Acadia

August 2025 | Park 39

I’ve heard Maine described as an East Coast destination with a West Coast vibe. Acadia National Park epitomizes this for me, in all the best ways. As we slowly shifted from mid to late summertime, J & I spent a sunshine-soaked long weekend spent exploring Acadia with dear friends and their two little ones.

We took a late night flight to Boston, spent the night in a hotel by the airport, then woke up and began the drive northeast toward Acadia. We met up with our friends at the LL Bean Flagship store in Freeport (obligatory flannels and slippers were purchased) and then enjoyed three nights in Blackwoods Campground. We saw the Milky Way and shooting stars over the Atlantic. We went hiking and tide-pooling. We drank scotch out of camping mugs by a late night fire. We accompanied the boys on Diver Ed, a family-friendly boat ride where a scuba diver brings sea stars, crabs, sea cucumbers, and lobsters up to the surface for children to see and touch before releasing them back to their ocean home, which made both of our ocean and nature-loving hearts very happy. We ate lobster in Bar Harbor and clam chowder at Jordan Pond House and we were the best kind of tired when it was time to leave.

I first visited Acadia in 2017 with my sister when we were celebrating graduating from grad school (me) and high school (her). It left an indelible mark on me then and that only felt more solidified after this second trip. Grateful for the chance to share it with J and others we love.

Pictured below:

• Bass Head Harbor Lighthouse.

• Views from the ocean path overlook near Blackwoods Campground.

• Tidepooling near Southeast Harbor.

• Views from the top of what the Wabanaki people called Wapuwoc, the “White Mountain of the First Light” (Cadillac Mountain).