Ray and I headed 9+ hours North this Labor Day weekend. We booked a site at Somes Sound Campground on Mount Desert Island, minutes away from Acadia National Park. On the drive up, I decided that, for the first time in a long time, I was going to disconnect for the entire trip.
As much as I hate to admit it, I’m on my phone too much. On vacations, especially, I’m often consumed with posting perfect moments rather than living them for myself. But this trip, I wasn’t going to share. It was time to be selfish.
I traded posting on Instagram, answering emails, and texting for hiking, sleeping under the stars, cooking on a fire, and yes, peeing in the woods. And, guess what? I had the trip of a lifetime.
Not only because I was in a gorgeous place with the love of my life doing my favorite things, but because I was 100% present in every moment.
I’m not going to lie, living life to the fullest is exhausting. After miles of hiking, tons of fire cooking, and hours of driving, I’m drained – yet so relaxed. Sometimes you need to unplug to recharge.
Now that I’m back to my internet-consumed life, it’s time to share all the great things we did. So that, hopefully, you can take a selfish trip too.
Here’s a list of our Acadia adventures with a few quick pictures taken along the way.
Somes Sound Campground
We booked the Sunset campsite, located right on the water with a perfect backdrop of woods. We slept in our open tent under the stars to the soft sound of the waves crashing beside us.
Beehive Trail
I would only recommend this hike to extreme adventurers who have no fear of heights. Ray and I were just able to make it to the first overlook because the intense mountain climbing toward the end was too much (for Ray at least hehe).
Sand Beach
Like a little getaway, this small cove is surrounded by caramel cliffs and dark green trees. While it feels nice to dip your feet in after a long hike, few dare to swim in the ice-cold water – Ray, and I included.
Parsons Lobsters
The prime season for fresh Maine Lobster is August and September. So, we were right on time. A great place to get fresh seafood, at a cheap cost, is Parsons Lobsters in Bar Harbor. We bought lobster, fish, and oysters here to cook on the fire. They were unbelievable
Cadillac Mountain
Before we left, many friends recommended hiking Cadillac Mountain for sunrise. Although we readily took their advice, we were not prepared for how magical this experience would be. Tired and freezing, we traveled to the peak at 4 am and it beautiful. You have to see this for yourself!
Great Maine Breakfast
After our early morning adventure to Cadillac Mountain, we got breakfast at this small place in Bar Harbor. Although it looks like a quaint little diner, Great Maine Breakfast is a breakfast boss. I had delicious blueberry pancakes made with freshly-picked Maine blueberries, and my whole soul was warmed
Bar Island
This spot in Bar Harbor is fantastic because at low tide you’re able to walk across the harbor on a small sandbar to Bar Island. We did this walk both in the early morning and at night for sunset – both equally beautiful.
Jordan Pond
This was my favorite hike of the whole trip. We walked a three-mile loop around the lake, and each new perspective was surprisingly unique and wonderful. This hike is perfect for amateur hikers.
Bubble Rock
There are two trail options for this one-of-a-kind natural formation. And, of course, we took the harder of the two off of the Jordan Pond trail. The latter portion of this trail was pretty advanced, but the experience at the top is worth it.
Thirsty Whale
This restaurant was recommended to us by a lovely lady working the front desk of our campground. She said it was a local favorite and that it has cheap, fresh seafood. She was right. It was amazing, and it was less expensive than the more touristy restaurants in Bar Harbor.
Atlantic Brewing Company
Ray and I had a great time trying all of their microbrews and playing The Office trivia. Everyone that worked here was extremely friendly. The place had all around good vibes.
Acadia Mountain
We lucked out because this hike was close to our campground – practically across the street. So, we were able to grab one of the few parking spots, unlike many others. Other than the parking, this hike was all around great. We arrived at the peak sweaty, and we came down smiling.
Bass Head Lighthouse
This was one of the first adventurers that I’ve been on with Ray that I would consider slightly lame. The Lighthouse, which was recommended to us by a local, was nothing special. However, the nearby coastline was amazing. Covered in beautiful caramel cliffs, this is the perfect spot for an afternoon picnic.
Upper Deck
Headed back from the West side of the island, we stumbled upon this great restaurant and were drawn in by the music. We sat on the outdoor deck across from a beautiful pier enjoying the live music, cold beer, and fresh seafood.
This entire list is comprised of recommendations from friends and strangers. I hope that you can use it as a guide for your next adventure-filled, phone-less getaway to Acadia National Park.
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