Acadia National Park
Mount Desert Island, Maine
Acadia National Park’s rugged Gulf of Maine coastline, 125 miles of hiking trails, and 45 miles of carriage roads perfect for biking and horseback riding provide an intimate embrace with nature that is sorely missing in the lives of many of us 21st-century citizens.
Mount Desert Island’s carriage roads are courtesy of philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Being an avid horseman, he wanted to be able to traverse the island without the bother of motor vehicles intruding on his ride. Between 1913 and 1940, he financed and oversaw the construction of the carriage roads.
Take time for a boat cruise to get a different perspective on the park’s granite cliffs and coastal forests. Time it right when you stop by Thunder Hole, and you could hear the roar of the waves against the rocks. If it’s not roaring when you get there, stick around a bit. Early risers should check out the sunrise from Cadillac Mountain. For half of the year, roughly October through March, visitors to the mountain will be the first in the U.S. to see the sun.
All photos by Desha .
