Here's Vacation 2K14 Part 2
It has been said that Maine's Acadia National Park has some of the most beautiful natural views in all of America. My family expected to see scenic landscapes, but what we ended up seeing was more than anything we could ever imagine!
In order to see as much of the park as possible, my family left our hotel early in the morning to drive up to the welcome center for the park. Once we got inside and paid the fees, a very helpful park ranger assisted us in planning our day. He told us that the most effective way to see as much of the area as possible was to drive on the Park Loop Road. This 27 mile system connects many of the highlights of Acadia, including Cadillac Mountain, Thunder Hole, Jordan Pond, and Sand Beach. Excited, but unsure about what awaited us, my mother, father, and I hopped back into the car and started the uphill climb up Park Loop Road.
Our initial plan of attack was to drive completely upwards in order to reach the look-out spot known as Cadillac Mountain. Apparently, this was going to be the best vantage point for the park. However, we decided that we would pull over as much as we liked in order to see the landscape from all different points. Acadia is set up very nicely. Every mile or so there is a pull-off spot where you can see down the mountain. This enables you to get a real sense of the depth and wonder. The park is also "user-friendly"! There are countless signs pointing you in the direction you wish to go and most of the roads are one-way, helping to reduce confusion and accidents as you make your way up.
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Once we reached Cadillac Mountain, we realized that Acadia may just be the most beautiful place in North America!
On one side of the mountain was water and rocky islands. On the other side you were able to see trees and forest for miles and miles. The sandstone mountain top made it easy to hike around for the best views. The area was a tad bit crowded (because it was a Sunday in late June), but the sheer size and vastness of the mountain top made it simple to get pictures of the scenery and not pictures of the tourists in front of the scenery!
After spending a good amount of time on top of Acadia, we decided it would be a good idea to head back down and start exploring inside of Acadia
Our next intended stop was Jordan Pond. Apparently, popovers are a very popular dish in the Northeast, and Jordan Pond was rumored to be a great place to eat one. As we turned into the parking lot, we realized how popular popovers and Jordan Pond is. There was not a single parking spot in any of lots. After a bit of discussion, my family decided we didn't need to waste our time driving around for a spot, and headed on to the next destination: Sand Beach.
The coolest thing about Sand Beach is that it is the only sand beach in Maine (who would've guessed?)! Because of erosion and the flow of the tide, the beach is covered in sand, not rocks like the rest of the Maine coast. A flight of wooden steps takes you down onto the water. Oh my goodness. I never expected the view to be so amazing! Maine water is notoriously frigid, but there were kids splashing around. It was not a particularly warm day, but there was a handful of people sunbathing on the beach.
To finish off our day at Acadia, we went to Thunder Hole, known for the incredible splashing of water and roaring of tide during certain parts of the day. We arrived in the late afternoon and it was low tide, meaning we would not get to experience the thunderous roar the area is known for. However, I took a few pictures, simply because Maine landscape is a wonderful mix of rugged coastlines and lush forest. It really is breathtaking and something I believe every person should experience.
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