "quiet side" of Acadia for real hiking.

[Anonymous]

Acadia is awesome. In addition to hiking and hanging out in Bar Harbor you can also take nature cruises. I highly recommend it.

[Anonymous]

We stayed in Southwest Harbor and enjoyed being away from the bustle of Bar Harbor (though it does take a bit longer to get to the main part of the park.) There are a couple of nice inns there if you're not up for camping.

[Anonymous]

I've always wanted to go and watch a sunrise. It's the first place the sun rises in the US.

[Anonymous]

Loved staying in Bar Harbor..enjoying the park during the day and a nice dinner, walk, ice cream at night.

[Anonymous]

We camped last summer around 4th of July. Weather was perfect - warm during the day (shorts and t shirts) and cool at night (light sweatshirt, pants -- not freezing). But there are A TON of places on the island to stay. Bed and breakfasts, small hotels, or even house rentals.

It was great for kids - every major attraction has a bathroom. Lol. That makes it convenient. But seriously - sand beach, thunder hole, jordan pond, ice cream in town, walking all around the tide pools at low tide - amazing stuff.

We can't wait to go back.

[Anonymous]

You can rent a house in Bar Harbor, then go out to the campgrounds for evening shows & ranger presentations at their outdoor amphitheaters. We went a few years back, and drove up to the summit of Cadillac mountain at night to see meteor showers. Magical!

There are tons of other hikes to do, some easy, some strenuous. Plus rock climbing & tide pools. For younger kids, there's a program called 'Diver's Ed' that leaves from the College of the Atlantic. Basically a diver named Ed who takes you on a live video tour of the bottom of the bay. He brings up a variety of creatures to create a touch tank. Corny jokes, but well done and kids love it.