Acadia National Park Makes for the Best Family Adventures
Acadia National Park is almost 200 square kilometres throughout Mount Desert Island in Northern Maine. Its location on the East Coast provides hiking trails with beautiful coastal views of rugged cliffs, beaches with various terrain nestled in forests and gentle lakes and oceans for kids to play in. Commonly called “Vacationland,” Maine is the perfect place to bring the whole family for summer vacation. With almost four million visitors a year, Acadia National Park has a wide range of kid-friendly activities that will keep everyone entertained. Here are six fun, low-commitment activities for families in Acadia National Park.
Ride a Bike on the Carriage Roads
72 kilometres of carriage roads funded by John D. Rockefeller Jr. weave throughout the park. These carriage roads do not allow cars, so the only way to catch this unique view from inside the park is by bike, horseback, or on foot. There are many places to rent bikes in the nearby town of Bar Harbor, and there is a scenic 32-kilometre loop that goes by Witch Hole Pond, Eagle Lake and Jordan Pond. If a child can’t ride their own bike, you can rent trailers, extra seats, or attachments for all ages so they can easily tag along. E-bikes are available as well! Stop at Jordan Pond House halfway through and refuel with their famous popovers and blueberry jam.
Walk on the Land Bridge to Bar Island
At low tide, you can walk on the ocean floor for about one kilometre to get to Bar Island. Kids have a great time splashing in tide pools and looking for shells and sea creatures like crabs and sea anemones. When you get to Bar Island, you can hike another few kilometres to the summit to catch a view looking back at the nearby local town of Bar Harbor. Tide times fluctuate significantly daily so check the tide schedule for when to go and allow enough time for getting back on Bar Island before the tide comes up.
Play in the Ocean at Sand Beach
Acadia National Park is known for its huge rocks to climb on, but there are also sand beaches on Mount Desert Island. Sand Beach, the most popular one, is surrounded by pine trees, rugged cliffs and plenty of space for kids to play in. There is a short hike that leaves from the far end of Sand Beach called Great Head Trail that offers coastal views. Another popular hike near Sand Beach is Beehive, which is just inland across the parking lot from Sand Beach and takes you to a summit with bird’s eye views of the beach. Sand Beach is accessible via Park Loop Road and conveniently located next to other top sites such as Thunder Hole and Otter Cliffs.
Hike Around Cadillac Mountain
Cadillac Mountain is the highest point on the East Coast in the United States and has panoramic views of Maine’s coastline. There is a road that allows you to drive to the top of the mountain, as well as a stroller-friendly path that goes from the parking lot to the summit of the mountain. There are many easy rocks and areas for kids to wander around, and it is easy to keep an eye on everyone with a lot of open space and minimal trees at the top. From October to March every year, Cadillac Mountain is the first place in the United States to experience the sunrise. Reservations for cars are required and can be booked online 48 hours in advance.
Drive Park Loop Road
There is a 43-kilometre loop called Park Loop Road where you can drive around the park and access many main sites, including Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, Otter Cliffs and Jordan Pond. Some parts of the road only allow one-way traffic, so it might take a little experience to plan your preferred route. When in doubt, start driving along Park Loop Road, take a turn to somewhere you have never been and stop somewhere new! With every turn, you will find harbours, lakes, hiking trails and lookout points that seemingly pop up out of nowhere.
Walk Along Otter Cliffs
Otter Cliffs are the steepest, most impressive cliffs in Acadia National Park and are most notably recognizable from the 2010 film Shelter Island. An easy, mostly flat trail called Ocean Trail goes along the coast for several kilometres, passing right by Otter Cliffs. A 10-minute walk from Otter Cliffs along the trail leads to a lookout called Otter Point, with huge ocean views and wildlife spotting opportunities for birds and aptly, otters. Kids can enjoy climbing on the large rocks with views of the tall, jagged cliffs behind them.
