Acadia National Park & Bar Harbor
Ethan wants to see every state in the United States. We feel tremendous excitement whenever we are traveling with Ethan. Being able to show him new places actually makes me teary eyed and happy. After some thought, I came up with what I believe is the easiest way to show him every state in our beautiful country-- plan each trip around a National Park, Site or Monument. My family is fortunate to have Cuyahoga Valley National Park about a thirty-minute drive away from our home. And I truly believe that the National Parks are America's best idea.
In October, 2015, a friend was getting married in Bar Harbor, Maine, so we planned a trip around her wedding. We stayed in Bar Harbor at the Bar Harbor Inn which is ideally located on Frenchman Bay and a short driving distance to Acadia National Park. Our first adventure was at about 5:00 a.m. as we left the hotel while it was still dark and drove to Cadillac Mountain Summit to take part in the sunrise-watching ritual. It was below freezing and windy, and people were scattered all over the mountain waiting to capture the perfect picture. We could hear groups of people singing softly which made the experience better, almost like that old mountaintop Coca-Cola commercial...we were all in perfect harmony. Slowly, but reliably, the sun peaked out over the horizon and blessed us with a warm, beautiful show.
We went back into town for breakfast and explore the town of Bar Harbor. It is a delightful town with cute shops, no shortage of crab or lobster meals and beautiful views of the Bay. Morning quickly turned to afternoon and we were off to a guided tour of the area. A quick lobster roll hit the spot.
My friend was gracious enough to schedule guided tours of Acadia which was really the best way to get familiar with the park. After the tour, it was much easier to explore on our own. Ethan completed all of his activities and earned another Junior Ranger badge, which is a great keepsake for him. He is well on his way to seeing all 50 states, one National Park, Site or Monument at a time. We also scheduled a boat tour to Little Cranberry Island which allowed us to view all of the granite mountains and lighthouses from the water. The tour was led by a Park Ranger who provided us with a wealth of information. Bar Harbor is a perfect New England town. Our weekend was capped off by a romantic wedding overlooking Frenchman Bay and a reception at the Inn. This is definitely the type of place you will want to visit more than once in your lifetime.
