Nestled along Maine’s craggy coastline, Acadia National Park is the crown jewel of New England, a designation which I don’t confer lightly. New England is filled with beautiful scenery and historic landmarks, but Acadia National Park is so spectacular, that it’s the obvious choice. Encompassing 47,000 acres along the Atlantic coast, Acadia was the first national park located east of the Mississippi, and it’s not hard to see why. It’s also a landmark of conservation, as the first national park created entirely from donated lands.
Marveling at the beauty of Acadia National Park, it’s hard to believe that this land was largely uninhabited until the mid 1800’s. Eventually the artists flocked to Mount Desert Island, what would become Acadia, and the landscapes they painted set off a tourism boom. Famous painters such as Thomas Cole and Frederic Church, were some of the first to capture the beauty of Maine’s pristine coastline. Their paintings captured the imaginations of the Northeast’s elite, and within a decade, Mount Desert Island became a summer playground for the wealthy. The Rockefellers, Morgans, Fords, Vanderbilts, Carnegies, and Astors all spent their summers at what would become Acadia National Park.
Visiting Acadia National Park
There’s so much to see and do within the boundaries of Acadia National Park, but my personal favorite is Cadillac Mountain. Take a scenic drive to the top of Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on America’s eastern seaboard, and enjoy panoramic views of the park. Pictures really don’t do justice to the views, which are truly spectacular.
Hiking is another favorite activity at Acadia National Park, and there’s over 150 miles of trails to explore. Hiking along Acadia’s rocky coastline is really a unique experience. The Maine coast is breathtaking and the landscape is completely unspoiled. I could have spent a week doing nothing but hiking the cliffs of Acadia. It’s pretty much a guarantee that I’ll be making a return trip in the Fall. As amazing as Acadia was in the Summer, I’m looking forward to experiencing the Fall foliage that New England is so famous for.
The Maine coast is definitely on my list. These pictures are gorgeous.
I’ve taken the drive from Boston up the coast to Kennebunkport a couple of times and it is spectacular – better than Highway 1 on the California coast. And that’s saying something. Didn’t make it as far north as Acadia National Park, but I would imagine that coastline even exceeds what what I was able to take in.