Our next goal on the way up the coast was
Acadia National Park near Bar Harbor. The Hospitality Woods RV Park in Ellsworth is a good jumping off point to explore the park and towns of Mount Desert Island. We have been here before but Acadia is a place you can return to often and never tire of the scenery. The park exists because of the efforts of Charles W. Eliot who formed the Hancock County Trustees of Public Reservation which acquired 5000 acres in 1901 then turned it over to the government to become the first national park east of the Mississippi. It is a real gem that rivals any of the parks we have visited.
The drive north was through forested land and fields of wildflowers, especially lupines. There are many small harbors that can be seen from the highway. For the most part, the road was plenty wide except in the little towns and villages where cars often lined both sides and there were some very rough patches here and there.
The best way to see Acadia if you are only there for a short stay is the 27-mile Park Loop Road that hits all the diverse areas. Above is Sand Beach, the only beach in the park. Swimming is not for the faint of heart as the water is only 50 degrees BBBBRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!
The rocky shoreline changes around every bend with the hills, ocean, rocks and trees providing an ever changing view.
A normal highlight is Thunder Hole but, as you can see, the smooth seas were not producing any waves so there was no thunder.
In the interior of the park are many lakes and ponds. Above is Jordon Pond where we hiked the Nature Trail. There is a 45-mile system of historic carriage roads that were built by J.D. Rockefeller. There are carriage rides or the roads can be used for hiking and biking.
The high point of the park is, literally, 1530 foot Cadillac Mountain, the highest spot on the Atlantic coast. The mountain is the first place the sun hits the US for part of the year. We did not see the sunrise as it was at 4:45AM. Above is the Egg Rock Lighthouse and some of the many islands in the surrounding waters.
We and this gull were enjoying a "birds eye" view of Bar Harbor, the bay and islands.
The Bass Harbor Lighthouse is at the southern most point of the park on Mount Desert Island and is well worth the drive to this little out of the way spot.
Ah, as often happens on these lively summer trips to New England, girl meets buoy.
The drive north was through forested land and fields of wildflowers, especially lupines. There are many small harbors that can be seen from the highway. For the most part, the road was plenty wide except in the little towns and villages where cars often lined both sides and there were some very rough patches here and there.
The best way to see Acadia if you are only there for a short stay is the 27-mile Park Loop Road that hits all the diverse areas. Above is Sand Beach, the only beach in the park. Swimming is not for the faint of heart as the water is only 50 degrees BBBBRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!
The rocky shoreline changes around every bend with the hills, ocean, rocks and trees providing an ever changing view.
A normal highlight is Thunder Hole but, as you can see, the smooth seas were not producing any waves so there was no thunder.
The high point of the park is, literally, 1530 foot Cadillac Mountain, the highest spot on the Atlantic coast. The mountain is the first place the sun hits the US for part of the year. We did not see the sunrise as it was at 4:45AM. Above is the Egg Rock Lighthouse and some of the many islands in the surrounding waters.
We and this gull were enjoying a "birds eye" view of Bar Harbor, the bay and islands.
The Bass Harbor Lighthouse is at the southern most point of the park on Mount Desert Island and is well worth the drive to this little out of the way spot.
Ah, as often happens on these lively summer trips to New England, girl meets buoy.
1 comment:
Girl meeys buoy......you must have slayed them i the classroom.
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