Vacations can, sometimes, be overwhelming to plan. At least for me. Like I shared in my previous blog, when I’m on vacation, I like to have a perfect meal and the same goes for adventures and activities. I LOVE to plan days that are cohesive, fun, with a bunch of choose-your-own-adventure options built into them.
So..for the final blog of The Acadia Series, I wanted to give you 3 unique itineraries for exploring Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park and take the stress out of planning some of your adventures there.
I’ve included links to my previous blogs in my itineraries so you can check out my take on the trails, places, and restaurants I’ve recommended as well.
While these itineraries can be combined together for an epic day of adventuring, all are designed for a morning or afternoon of exploring so you can build in ample time for naps and/or doing your own thing.
As always, cell phone service can be quite spotty so be sure you have a map with you. I really LOVE this one by Map Adventures. It’s super detailed AND waterproof!
Here’s a couple of other reminders:
- Have a Back Up Plan. Everyone will tell you to have a back up plan..and it’s for good reason. Parking lots could be full (very common), trails could be closed, and weather can change.
- Pay the Park Entrance Fees. Accessing any of the park lands (even outside the “main parts”) requires a pass. They offer a tiered menu of day, week and year long passes.
- Familiarize Yourself with the Island Explorer. The Island Explorer is the FREE bus system with 11 routes around the Island and Acadia National Park.
Also, be sure to subscribe to The Wandering Chickadee! All subscribers will receive two BONUS blogs in The Acadia Series that will feature additional itineraries and rainy day activities.
Itineraries
Adventure One: The Early Morning Enthusiast
For this adventure, you are going to want to get up early and head to Southwest Harbor and check out the Common Good Soup Kitchen to support a wonderful organization and grab a breakfast of popovers and oatmeal (and LIVE music on the weekends).
If you have littles ones, grab your breakfast to go and make the short 50 foot trip by foot to Pemetic Elementary School. Let the little ones enjoy the playground while you sit under the big tree and enjoy your breakfast.
From there, head out to Flying Mountain or Beech Mountain for a morning hike. Once done, grab some charcuterie and lunch items from Beech Hill Farm and head to Echo Lake for a refreshing dip and lunch.
Bathroom locations for this adventure:
- Downtown Southwest Harbor: Public restrooms are located by the police station
- Beech Mountain: Latrines are located in the parking lot
- Echo Lake: Public restrooms are located by the beach
Adventure Two: An Afternoon Delight
Pick up this adventure in Bass Harbor by stopping at the Bass Harbor Lighthouse to snap some pics of the iconic lighthouse and picturesque coastline. There isn’t much for kiddos to do here but the views are gorgeous and worth the trek out there.
Next, continue down Route 102A to choose to explore either Ships Harbor or Wonderland trails (or both!). I prefer the Ships Harbor trail because the trail is a loop. I also think there are more spots along the trail to check out that really provide some fun for kids.
After adventuring on these trails, head back the way you came (Route 102A is closed at the Seawall at the time of this blog) and grab a bite to eat Thurston’s Lobster Pound. Check out their curated shop Slack Tide before you leave.
Before you leave Bernard, head to Back Beach for some quiet and stillness and a great opportunity to find sea glass!
Lastly, head to Southwest Harbor and grab an ice cream cone at The Salt Shop. If the kiddos still have some energy to burn off, head over to Pemetic Elementary School (right across the street, essentially) and check out their playground.
Bathroom locations for this adventure:
- Bass Harbor Lighthouse: Restrooms are located in the parking lot
- Ship Harbor Trailhead: There is a latrine located in the parking lot
- Thurston’s Lobster Pound: Restrooms are located within the restaurant
- Downtown Southwest Harbor: Public restrooms are located by the police station
Adventure Three: Summits and Seasides
Start this adventure at Mother’s Kitchen in Town Hill grabbing some breakfast and sandwiches-to-go.
Afterwards, decide on how much hiking/exploring you are up for.
If looking for a small adventure, Dorr Point is a great place to visit. For a medium hike, check out the Great Head trail. I didn’t feature it in my hiking trails blog but this is a nice hike. I recommend parking in the parking lot off of Schooner Head Road and taking the trail in a clockwise fashion.
If looking for something more than medium but not too difficult, head to the Sieur de Monts entrance of the park and complete my recommended Sieur de Monts trek.
After completing your hike of choice, head to Seal Harbor Beach to have a picnic lunch and dip your toes in the ocean.
If looking to add on to your adventure from here, consider taking the Island Explorer bus up to Jordan Pond House and hiking back down to your car via the Seaside Path.
If looking for a more low key option, check out the shops in Northeast Harbor. Be sure to stop by Swallowfield..it’s one of my favorite shops to check out when on the island.
Bathroom locations for this adventure:
- Mother’s Kitchen: There is usually a port-a-potty in the parking lot
- Sieur de Monts/Abbe Museum/Wild Gardens of Acadia Center: Bathrooms are located adjacent to the visitor center
- Seal Harbor Beach: Bathrooms are located in the beach parking lot
- Jordan Pond House: Bathrooms are located behind Jordan Pond House
- Northeast Harbor: Public restrooms are located in the public parking lot near the Northeast Harbor marina & Islesford Ferry
As I wrap up the Acadia Series, I wanted to thank each of you for your support. Your subscriptions, email opens, comments, and follows on Instagram mean the world to me!
If you haven’t subscribed, I would love for you to follow along and add your email below. And…you can find more content on Instagram!
As always, thank you so much! ~Natalie