Acadia National Park

Opened in 1916, Acadia National Park is the first eastern national park and the first national park whose land was donated entirely by private citizens.  More than 3.5 million people visit the park every year.

 Schoodic Head Overlook

Although the Fall colors are traditionally expected to peak in the next week or so, my first drive into the park saw very little color.  I was surprised because I have been seeing lots of Fall foliage from my drive down from Nova Scotia and throughout New Brunswick.

Even without the color, this is a beautiful park.  The water is spectacular.  I can't believe all the people here, but it is one of the most popular parks, and it is definitely worth the trip.

 
My first "day" in the park I was glad I wasn't staying, as it was cold and rainy, much colder with the wind than I had anticipated and I was actually freezing.  Time for a coat and scarf.  I even put the flannel sheets on the bed tonight!

View from the campground

Most visitors consider Cadillac Mountain the high point - both literally and figuratively - of their trip to Acadia.  Not only is Cadillac the park's highest peak, but it is also the tallest mountain on the Atlantic coast north of Brazil.

Views from Cadillac Summit Mountain (44 degrees)

View on the way to Bar Harbor, ME

Acadia boasts varied and dramatic scenery, including a coastline of chiseled granite, the ocean dotted with islands, 26 mountain peaks, close to a dozen glacial lakes and ponds, and Somes Sound, the only fiard (a smaller version of a fjord, a glacially carved u-shaped valley bordered by steep cliffs) in the contiguous 48 states.

In shape, Mount Desert Island resembles a lobster claw (pretty ironic, huh?).  A note - it is actually pronounced "dessert" not desert.

Views from the 27-mile Park Loop Road

Schoodic Peninsula, located an hour away from Bar Harbor, is a 2366-acre peninsula and Acadia's only wedge of the mainland.  The scenic highway was a lovely drive on a sunny day, with lots of beautiful colors!


Along several miles through Franklin, there were these American flags on every utility pole.  It was a lovely sight and very heartwarming.

A question:  There were no street lights so it would be pitch here after dark.  How do they "get around" the law that light has to shine on the flag after dark?

Regardless, I loved seeing them.





All in all, it was a lovely stay and I truly wished I could have extended it.  Unfortunately, the white stuff is coming and I have a long way to go to be clear before I'm buried in it, so tomorrow I hit the road again.

It's actually only 1,500 miles to Orlando, but, and you know me well, I can at least triple that mileage before I get there.  My plan is to zig-zag my way from coast to mountains the entire way down!  More fun to come ....