Acadia National Park

We got started bright and early this morning for our first look at Acadia National Park, about 50 miles from the Pumpkin Patch.

Once we arrived, the visitor’s center was the first stop so I could get my parks passport stamped and buy a sticker.

Our first hike of the day – 52 steps up to the center:

Our one wildlife sighting of the day, she was just getting ready to cross the park loop road when we came around a curve.  She darted back into the trees, then stopped to have a look at us:

We stopped at Sand Beach, where a lot of other people were enjoying this beautiful spot on a beautiful, cool and sunny day:

The rocky coast to the south of Sand Beach:

Another stop along the coast

Jazz and Mr. Bo Jangles liked the view, too:

Along the Thunder Hole area:

Otter Cliffs:

Soon we left the part of the loop drive that follows the coast and returned to the forest.  Our objective was to stop for lunch and popovers at Jordon’s Pond House, but I guess everybody else in this part of the country had the same idea and we couldn’t get close to the place, much less have lunch there.  Maybe another time….

So we continued the loop drive until we got to the top of Cadillac Mountain the highest point along the Atlantic Coast.  This is a close up of one of the views of the surrounding islands:

From another direction we could see Bar Harbor below:

Once we descended from Cadillac Mountain, we drove into Bar Harbor for a quick look and late lunch.  We found a couple of lobster rolls at a local deli before making the drive back home.

What a great day!  We will have at least another day or maybe two to explore the park.