Maine
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK
With temperatures rarely reaching over the high 70s, Acadia is a popular summer park for outdoor enthusiasts.
Will there be lots of people? Sure, but for a good reason. The weather is gorgeous, the scenery is breathtaking,
and there are plenty of things to do during your visit.
Depending on your preference, Acadia offers high endurance activities, such as taking a hike up Cadillac Moun-
tain, or relaxing, leisurely pastimes, like snapping pictures of the magnificent Otter Cliff. If you’re looking for a
faster tour of the park, try Park Loop Road, a 27-mile scenic roadway that will take you from the visitors center to
Mount Desert Island. Restrooms are available along the loop.
Although Acadia isn’t the largest national park by any means, it is definitely diverse in landscape. Along with the
scenic roadway, you’ll find hardwood forests and calming beaches, such as Sand Beach. Conveniently located
off of Park Loop Road, Sand Beach is known for it’s amazing views. A beach with a mountain backdrop? Yes,
please. The water is royal blue and clear at the shoreline, and the sand is a beautiful white. The water never gets
very warm, but the atmosphere is not to be missed.
While you’re in the park, it’s best not to miss the phenomenon known as Thunder Hole. Thunder Hole is a cave,
half submerged in roaring waves, that pokes out of the rocky shores that meet the sea. Because the waves hit
the rocks so hard at the mouth of the cave, the result is a sound as loud as a train! It makes you feel as though
you're in the midst of a thunderstorm, hence the name, Thunder Hole. There is an upper level viewing area, but
you won’t be untouched by the water spouts that could reach up to 40 feet.
20 | Summer 2017 | Adventure Outdoors