Hello friends, readers, and fellow travelers!
Without further ado, here’s the blog I wrote during the summer. Somehow, I’ve completely lost track of time—how is it already November?!
I hope all is well and that you’re enjoying your summer. We’ve had an insanely busy season, but it’s been a lot of fun! We’ve traveled quite a bit and have some big news.
Summer Adventures & Big News
We recently went to Nashville for Nick’s birthday! We had a ton of fun and even visited another national park in Kentucky. I can’t wait to tell you all about it.
We also spent a week in Vermont with my family! We did a lake day, a day trip to Montreal, and, of course, the highlight—the dog farm. Yes, you read that right: the dog farm.
Vermont, Nashville… and oh yeah! We visited Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park. Weirdly enough, Nick and I have been to many national parks, but we hadn’t visited the one in our state together. We took an overnight trip and really enjoyed it! We also had my high school friends newfie, so she came along for the trip!
But let’s slow down… let’s talk about our day trip to Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park.
Big News!
You might be wondering… what’s the big news? Was it all the traveling? While we do travel a lot, that wasn’t it.
We also bought a condo in Portland, Maine! We are absolutely thrilled to have found our perfect spot. The market is definitely tough, but we’re happy with our decision.
I painted the master bedroom with my dad the first week and realized—I’m not a painter! I can handle small projects, but big ones? Not so much.
This week, we hired someone to paint the kitchen, living room, and staircase. We are very happy with Zellers Painting in Portland, Maine, and I can’t wait to share more about the renovations and the fantastic work they did.
Our Overnight Stay in Mount Desert Island & Acadia National Park
Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park are approximately 3.5 hours from Portland, ME. While it can be done as a day trip, that’s a very long day.
We decided to stay overnight in Bangor, ME, on Friday. We chose Bangor because it was affordable and cut the drive to under an hour.
We stayed in an Airbnb and had a wonderful experience. I would recommend it—it’s conveniently located near downtown Bangor.
Bangor has great restaurants, bars, and a casino, making it a fun Friday night before our day on Mount Desert Island. With limited time, you’ll want to make the most of your day. There’s a lot to see, but with a plan, you can hit the highlights.
One Perfect Day in Bar Harbor & Acadia National Park
🏞️ Morning: Sunrise on Cadillac Mountain
The most iconic way to start your day in Acadia is by watching the sunrise from Cadillac Mountain.
- Wake up very early and drive up the windy road to the summit.
- Check the weather app for sunrise time and plan to arrive well before sunrise, as it fills up fast.
Why Cadillac Mountain?
It’s the first place to see the sunrise in the United States (technically from October to early March)! Even outside that window, it’s an incredible experience atop the highest point along the Northern Atlantic coast.
Post-COVID, reservations are required to access Cadillac Mountain at sunrise. They fill up fast, so plan ahead.
We even captured our sunrise on TikTok—was it what we expected? Definitely not. Weather can be unpredictable! Nick and I couldn’t help but laugh, and there’s always next time.
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8DcsvbV/
Tip: Check out the gift shop at the summit—it’s a nice little stop.
☕🥐 Late Morning: Breakfast in Bar Harbor
Great breakfast options include:
- Café This Way
- Jordan’s Restaurant
- Grab pastries/coffee and head back into the park
We really enjoyed Café This Way. Bonus: the Newfie dog we babysat loved it too!
🌲 Midday: Find a Hiking Trail
Acadia has over 150 miles of trails—hard to choose just one! We’ve hiked about six trails so far but hope to explore more. Here are some we recommend:
🟩 Easy Hikes
Great for families, casual walkers, or scenic strolls.
- Ocean Path – 2.2 miles one-way
- Highlights: Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, Otter Cliffs
- Flat, stunning ocean views
- Jordan Pond Path – 3.5-mile loop
- Highlights: Crystal-clear lake, views of The Bubbles
- Boardwalks and shoreline path
- Wonderland Trail – 1.4 miles round trip
- Highlights: Quiet forest, tide pools, ocean views
- Located on the “quiet side” of the island
- Ship Harbor Trail – 1.3-mile loop
- Highlights: Coastal forest, harbor views
- Gentle and great for wildlife watching
🟨 Moderate Hikes
More elevation, great views, manageable for most active hikers.
- Great Head Trail – ~1.8–2 miles
- Highlights: Views over Sand Beach and the Atlantic
- Rocky climbs and coastal cliffs
- Gorham Mountain – 2.3–3.6 miles depending on route
- Highlights: Panoramic coastal views
- A safer alternative to cliff trails
- South Bubble (and Bubble Rock) – ~1–1.5 miles
- Highlights: Iconic glacial boulder, Jordan Pond views
- Short but a bit steep
- Beech Cliff Loop – 2–3 miles
- Highlights: Lake views and some iron ladders
- Less crowded than Beehive
🟥 Strenuous & Ladder Trails
Iconic, exhilarating, exposed—best for confident hikers.
- Beehive Trail – ~1.5 miles
- Highlights: Iron rungs, cliff edges, epic views of Sand Beach
- Short but thrilling
- Precipice Trail – 3.2 miles
- Highlights: Vertical ladders, narrow ledges, direct route to Champlain Mountain
- Closed in spring for peregrine falcon nesting
- Cadillac Mountain via North Ridge – 4.4 miles
- Highlights: Granite ridges, summit of Cadillac Mountain
- Gradual but steady climb
- Cadillac Mountain via South Ridge – 7–8 miles
- Highlights: Long ridgeline with open granite slabs
- One of the park’s best all-day hikes
⭐ Most Scenic Hikes (Top Picks)
- Best easy: Jordan Pond Path
- Best moderate: Gorham Mountain
- Best adventurous: Beehive Trail
- Best summit: Cadillac South Ridge
- Best coastal: Ocean Path
🚢 Afternoon: Wildlife Cruise
Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company offers a variety of wildlife cruises:
- Acadia by Sea Nature Cruise
- Lobster Fishing and Seal Watching Tour
- Lighthouse and Wildlife Cruise
- Nature Cruise and Sunset Happy Hour Cruise
We chose the Nature Cruise and Sunset Happy Hour Cruise since we had a dog with us!
🍽️ Evening: Dinner
Bar Harbor has many dinner options. We tried Bar Harbor Lobster Pound but weren’t impressed. Here are some places we wish we had tried:
- Thurston’s Lobster Pound (Bernard) – Classic, casual Maine lobster. Waterside dining, picnic tables. Great for lobster rolls, steamed lobster, chowder. Near Bass Harbor Lighthouse.
- Seafood Ketch (Bass Harbor) – Relaxed sit-down with seafood and non-seafood options. Pretty harbor views.
- Geddy’s (Bar Harbor) – Lively, casual, great for groups. Lobster, pizza, burgers, local beers. Open late.
- Side Street Café – Popular comfort food & lobster. Lobster mac & cheese, sandwiches, soups. Often a wait.
- Galyn’s – Upscale seafood & steak. Near the waterfront. Good for a nicer dinner.
- Havana – Fine dining with a Latin twist. One of the best upscale meals in Bar Harbor. Reservations recommended.
✅ Tips for Booking & What to Bring
- Book activities in advance
- Dress in layers
- Bring binoculars and a camera
- Plan your day carefully to fit in as much as possible
✨ Final Thoughts
You could easily spend weeks in Acadia National Park, but a one-day trip is definitely possible! I can’t wait to hear about your adventures there.
🗽 Next Up: A Girls’ Weekend in New York City
Stay tuned for my next adventure—a girls’ weekend in NYC!
📲 Follow Along!
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TravelingbeebryantRN & Flicks_withNick 
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