Anyone ever been to Acadia, Mount Desert Island, Maine? Am considering vacation there but unfamiliar with the area. TIA

yes, what would you like to know?? we stayed in bar harbor.

Great place to vacation. I stayed in Bar Harbor last year when I went. If you're athletic, you need to mountain bike the carriage roads! Also lots of great hiking trails. If you want to relax, bring a chair, some food and a book and you can chill out on the rocks in Acadia NP. I want to go back again this year and explore the 'quiet side' of the island.

Acadia is amazing. the gf's family owns a house on Great Cranberry Island. staying on one of the islands is great except that you are subject to the ferry boat schedules.

Are there certain parts of Acadia or Bar Harbor that are a "must experience"? Good restaurants? First we are driving to Gettysburg for a few days, then Hershey Park, with final destination Mount Desert. Any input or advice about the areas is appreciated. I hear that Acadia is the 2nd most visited park after Yellowstone. Can't wait!

mamatrio - what month will you be there ? We've always visited in August and loved it.

By the way, I've always found this place to be a good spot for some fresh lobsters.
http://www.trentonbridgelobster.com/

[This message has been edited by speckledtrout (edited 3/27/2011 9:38p).]

June-July before the crowds (so a Mount Desert Island local says). Yummmy! Lobster.

whale watching tours. big boats that don't get that close to the whales. if you do decide to do it anyway, listen to the announcements before departure. if they say that the water has been rough and you can get off and get your money back, DO IT. even if you are not prone to sea sickness, the shear amount of other people on the boat getting sick really ruins the whole experience.

also, in Bar Harbor, Rosalie's pizza is a must.

view of Great Cranberry Island from the top of Cadillac

Acadia is awesome. Get up and watch sunrise at Cadilac Mountain, drive the Loop Road and stop to hike, Rockefellers Bridge carriage tours, popovers at Jordan House Restaurant, and Somersville Bridge (this is not in the park, but a beautiful must see!).

Robins Motel is a very cheap mom and pop hotel that added to the experience.

Thanks for inspiring me to look at our photos from the 2008 trip we took that included Acadia.

Very cool bridge is actually Somesville.

I thought the Schoodic penninsula was wonderful. We rode bikes around the loop and walked out on the large rocks near the surf spray. The smell of the ocean was incredible. The summers in Maine are wonderful.

Thank you for all the input. My list is made!

where did you decide to stay?