Mother Nature has left her mark on Acadia. With glacier-sculpted valleys, mirrored lakes and soaring peaks capped by clouds, this US National Park is beauty in its purest form. Each autumn, the (just shy of) 50k acres really put on a show as the landscapes are shaded rust and gold. While winter brings snow and some of the most spectacular cross-country skiing this side of anywhere.
NATURE & WILDLIFE
Walk on the wild side in Acadia, where hiking the old crushed-stone carriage roads could lead you to new frontiers. The Park is also studded with photo-perfect lakes, and fringes the rugged Atlantic coastline. And whale-watching tours here begin (and end) at Bar Harbor. Or embark on an unforgettable road trip on the Park Loop Road that criss-crosses Cadillac Mountain, and continues to Sand Beach and Eagle Lake – just the spot for kayaking adventures. In winter, you can swap SUVs for snowmobiles, which are permitted on the ‘Loop’.
FOOD & DRINK
After a day spent in the great outdoors, there’s nothing quite like hunkering down in a classic lobster shack, swapping tales over buttery, messy seafood. Look for the wood-fired lobster pots outside restaurants that fringe the ocean. For those with a sweet tooth, Mount Desert Island’s popovers, dusted with sugar or dunked into wild-blueberry jam, are a must-try.
CULTURE
Abbe Museum, with its Smithsonian links, opens a window into the First Nation American tribes in Acadia – specifically the Wabanaki Nations. An ever-evolving series of workshops and exhibitions give a valuable insight into the tribe’s past and present. For a truly memorable geography lesson, don’t leave Acadia without visiting Mount Desert Island. Shaped by glaciers, it’s an unforgettable place for wild swimming in the fjord-esque lakes.
Rise and really shine at the summit of Cadillac Mountain. From autumn to spring, it becomes the very first place in the USA to catch the sun each morning – and seeing the dawn here is a true rite of passage.
