Mount Desert Island condenses the fabled Maine coast and woods into a single magical spot. Salt-splashed fishing villages dot the southwest lobe, while Bar Harbor on the east bustles with lodging options and restaurants. Painters of the 19th-century Hudson River School were among the first to celebrate Mount Desert’s wild natural beauty, and their art encouraged wealthy industrialists to build summer estates thoughtfully incorporated into natural settings. Half the island falls within Acadia National Park.
NEED TO KNOW
Acadia National Park Visitor Center • off Rte 3, Hulls Cove • 207 288 3338
, 877 444 6777
(camping reservations) • open Apr–mid-Jun & Sep–Oct: 8:30am–4:30pm daily; mid-Jun–Aug: 8am–6pm daily • adm •
www.nps.gov/acad
Jordan Pond House • Park Loop Rd, Seal Harbor • 207 276 3316
• open mid-May–late Oct: 11am–9pm •
www.acadiajordanpondhouse.com
Abbe Museum • 26 Mount Desert St, Bar Harbor • 207 288 3519
• open May–Oct: 10am–5pm daily; Nov–Apr: 10am–4pm Thu–Sat • adm •
www.abbemuseum.org
- Acadia National Park is one of the most visited parks in the National Park system. For summer visits, reserve lodgings well in advance.
- Check out Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound .
1. Jordan Pond House
For a touch of gentility in the wilderness, nothing beats sitting in Adirondack chairs on the grassy lawn of the Jordan Pond House, where you can enjoy their famous popovers with afternoon tea.
2. Carriage Roads
To preserve auto-free tranquility, John D. Rockefeller Jr. built 45 miles (72 km) of carriage roads through land he gave to Acadia National Park – still reserved for hikers, cyclists, skiers, and equestrians.
3. Bar Harbor
Grand mansions line the shore of this lively resort town on Frenchman Bay. Bar Harbor functions as a tourist center for the island. It’s also a convenient base for visiting Acadia National Park.
Scenic beauty of Bar Harbor
4. Bass Harbor Head
At the southern tip of Mount Desert, Bass Harbor Head towers above the sea. The lighthouse offers amazing views over the deep blue ocean.
Bass Harbor Head lighthouse
5. Cadillac Mountain
It’s worth rising early to hike or drive up 1,527-ft (465-m) Cadillac Mountain to catch the first rays of the sun to strike the US.
Cadillac Mountain
6. Thunder Hole
Swift tides and strong waves pounding the craggy ledges at Thunder Hole force air and water into a deep crease beneath the rock. Under the right conditions, a ground-shaking thunderclap echoes from the hole.
7. Southwest Harbor
This snug harbor, tucked inside two lobes of Mount Desert Island, is delightfully tranquil and picturesque. Take a lobster-hauling boat ride or catch the Cranberry Isles ferry here.
8. Abbe Museum
Explore 10,000 years of Native-American culture in this museum devoted to the heritage of Maine’s Wabanaki peoples. See basketry and wood-carving at the small outpost in the National Park in summer.
Basket on display at the Abbe Museum
9. Hiking Trails
To penetrate the deep wilderness or get up close and personal with the mountains of Acadia National Park, use the network of more than 120 miles (193 km) of trails. They range from easy to very strenuous.
10. Sand Beach
Rugged cliffs and jumbled ledges line most of Acadia’s shoreline, but thousands of visitors flock to this 870-ft (265-m) stretch of sandy cove to sunbathe. Swimming is bracing, as the ocean water rarely exceeds 55º F (15º C).
Sand Beach cove
