We spent eight days enjoying the charm of Bar Harbor and the natural beauty of Acadia National Park. What I love most about vacations is the opportunity to experience things new and different. Seeing my children push themselves beyond what they’ve experienced and recognizing that this is something new and cool is the most rewarding. Lucas will remember putting aside his fears as he hiked up and down inclines too steep to be comfortable. Penny and Oliver will remember climbing up the most impossible dirt hills and rocky cliffs and the pride of pumping their arms into the air when they reached the top. And I will remember it all.
The view of Bar Harbor from an observation point in Acadia National Park. This was the first time we had sight of the sand bar at low tide. Imagine our confusion when we saw people walking in the middle of the sea.
Acadia National Park protects the natural beauty of the highest rocky headlands along the Atlantic coastline of the United States, an abundance of habitats, high biodiversity, clean air and water, and a rich cultural heritage. Each year, more than 3.3 million people explore seven peaks above 1,000 feet, 120 miles of hiking trails, 45 miles of carriage roads, 17 stone bridges, and four lighthouses. –
Beal’s Lobster Pier in Southwest Harbor has been a working fish and lobster pier since 1932. In 1969, after almost four decades of success as a wholesale operation, the third generation of Beals opened a Maine seafood restaurant at the end of the pier. The restaurant’s vision remains the same today as it was then–serve up the freshest seafood to customers, at the doorstep of the working waterfront. – www.bealslobster.com
Jordan Pond is a glacier formed tarn. The waters are crystal clear and serve as a water supply for the nearby town of Seal Harbor. A 3.6 mile hike around the shoreline gives you flat trails, bridges, rocky climbs and a man-made bog walk to protect the most fragile areas. The constant change in terrain coupled with the views kept us all entertained and inspired. Our hike ended with popovers at Jordan Pond House, the only full service restaurant in Acadia National Park. The tradition of popovers and tea dates back to the 1890s.
A layer of tiny water droplets suspended in the atmosphere obscures visibility beyond Bar Harbor. The islands that dot the coast have disappeared. The eye has no where to look but to what is at hand.