This is by far my favorite National Park that I have been to. There is just so much beauty all around you that it takes your breath away. I have a gallery wall and four of the pictures alone come from Acadia along with a map of Mount Desert Island. Acadia National Park is comprised of 47,000-acres along Maine’s Atlantic coast. Its landscape is marked by woodland, rocky beaches, one sandy beach, ponds, marshlands and glacier-scoured granite peaks such as Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the United States’ East Coast. A vast majority of Acadia can be found on Mount Desert Island along with Isle au Haut, and the Schoodic Penninsula. You may spot moose, bear, deer, bald eagles, seals, whales and seabirds.
Even in the busiest of times, you will be able to find your own little section of peace and quiet. To really get away from it all I suggest going to the Schoodic Penninsula that is a short ride away from Mount Desert Island and it is a ghost town. It is just you and 
nature. I camped there for a night and it was a fantastic experience. The campground is called Schoodic Woods and it has only been open for a couple of years. It’s located right in Acadia National Park. It is a “dark” park so they do not want you hanging string lights or other bright lights as to obstruct the perfectly dark night sky. (Can someone say awesome Milky Way pictures!) If your a night photographer or a novice just getting into photography I strongly suggest staying in a dark park you will get fantastic photos. There is even a whole festival dedicated to the night sky it is held during the new moon in September. You can find out more information at acadianightskyfestival.org
Among other things to do at Acadia, I suggest going up to Cadillac Mountain at sunrise. It will be one of the best sunrises that you’ll ever see. **Drive incredibly slow on the roads and up the mountain at this time because that is when the wildlife is most active** You will see deer and maybe a moose or two close by the roads so make sure to keep an eye out. Also if you go later in the day especially on a weekend Cadillac Mountain can get packed and there is very limited parking. Another great spot I like to take a hike around is Jordan Pond. It’s very peaceful and I hardly see anyone ever around. There is a little restaurant called the Jordan Pond House you can eat outside or in, but most importantly, make sure to get their famous popovers with some Maine strawberry jam.
Another place to make sure to visit is the Thunder Hole on Mount Desert Island. Carved naturally out of the coastal rocks, waves have been battering this tiny inlet for centuries. Because there is a small cavern at the bottom of the inlet, the combination of the waves hitting the rocks and the release of air from the cavern cause a thunderous boom to happen. No trip to Acadia National Park is com
plete without visiting it. Thunder Hole is a quintessentially Maine landmark that offers more than just the trademark thunder; there are stunning views in every direction from the high rocks surrounding this historical inlet. Many say the best time to go to Thunder Hole is midway between low and high tide. But be warned, if a storm has just pushed out to sea brave visitors are treated to the trademark thunder, complete with crashing waves in the extreme. Do your due diligence and make sure you check weather reports before you go. The waves have been said to reach up to an immense 40 feet high (needless to say you will get wet, so make sure you’re prepared). But on most days it’s an amazing natural display and certainly a tremendous photo opportunity.
Some tips:
- Really and I mean really plan your visit ahead of time. If you wake up one morning and say I think I’m going to go camp up in Acadia for a few days GOOD LUCK finding a campground that is open. All of them book up so far in advance I would book for three months ahead. Go to this website for the best up to date camping information https://www.nps.gov/acad/planyourvisit/camping.htm
- Go to the visitors welcome center especially if it is your first time and get a map because it is very easy to get lost and cell service in some of these areas is very spotty and frequently goes out on me and I have Verizon. Can you hear me now?
- Check the weather forecast because even in the warm summer months it gets very breezy on the shore and also up on Cadillac Mountain and at night the temps can plummet.
- Have a semi full gas tank gas stations are few and far between and I’d hate to run out of gas with no cell phone service.
- If night photography is your thing try to plan on going during a new moon phase for the darkest skies possible and a trip to Sand Beach you’ll get fantastic photos that seems to be the go-to place for night photography. Cadillac Mountain could be dangerous to go when it is that dark. **IT IS PITCH BLACK** I was actually scared more than a few times driving because there are NO lights anywhere so be careful of wildlife driving in the park.
- Bring your camera and have fun!
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