Falling for New England: Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park

It's post Labor Day, which usually means summer's over, and fall is around the corner. Except it doesn't feel like neither. The southeast is experiencing another week of heat wave; as I polish this post, the mercury is hovering around 100 degrees F. No kidding! Some friends of ours were so lucky to choose this time to fly away to Maine. We wish we could've joined them.

Reminiscing about Maine might keep us a little cooler. Yeah right. It did force the first mate to edit the videos we took. One late August/early September we did a road trip from Boston to Maine. It was a few years ago, but we remember it like it was yesterday. We had stayed at the Harbor Ridge timeshare in Southwest Harbor. When we checked in, the front desk clerk asked if we wanted to order lobsters. We said yes, and boy, those were some of the best lobsters we've had! At $7 each, and all were over a pound, the fresh off the boat lobsters were a steal!

DIY dinner - delicious lobsters with corn and blueberry pie

Bar Harbor is a delightful little town. Not only are there galleries and interesting, fun shops, there are at least 2 walking paths that are easy and beautiful. Starting at the town pier, the Shore Path is a one-mile walking path offering an amazing view of Bar Harbor's rocky shorelines, and glimpses into the charming waterfront inns and stately residences.

The Shore Path (Bar Harbor Inn in the distance, Agamont Park on the right)

There are not many places you can walk over to an island at low tide. Bar Island, north of the town pier, is such a place. It sure was a unique experience walking on the sandbar; we found some shells and sea glass among the pebbles. Before you go, check the tide table; you don't want to get stranded out there.

Scenic view and interesting terrain on Bar Island

Don't say we didn't warn you

Hungry after all that exercise? No worries. There are restaurants galore. We chose Geddy's (see review) and got a table overlooking Agamont Park. Our lobster dinner was the perfect ending to an awesome day.

Yummy lobster and clam chowdah

typical nautical décor in down East Maine

The next few days found us hiking at Acadia National Park. On the spur of the moment one early evening, we drove up to Cadillac Mountain (elevation 1,530 feet). As we navigated the twists and turns up the mountain road, we were awed by the majestic vistas and natural beauty. Several observation points beckoned us to stop and take pictures, and halfway up the summit, we found ourselves enveloped in a thick fog. We turned around and cautiously made our way down.

We were better prepared the next time. We got up before dawn, packed some warm blankets and drove to the summit to see the sunrise. Cadillac Mountain is the first location in the U.S. to catch the morning sun, so it's a popular activity at the park. The parking lot was almost full when we got there around 4:26 am. Intrepid hikers, photographers and visitors had already found a comfortable spot with the best view. Due to the clouds and haze, there was no true sunrise that morning. So much for planning. Most people left, so we had the mountain to ourselves and enjoyed a leisurely hike.

View of Bar Harbor and the islands on Frenchman Bay from Cadillac Mountain

Acadia is chock full of hiking and biking trails, and many places to stop and admire nature's beauty and artwork. We love picturesque Jordan Pond. There are several trails, a gift shop and a full service restaurant here. You can savor your food while soaking in the breathtaking sights.

Jordan Pond

Get a rush of adrenaline at Thunder Hole, where the sound of thunder roars when the waves enter a narrow inlet and crash into the rocky shores. It is beautiful, scary and exciting, all at the same time.

Thunder Hole

Entrance to Bass Harbor Head Light

Walk down a few flight of stairs

to see the sunset and rocky cliffs at Bass Harbor Head Light

We spent our last evening at Acadia National Park watching the sunset at Bass Harbor Head Light. When we arrived, visitors and photographers had already staked out their spots for the perfect picture. We were thrilled to see a pretty sunset. It was a fitting end to our escapade.

This post is shared on Skywatch Friday and Through My Lens.

Stay cool, y'all!

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