Acadia

If you have never visited Acadia National Park then you are in for a treat! For me, my first visit was one I will never forget. Why? The most obvious is the beauty of the rocky coast combined with miles and miles of easy hiking trails and the many mountains that the average Joe can climb with breathtaking views around every bend. But for me it was also the fact that there is no Main Gate (except for a small toll booth at the beginning of the Park Loop Road - hardly a Main Gate). In fact, if you are like me, you will have a hard time knowing when you are IN the park as you drive around the Island (that being Mount Desert Island). And it is all FREE! Other than a nominal fee for an auto to drive the Park Loop Road there is not charge for parking and there are no fees for enjoying the miles and miles of hiking / biking trails.

I still find amazing just how many people Acadia National Park can absorb on any given day. Because it is so spread out and the activities are so varied you can actually find locations to be alone even during the peak of the summer season. Miles of rocky coast with the constant sights and sounds of waves crashing at your feet, birds flying over head or floating on the water, harbor seals poking their heads out to observe the strange creatures sitting on the rocks, lobster boats with their throaty engines working their lobster pots, tall ships sailing Frenchman Bay, and the list goes on.

Not having seen many other National Parks (yet) I am not in a position to compare but I do know that I love the ease with which I can enjoy the many and varied activities available in Acadia National Park without waiting in lines or feeling like I am crowded into a confined area. I invite you to check out my web site at www.acadiavacations.com where you will find photos and more info on things to enjoy on Mount Desert Island and in Acadia National Park. It you have questions I can be reached at acadiamaine@gmail.com Put Acadia on your Must Do list - you will be very glad you did.

How long should we plan for our visit to Acadia National Park? This is a very common question and it is not an easy one to answer - it is kinda like the question about what computer should I buy? It depends! How much time you should plan for a visit to Acadia National Park depends on a “bunch of things”. Before I address this issue let me tell you that there are a large number of “regulars” visiting Mount Desert Island (MDI), Acadia and Down East Maine. That should give you a good idea of the kind of recommendations I will be making.

Here are some of the considerations and my recommendations:

Consideration 1: Will this be my first and only visit to MDI/Acadia? If the answer is yes then I recommend you plan as much time as is possible. Especially if you are an outdoor activity lover. I hate to hear people say they have planned only one day!! If you are not likely to visit again then I strongly recommend a minimum of a week and suggest you consider a couple weeks. There are so many relaxing and fun outdoor activities that you will want plenty of time to take advantage of them and still have a relaxing and fun visit.

Consideration 2: Do you plan to take advantage of the fantastic variety of outdoor activities available in the area? If you want to hike, bike, kayak, whale watch, climb a mountain or two or three, photograph sunrise and sunset, relax on the rocks, relax on a mountain top, enjoy a horse drawn carriage ride, rock climb, canoe one or more ponds/lakes, play golf on spectacular courses, shop for local art - the list goes on. If that sounds like you then 2 weeks is not long enough.

Consideration 3: Are you looking for Disney Land North? If so then do not bother to drive to MDI. It is not even close and young children looking for a Mickey Mouse experience will be very unhappy.

Considerstion 4: Are you looking for a romantic visit for two? If yes then 1-2 weeks will work fine - the environment on MDI is very romantic - my opinion. And, if you both enjoy outdoor activity in a quiet and relaxing location the find a cottage and drop out for at least a week but will most likely wish you had 2 weeks.

Consideration 5: You are retired, enjoy fine restaurants, quiet and relaxing places to sit and enjoy the beauty nature has provided and want a peaceful, relaxing not time table place to get away from it all then plan at least a month.

Consideration 6: Are you looking for a very non-Disney type of vacation with a family of grammar school to teenage children who are good at entertaining themselves and would enjoy exploring the rocky coast and tide pools or hiking trails with birds, squirrels and fresh salt air or spruce pine scent then plan a couple weeks. I find most kids actually enjoy the change of pace and there are enough kid special activities to satisfy the need for such thungs - i.e. miniature golf, water slides etc - not very big but still meets the need.

I think this gives you an idea about how much time you may want to plan for your visit - a one day visit is not at all what I recommend and unless your travel distance is great I suspect you will be back again and probably even again. So, a minimum of one week will work but I suggest between 2 weeks and a month and even at that you will likely be back.

Phew, I am back from a month away on an vacation visiting family in Wisconsin - had a great trip and the weather was fantastic. Finally caught up with all the work that piled up while gone and ready to head into the holiday season.

For those of you who plan to visit Maine during the summer of ‘08 it is time to start making your plans and securing your lodging soon. If you will be looking for a cottage for your family I strongly suggest you book one before March and sooner is better than later. You may find it interesting to know that many of the cottages in the Mount Desert / Down East region are rented by repeat clients each year. Therefore, many of the cottages are booked a year in advance.

B&Bs are not that much different than cottages but typically they do not fill up quite as fast as cottages. Motels and campgrounds are easier to find later into the Spring.

AND, if you want waterfront then you need to be booking early no matter what you are looking for in terms of lodging type.

Let me direct you to www.acadiavacations.com where you can find lodgings selected by me for their quality and their range of price points.