Acadia Part 1

6-8 Jul 2026

Jordan Pond, Acadia National Park

Buckle up because you're about to visit one of the most beautiful places in the USA! I have waited years to visit Acadia and I was not disappointed. I'm breaking my visit up into two segments because although I only had five days there, there's so much to show you and I barely scratched the surface of this wonderland.

Acadia is in the northern part of the state they call Downeast Maine. Why? I wondered the same thing. It comes from an old sailing term. In the warm months, the wind in the Gulf of Maine blows mostly from the southwest. When boats sailed from western ports like Boston toward eastern Maine, the wind was at their back. Sailors combined "downwind" and "east" to describe heading up the coast.

Sage is ready to explore

We got a late start so instead of fighting the traffic I decided we'd take the shuttle instead. It's so nice they allow dogs on the shuttles.

Jordan Pond House and Jordan Pond

Our first (and only) stop today was Jordan Pond House. They're famous for their popovers and Kate said I had to try one. It comes with Maine made strawberry jam and butter.

The popover was really good and Sage enjoyed hers too

After our treat, we walked down to Jordan Pond. Those two mountains in the background are called The Bubbles

My knee was really hurting so we didn't get to walk far but the trail was so pretty. It 3.3 miles and goes all around the lake. Maybe next time I'm here I'll have a new knee and will be able to hike it.

Jordan Pond and The Bubbles

Village Green in Bar Harbor

The only downside to taking the shuttle is it takes a long time to get from place to place with all the stops and having to change buses. That and our late start are why we only had time to visit Jordan Pond.

Karen and I at Abel's Lobster

Everyone, meet my friend Karen. She and I both lived in Warner Robins GA for years but never met. Once I started my fulltime RV life, knowing we were both solo female RVers, a mutual friend introduced us on FB. We've talked for the last 3 years and finally met in person here in Maine! It wasn't planned, we just happened to be here at the same time.

Hook & Line Halibut

Karen has been to Maine before so she took me to Abel's Lobster for dinner. We both had the Hook & Line Hablibut. It's butter-basted halibut, polenta, asparagus, sugar snap peas with citrus gremolata. Worth. Every. Penny!

We stayed at Timberland Acres RV Park near Ellsworth. It was so nice to have full hookups for a change. They had a nice big dog park for Sage to play in too. We were both happy campers.

The next day I had to go into Bangor (about an hour away) to get a cortisone shot in my knee so we didn't go to the park. That didn't mean I didn't have an adventure though.

Karen asked if I wanted to do a Flightseeing Tour of the lighthouses around Acadia. Ummm, yes please! I've done helicopter rides but not a small plane.

Five Stars *****

Okay, I know this is weird but they had the nicest port-a-potty I've ever been in. Stainless steel, clean and smelled nice. It even had a mirror!

Sorry for the detour, now let's get back to the flightseeing trip.

Our ride. A four-seater plane

And we're up!

We just took off and I'm already having the time of my life!

Winter Harbor

This sail boat has a mast longer than the boat itself. I can't remember what Tucker, (our pilot), said the length was but it was over 100 feet tall.

Prospect Harbor Point Lighthouse. The radar dome is part of Prospect Harbor Space Force Station.

Winter Harbor Lighthouse. It was decommissioned in 1934 and is not open to the public.

Schoodic Point, the "quiet side" of Acadia. We went here for one of the most spectacular sunsets I've ever seen.

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Egg Rock Lighthouse is unique in that the lighthouse is in the middle of the building instead of along side it. Egg Rock is now a wildlife refuge for birds and seals so it's closed to visitors

Sand Beach in Acadia National Park. It's the only sand beach in the park. In fact, most beaches in Maine are rocky.

Martha Stewart's house has a two tiered swimming pool

Located on one of the outermost Cranberry Isles, Baker Island Lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse in the Mt. Desert Island area. It was built in 1828 and deactivated in 2002. It was also one of the few solar powered lighthouses but was deactivated because the surrounding trees blocked the light.

Bear Island Lighthouse sits at the entrance to Somes Sound. It's part of Acadia NP but isn't open to the public.

Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse. I visited this one and will show you up close pictures later.

Bass Harbor

Last but not least, Blue Hill Bay Lighthouse. Deactivated in 1934, it's now a private residence.

This is an oyster farm in Frenchman Bay. The seed oysters (very small juvenile oysters) are placed in small-mesh bags, which are then put in lines of cages that are anchored to the bottom and float on the surface. As the oysters grow, they are sorted into bags with larger mesh sizes so that water flow is as high as possible.

All good things must come to an end. This was definitely the highlight of my visit. I highly recommend Scenic Flights of Acadia!

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After the flightseeing tour we walked around the shops in Bar Harbor and stopped at Leary's Irish Pub for dinner. We both had fish tacos which were delicious!

As we were leaving Bar Harbor I saw the moose on top of Geddy's. I just thought it was cute so I took a picture.

That's it for the first few days here in Acadia. We've seen the area by air and a little by land. Next time we'll explore the park by land and sea.