First stop is park visitor center. Grab park pass if you don’t have one. Talk to rangers about any possible closures, roads or trails. Get a park map.

Is your family into hiking? Many choices of all skill ranges. Park is smaller and easy to navigate but map is essential as is good hiking shoes. Trails are typically rocky. Also take advantage of carriage roads as connectors to trails or even to walk.

The busiest places in park are park loop road into Sand Beach and Jordan Pond house. Most hikes in these areas will be busier too and for good reason, beautiful spots. For slightly less busier trails, try Acadia Mtn, Flying Mtn. Driving to trailheads and finding parking will be hit or miss. Another option is to pick up explorer bus in town. They’ll drop you off anywhere in park that is safe to stop.

If you’re up for lobster, go to one of the roadside places off Rt 3. The lobster is fresher, cheaper and better than restaurants. They nearly all have picnic tables. Our favorite pizza is Rosalie’s in town.

Enjoy your trip! I guarantee it will make you want to come back for a longer stay.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone done the NPS Islesford cruise to Little Cranberry and can weigh in on whether it’s worthwhile for older kids/adults?

My relatives did it a few weeks ago. They said it's very buggy and somewhat unpleasant.

Good to know, thanks!

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone done the NPS Islesford cruise to Little Cranberry and can weigh in on whether it’s worthwhile for older kids/adults?

My relatives did it a few weeks ago. They said it's very buggy and somewhat unpleasant.

Has anyone done the NPS Islesford cruise to Little Cranberry and can weigh in on whether it’s worthwhile for older kids/adults?

Adding the idea of a sea kayaking trip. We did one out of Bar Harbor and it was really fun - not difficult, my kids were 9 and 12.

21:21 here, if they are still doing it, the Nightime Sky (or something like that) Ranger program at Sand beach at night is awesome - highly recommend

Do you have a place to stay already? If you don’t this conversation is pointless as you won’t be going as nothing is available this late.

If you do:

-reserve a daytime drive up Cadillac mountain (sunrise is already gone but the daytime view is still nice)

-go to sand beach and do the great head hike. About 2.1 miles round trip with some scrambling but too strenuous. Great views.

-I forget the name of it but it’s like a path that goes from sand beach to devils hole to otter cliffs- it’s not hard, it’s a walk vs a hike, but lots of good sites along the way

-Sieur de monts has some nice trails and a boardwalk through some native grasses

-Jordan pond path of course. It’s 3.2 miles, very pleasant, and you can visit the grav and go for blueberry lemonade and a popover sundae afterward. Jordan pond house reservations have been booked up but the grab and go will be fine. There’s also another path at Jordan pond that we far prefer - Jordan stream path. There’s almost nobody on it but it goes through the woods to a stone bridge. We saw so many types of fungi on this path.

Your 10 year old probably can’t do some of the more strenuous climbs like Beehive so I’d leave that for another time or send the older ones while someone stays with the 10.

The sand bar path that crosses out to Bar Island will be accessible every day for 3 hours around low tide (1.5 hours before and after low tide) so check the tide table and definitely do that. The Abbe museum in Bar Harbor is a great museum about the Wabanaki people who are native to the area. Hot popovers starting at 9 am at The Stadium are a must - skip Jordan’s for breakfast. It gets a lot of hype but the pancakes are gummy and gluey and tasteless. 2 Cats was better for breakfast.

Lodging will be the tough part.

Another options is renting a cabin on the coast of Maine elsewhere. I have a friend from Boston who does that every year. It depends on if you want solitude or crowds.

We went a few weeks ago. Jordan Pond was great but you may need to go ahead and park at the visitor center and take the bus to Jordan Pond as the parking is very limited at the pond itself.

We stayed on "the quiet side" in Southwest Harbor and loved it. We hung out at the Seawall picnic area and explored the tidal pools. It was so fun. We did the wonderland hike.

Also, my kids are 10 and 15 so, pretty close to the age your kids are.

We had spent time in Bar Harbor previously so didn't feel the need to this time. It's nice to shop and walk around there.

Will add a few suggestions of hikes

Ships Harbor and Wonderland, both are short, circular hikes, when you don't have a lot of time but want to see quintessential Maine shore

Flying Mountain (hint go up the back, pick and eat blueberries on your way up to gorgeous views)

We like walking around Jordan Pond, and going up to Bubble Rock

This is my old post. My kids are now 15, 13, and 10.

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/644562.page

I probably still rec a lot of the same things - I think most are still good for any age.

Things are far apart so build that in.
Where is your lodging ?

C-Ray's Lobster Shack is a must do.

If you want to do the Beehive go very early. The 10 year old is iffy for the precipice trail (unless a tall strong kid).

Do you have accommodations yet?

You need to be inland. Go to Rangely or Moosehead to maybe see a moose.

We are heading to Acadia last minute trip as I was able to get 5 days off next week. We are currently in Boston. I was thinking we can do 2 nights there, 3 days in Acadia. We have 15, 12 and 10 year old.

Can someone help me plan itinerary with this age group in mind? Anywhere other than Acadia to go see? I really want to see a moose!

Thanks