If you want to travel to Maine, this is the perfect time to go and it’s not too late to plan.
About six weeks ago, my husband and I decided that if we were going to plan a summer vacation, we needed to get serious. We had ideas of visiting a national park as my son had earned his “Every Kid in a Park” pass for the summer.
As it turns out, last minute summer travel can be expensive if you’re traveling anywhere by air so we decided to stay a little closer to home and book a trip to Maine, with the focus being Acadia National Park, situated close to the town of Bar Harbor, Maine.
To make our lives easier, we flew to Boston and drove for the rest of the trip. And what a way to go! It was worth having a car that let us easily explore many of the corners of Maine, including Portland, Freeport, Castine, and Bar Harbor. Here are a few corners that will inspire you to travel to Maine. Whether you’re into food, nature, wildlife, history, or simply beautiful scenery, there’s something for everyone!
Downeast Maine
Dice Head Lighthouse
You might have heard that Maine has a few lighthouses (63, to be exact) but our first glimpse came when we spent the day in the small coastal town of Castine, Maine.
The Other Fort Knox
While this Fort Knox doesn’t house any gold, it’s a commanding site made entirely of granite. While you’re there, check out the view from nearby Penobscot Narrows Bridge Observatory.
Acadia National Park
Cadillac Mountain
Don’t think you can climb a mountain? Don’t worry. You can drive to it! And it’s well worth the view from the top of Cadillac Mountain.
Thunder Hole
Rumored to make a sounds like thunder as high tide approaches, this popular attraction inside Acadia is beautiful even if all you hear are the crashing waves.
Tidal Pools
Visiting Acadia during high tide and low tide can create two totally different experiences. During low tide, you can find small tidal pool teeming with life – we spotted crabs, snails, mussels, and barnacles (yes, they’re alive!).
Rocky Beaches
Even if you’re not a geology buff, you can’t help but stand in awe of the pieces of earth that literally look ripped apart. This area is well-known for its granite.
Jordan Pond
Situated right in the middle of Acadia, a short two-hour hike leads you around this pond surrounded by rocks and small mountains. (Be sure to check out the Jordan Pond House for the best popovers!)
Blueberries!
Whether it’s beside Jordan Pond or hiking on one of the trails, if you time your visit just right, you’ll be greeted by naturally growing blueberry bushes just begging you to grab a snack along your travels.
Bar Harbor, Maine
Harbor Coastline
Late one evening, we saw crowds rushing to one end of Bar Harbor. We followed them to discover a breathtaking scene watching the clouds roll in over the outlying rocky islands.
Sunset on the Docks
But the real crowd-gatherer is the sunset witnessed from the docks of Bar Harbor. And this is a regular occurrence!
Eastport, Maine
Grey and Harbor Seals
A trip to the Maine-Canada border gave us a glimpse into another reason people visit Maine – the wildlife. This little island appeared as the tide went out and lifted all of the grey and harbor seals lounging nearby.
Bald Eagles
If you think spotting wildlife is an anomaly, this is just one of four bald eagles we spotted in the wild on this trip.
Finback Whales
It’s also a gamble when you go whale watching in Maine but Mother Nature didn’t disappoint. A pair of finback whales appeared, almost on cue, while we were exploring the Bay of Fundy.
Maine Memories
The goal of this family trip was to step away from the fabricated theme park vacations we know and love so much. It was a chance to become inspired by our own exploration. Hearing my son beg to go back to the rocks again was enough to validate our choice of vacation destinations this year and helps shape more trips we plan to take.
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Have you had the chance to travel to Maine? Where have you explored? I’d love to hear your favorite destinations!
3 comments
These are incredible photos! Glad you had such a great trip!
[…] when it’s cheaper and less crowded but we threw caution (and money) to the wind and planned a one week stay in Maine. I’m not sure there was a single complaint the entire week. The weather, the food, the sites, […]
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