Maine Vacation for Hiking and Ocean

(Anonymous in Las Vegas)

My wife and I have had a long practice of taking a few weeks vacation from the desert heat of Las Vegas, and this year we'd like to travel to Maine, to which I have never been and my wife hasn't been since childhood. Our initial idea was to rent a house, but the where presents the problem.

We're enthusiastic, if not terribly accomplished, hikers and would prefer accommodations on the ocean. Does that argue for Downeast Maine, near Acadia National Park?

Thanks so much for your advice.

Liz's Reply...

A Maine oceanfront rental, and lots of hiking, sound to me like the perfect escape from the summertime heat of Las Vegas.

And yes, Acadia National Park and Downeast Maine are perfect for a Maine vacation for hiking and ocean views.

As for Acadia National Park...

I am sure by now you have done your own research on it, and know all about...

...the 125 miles of hiking trails in Acadia National Park, which according to the National Park Service website, offer everything from "flat rambles across meadows" to "challenging climbs up iron rungs".

...the 45 miles of highly wooded Acadia Park Carriage Roads that John. D. Rockefeller, Jr. financed, sections of which are used today as walking and biking paths, horseback riding trails, and even for snowmobiling, in certain restricted areas.

...the 27-mile Park Loop Road (suited for driving and biking), which begins at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center and weaves its way through forests, mountains and lakes, at times providing jaw-dropping views of spectacular cliffs, a rocky shoreline and a shimmering Atlantic Ocean.

...Cadillac Mountain, where tourists gather every morning before daybreak, to be the first people in the continental United States to witness sunrise. An experience not be missed - as the days first rays of light shine across Frenchman Bay and its many islands.

...the nearby village of Bar Harbor, with dozens of quaint shops and galleries, restaurants for every appetite, and lots of waterfront activities, including whale watching tours, schooner cruises, fishing charters and canoe and kayak rentals.

...Eagle Lake, Echo Lake, and Jordan Pond, a few of the most photographed bodies of water within Acadia National Park.

...the portions of Acadia National Park on Isle Au Haut and Schoodic Peninsula (where the Schoodic National Scenic Byway passes).

...the numerous points of interest on Mount Desert Island, such as Northeast Harbor, Southwest Harbor, Bass Head Lighthouse, Pretty Marsh, Seal Cove Pond, Seawall (an area with a naturally occurring rock and boulder seawall) and en route to these, a host of other popular sightseeing spots.

...and, the Island Explorer Shuttle, which provides free transportation between many locations on Mount Desert Island.

Along with all of the other fun things to do in Acadia National Park like the Sieur de Monts Spring and Nature Center, Abbe Museum, the Wild Gardens of Acadia, and Thunder Hole (just to name a few!)...

...have I convinced you yet to vacation at Acadia National Park?

Indeed, Acadia is one of my favorite Maine vacation spots, so as you can see, I love to share its treasures with others.

Regarding your hopes to stay in an oceanfront vacation rental in Downeast Maine...

...there are many wonderful Bar Harbor oceanfront vacation homes, cottages and cabins to meet most budget requirements.

There are also a number of great hotels in Bar Harbor.

However, a rental property is a wonderful way to better enjoy your privacy, while having more room to unwind. Also, the ability to eat some of your meals "in" on vacation can certainly make a rental very cost effective.

After all that I have said about the great things to do and best places to stay near Acadia National Park...

I would be remiss in answering a question regarding a Maine vacation for hiking and ocean views, if I didn't also mention another great Maine coastal vacation spot - Camden, Maine.

Many people don't realize that downtown Camden...

...a picture perfect harbor town, whose harbor is seasonally filled with stately windjammers and schooners, and known as the "Jewel of the Maine Coast"...

...is just minutes from Camden Hills State Park, where hiking and other outdoor adventures are abundant.

Mount Battie, Mount Megunticook (at 1,385 feet, the highest peak of Camden Hills), Maiden Cliff, Cameron Mountain, Bald Rock Mountain, Gary Mountain, Derry Mountain, and Frohock Mountain all offer a wide variety of hiking conditions...

...with many trails providing awesome views across Camden Harbor and out to the Atlantic. And on a clear day, from Ocean Lookout on Mount Megunticook, Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park is visible.

Because Camden is located a couple of hours southwest of Mount Desert Island, it is very easy from here to take interesting day trips to other popular Midcoast Maine towns and villages.

As for your plans for an oceanfront rental, you can easily find wonderful vacation rentals in Camden, Maine, as well.

You didn't mention Maine lobster in your inquiry!

I hope you won't be going home without trying one (or several!), as the lobster that come out of the Gulf of Maine is the best in the world. And lucky you...

...by visiting Maine in the summer, you'll be here during the peak Maine lobster season!

I hope my response has helpful as you sort out where the best place is for a Maine vacation for hiking and ocean front "living".

Regardless of where you visit in Maine, I am sure you will enjoy your trip!

Best regards,
Liz