August Trip Report with Teen

Question

Our family (Mom,Dad, and very outdoorsy teenage son) visits a national park every year, so this summer it was time to venture to Acadia National Park. After many trips to the majestic national parks of the West, I was a little concerned that we might be underwhelmed or run out of things to do in Acadia. I could not have been more wrong! We had a wonderful time and could have easily stayed longer. There is so much to see and do, with a great balance of adventure and relaxation. It is not so much a place you check sites off your list, but more of a place that you let nature envelop you and seep into your soul. We all came home feeling refreshed and renewed. Rather than write a day-by-day report, I thought I’d share some general topics and observations.

Timing: We went in mid-August, which of course is the most popular time to be there. Yes, there were crowds some places, but we found it easy to avoid them using the mantra, “we zig when they zag.” Hitting the trails in the early morning works well for some people, but that can be tough with a teen, so we found late afternoon to be a great time to hike in relative peace. Meanwhile, we had the hotel pool to ourselves in the mornings, even though it was overrun with kids in the afternoons. We tended to eat in the in-between hours and didn’t spend too much time in the main town of Bar Harbor.

Hotel: We stayed at the Atlantic Oceanside and had a great experience there. It is located a bit outside of Bar Harbor, which we preferred to the busyness of town. It had a beautiful view of the water, a great breakfast, and it was fun to watch the tour boats coming in and out of the dock. Best of all, there was a small rocky beach-like area that was perfect for my son to fish. I don’t think he actually caught anything, but he spent every spare minute there with his rod, keeping him happily entertained.

Transportation: We drove up from NJ, which was a long trip, so we broke it up with a night in Ogunquit, which was a really fun place to visit. So we had our car on MDI, but we used the Island Explorer bus system quite a bit. We found the bus to be easy and efficient, and certainly much less stressful and time-consuming than finding parking in some of the busier locations. We would catch the bus into town at our hotel, or we drove to the nearby Hull’s Cove Visitor Center and hopped on a bus there for access to the park. For places a little further, like Northeast and Southwest Harbors, we drove our car (which I recommend visiting… both beautiful!).

Hiking: We went on several great hikes. The thing that makes the hiking challenging is not so much the elevation gain (though there is some of that) but rather the rocky and uneven footing. I have never used trekking poles before but I found them incredibly helpful in Acadia. I often thought it was more difficult to go down than it was to go up, and was really glad I had my poles for stability. If you are like me and have short legs and/or are “of a certain age” I highly recommend poles (be sure to use the rubber tips!)

Dining: Our hotel provided a pretty hearty breakfast, and I brought lots of snacks, so most days we just had one other main meal and maybe some ice cream later in the evening. Our best meal was at Beal’s in Southwest Harbor-- great food and great atmosphere.. We also enjoyed Stewman’s Lobster pound located an the dock at the Holiday Inn, which was a short walk from our hotel (they have another location right in Bar Harbor which seemed much busier). Their blueberry pie was extra great. We had a reservation for lunch at Jordan Pond House on the day we e-biked which worked out well. We had several other good meals but I can’t remember all the places. Of course lobster was good, but I think the best things I ate were oysters and blueberry ice cream.

Activities: We spent most of our days doing unstructured things like hiking, swimming or fishing, but we did do several more formal activities. One day we rented e-bikes and rode the carriage roads. This was excellent and I highly recommend it. Another wonderful day was on the fishing boat tour from Acadia cruises (dock was right at our hotel). We caught some nice fish, which they cleaned and we kept, but it would have been a great day on the water even without the fishing. We saw porpoises, seals, and a majestic bald eagle flew right in front of our eyes. Terrific experience! We also really enjoyed the sunset sail of the Windjammer from right in front of the Bar Harbor Inn. Another day we watched the sunset on top of Cadillac mountain, which was spectacular. (I made a reservation for about an hour before actual sunset and we walked all around before sitting to watch the sunset). Most nights we enjoyed staring up at the beautiful stars, so we were very excited to go to the ranger-led talk about the night sky on Wed night at Sand beach. However, this happened to be the one night fog rolled in so no stars were visible at all. It was still pleasant to sit on the beach in the dark and listen to the ocean waves, and the rangers provided some interesting general information, but this was probably the only thing we did that wasn’t a total homerun due to the weather. But it was still a nice evening to be on the beach and it was free!

Overall, we had a great trip and our family continues to be thankful for the wonderful treasure of our national park system!

Answer

Visiting Acadia National Park with a teenage child in mid-August can be a wonderful experience, balancing both adventure and relaxation. Even though it’s peak season, you can avoid the largest crowds by being strategic about timing and locations.

Timing & Crowds:

Late afternoons were found to be ideal for hikes, as mornings can be hectic and early mornings challenging with teens. Pool time or leisurely breakfasts in the morning can be more peaceful, and dining during off-peak hours helps avoid long waits. Avoiding the busiest downtown areas during peak hours also improves the experience.

Hotel Recommendation:

Staying slightly outside of Bar Harbor, such as at the Atlantic Oceanside, offers a quieter, scenic experience with ocean views and easy access to the park. Activities like fishing at small rocky beaches near the hotel can keep teens engaged, even if they don’t catch anything.

Transportation:

Driving to the island is convenient, but the Island Explorer bus system is efficient for getting around without worrying about parking.
Use the bus to access central locations and park entrances, while keeping your car for further destinations like Northeast and Southwest Harbors.

Hiking:

Acadia offers a variety of moderate hikes, with rocky and uneven terrain making trekking poles highly recommended, especially for downhill stability. Elevation gain is generally manageable, but footing can be challenging.

Dining:

Hearty breakfasts at the hotel and snacks help manage hunger during the day.
Lunch and dinner options like Beal’s in Southwest Harbor and Stewman’s Lobster Pound are highly recommended.
Jordan Pond House is a great choice for a reservation, especially on e-bike days.
Special treats like blueberry ice cream and oysters can be highlights of meals.

Activities & Entertainment:

E-biking the carriage roads is highly recommended and family-friendly.
Fishing boat tours can provide both recreation and wildlife viewing opportunities (porpoises, seals, bald eagles).
Sunset sails, such as on the Windjammer, provide scenic and memorable experiences.
Cadillac Mountain sunsets are spectacular; arrive about an hour before to explore and secure a good viewing spot.
Ranger-led night sky talks at Sand Beach are enjoyable, though weather-dependent.

Overall, Acadia offers a rich variety of activities for families with teens, including hiking, biking, boating, and wildlife observation. Planning for off-peak times, leveraging both car and public transport, and mixing structured and unstructured activities results in a highly rewarding visit.