Acadia National Park is located in the North-Eastern United States of America. The National Park is located on Mount Desert Island, in the US State of Maine, and covers most of the island along with other smaller nearby islands in the Atlantic Ocean. Acadia is one of the oldest national parks in the country, as well as one of the smallest. Covering only 40,000 acres of land, this National Park has the most scenic views per square acre in the entire United States. I had actually visited Acadia last summer. Today while I am 45 stories up in the middle of the concrete jungle, I had a sudden craving for the delicious lobster and immediately wanted to be back in Maine. There are 2 main parts to Acadia, the “Maine” (main) side, which is the Eastern side of the island, and the quiet (western) side of the island. The Eastern side is home to the most famous trails including the beech trail, beehive trail, precipice trail, thunder hole, and more. The quiet side has much to offer as well, and I highly recommend spending at least a day there from my experiences.
Climate in Acadia: Because of Acadia’s geographical location, it has 4 very distinct seasons. Spring and Fall can range anywhere from 30-70 degrees Fahrenheit, while the summer can average anywhere from 45-90 degrees Fahrenheit. The winter can be brutal: temperatures average from below zero-mid 30’s in Fahrenheit. Snowfall in the winter is only 61 inches on average, but is a beautiful sight if you ever get the chance. When I was here, it was during the month of August and temperatures were in the mid 80’s all week long, and dropped to almost 40 degrees Fahrenheit every night.
Wildlife in Acadia: Acadia is home to about 40 different species of mammals including squirrels, chipmunks (so many chipmunks..), white-tailed deer, moose (don’t count on seeing any here), beavers, porcupines, minks, muskrats, fox, raccoons, coyotes, bobcats, black bears (rare), falcons, golden eagles, owls, hawks and bald eagles. You may also get to see seals, dolphins, and humpback whales if you make your way onto a tour boat. If you are a bird-watching enthusiast, then Acadia could be a good fit for you. I did not see a ton of birds, but there was at least 10 different species of birds that I ran into in just 4 days. I just want to cover moose in Acadia real quick. The reason why Acadia adds Moose into their list is because Moose used to migrate through the park. They are rarely seen anymore due to the high human population around the entrance to the park. If you want to see Moose you need to drive approximately 2 hours North-West to Kennebec County, also known as Moose County. This national park is less about the wildlife, and more about the scenic views and epic hiking trails the park has to offer.
How to get there: The closest airport is located in Bangor, Maine, however the flights there are very infrequent depending on where you are coming from. Your best bet is to fly into Portland, Maine. From either of these airports rent a car and drive. If you are driving to Maine, use an updated GPS or Google Maps to get you to Acadia as the United States has practically every road mapped out through GPS. 
Where to stay: If you are making the trip to Acadia, to get the most out of the park, I recommend camping. There are numerous campsites that are fairly cheap (Mine cost $20USD / Day), and they all include showers, electricity, as well as a little shop for basic needs. If you do not want to camp, there are plenty of hotels and Bed & Breakfast locations in Bar Harbor, which is located on the North-Eastern side of the island.
Things to do in Acadia:
Bar Harbor is a must while you are visiting. It is a small old-style fishing town that has a ton of shops, restaurants, nature tours, whale watching tours, & LOBSTER. While you are here, you must get Lobster. If you do not get lobster then you did not really go to Acadia. My favorite place for lobster was Geddy’s. Geddy’s prepares and pre-cuts the lobster for you. They have the best lunch specials which included corn on the cob, clam chowder, a drink, a blueberry pie slice, and a 1 ¼ lb lobster for $20. The other restaurants, including the famous Stewman’s Lobster Pound, are over-rated and consist of foreigner workers who can barely speak English and always messed up our orders.
Hiking: Hiking in Acadia is one of the Maine(main) attractions. Hiking here is difficult yet extremely rewarding. The most famous trail is the beech trail, which is an easy hiking trail that is popular among families with younger children. This trail provides a scenic view of the Ocean and is a few miles long. If you are looking for a truly challenging experience check out the beech cliffs trail, beehive trail, and the precipice trail. These trails are all considered a ladder and railing trail. They are difficult and only attempt when the rocks are dry. I completed all of these trails, and I loved them. The views at the top are amazing, and you really have to earn it. One of my favorite hikes was the Jorden Pond to the Bubble trail. This trail starts at Jorden Pond, continues into the Bubble trails. From there you can take the Jorden Cliffs trail which is an extremely difficult trail that really should have railings… This will loop you around back to the parking lot in which you began.
Bike riding: There is one road that connects most of Acadia national park called Park Loop Road. It is a must do if you are big into bike riding. This road is extremely scenic, challenging in some areas, and relaxing in others. The road is 27 miles long.
Other things to do: In Acadia, you can go whale watching, seal watching, dolphin searching, canoeing, kayaking, camping, go out to eat, shopping at the local shops, beer tastings, wine tastings, parasailing, bird-watching, go visit the famous lighthouse, photography, watch the sunrise / sunset, and the famous morning fog depending on the day. One last thing I recommend doing is star gazing along the Beech trail at night. The park is open until midnight so this is a must do.
My recommendation: For visiting Acadia, you can easily get everything done in 4 days. I recommend camping while you are here for the full experience. Spend 1 day hiking the quiet side of the island, spend 2 days hiking the Maine(main) side of the island, spend 1 day doing anything else you choose. Spend 2 nights going into Bar Harbor (first night is recommended for 1 of 2 nights), spend 1 night star-gazing, and spend the last night just having a nice campfire with some campfire food and beer. Make sure you grab one of the Lobster lunch specials while you are here, especially if you are coming with a family this will save you a lot of money.
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