This one is almost assuredly on everyone's bucket list, and for good reason.
Welcome to Baa Habaa (Bar Harbor for those actually trying to look it up), home of Acadia National Park in the Pine Tree State of Maine. First established as a National Park in 1916 after lobbying from regular visitor John D. Rockefeller, and later renamed in 1929, Acadia has become a site of preservation for many different plants, animals, and the small "mountains" adorning the area. Acadia is situated mostly on Mount Desert Island, where the city of Bar Harbor can be found, along a few other small harbor cities. There are a couple of other points such as Winter Harbor on the Schoodic Peninsula.
As you approach the park, stop by the Hulls Cove Visitor Center, prominently signed along State Route 3, to gather all the information you'll need. Take a drive around the Park Loop to visit all the points of interest within the main park. See the Wild Gardens of Acadia at "Sieur de Monts", or take a walk through the wetlands while along Jessup Path in that area. Maybe you want to take a quick dip in the Atlantic at Newport Cove, where one of the few sand beaches along the rocky coast of Maine can be found. If scenic drives and views tickle your fancy, perhaps grab some tickets to go up Cadillac Mountain, where the entire island, along with the ocean, can be seen. Plenty of other fun, including carriage rides and ferries to the various other islands around the area, may be had.
Hopefully you kept hold of that National Parks pass, because it will work here. They do also have seasonal entry specific to Acadia if you're spending an extended time. It's a little bit of a drive from Bangor down US Route 1A and State Route 3 to get to the park, with a close resupply point in Ellsworth if you need something from the regional and national chains. While on Mount Desert Island, definitely take a trip to the Northeast Harbor and visit their Main Street. Consider going along Sargeant Drive for great views of the Somes Sound. Don't forget the other side of the sound near Southwest Harbor, and check out the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse and the history behind this important nautical marker.
Almost assuredly, your Internal Compass will point you towards Acadia National Park. The next time you visit Maine, this is one place not to miss.
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