Even if cycling is your first love, there’s a point on Mount Desert Island where getting off the bike feels like part of the adventure. I’m a believer in balance: a good ride should be followed by a swim, a walk, a paddle or a museum. Thankfully, Acadia offers it all.
For hikers, there are more than 150 miles of trails in the park. Some connect directly with the carriage roads, so you can lock up your bike and head up a ridge. The Beehive is a classic that I still love despite the crowds — the direct ascent involves iron rungs and narrow ledges, but you can loop back via the Bowl for a quieter descent. If you prefer an easier path, the Jesup Trail near Sieur de Monts is flat and boardwalk‑like; it winds through a birch forest and peat bog and is a favourite with my kids.
Water is everywhere on MDI, but not every pond is open for swimming or paddling. Sand Beach and Echo Lake Beach are the official spots. Some lakes, like Eagle Lake and Jordan Pond, are public water supplies where swimming and wading are prohibited. That said, renting a kayak or paddleboard is always worth it. A leisurely paddle across Long Pond or around a quiet tributary has soothed more than one bad mood in our household, and my partner swears the fishing is better when you earn it with a paddle. Local outfitters will deliver boats to most launch points, some even to your accomodation (Acadia Paddle), and you’ll find everything from solo kayaks to group canoe tours. If you’re inclined toward motorboats, remember that registration and life‑jacket requirements apply.
The park isn’t just outdoors. The Oceanarium on the island’s north side is a delightfully old‑school place where you can meet sea stars and horseshoe crabs in touch‑tanks. The Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor highlights Wabanaki culture and history — an important counterpoint to the park’s colonial narratives. Thuya Garden above Northeast Harbor is a quietly dazzling collection of borders and overlooks; the climb up the Asticou Terraces rewards you with both flowers and harbour views.
Some experiences are clichés for a reason. I still dream about popovers at Jordan Pond House years later — warm, airy and served with strawberry jam and a view of the Bubbles. Stargazing from Seawall or Sand Beach never gets old; on clear new‑moon nights, the Milky Way feels almost close enough to touch. My kids love the fire tower on Beach Hill (a short hike from Beech Mountain trailhead) because the climb up the tower feels like an adventure within an adventure. Echo Lake’s cliffs call to anyone willing to jump into deep water and feel like a kid again.
On rainy days or when legs are tired, take in a movie at the Criterion Theatre or Reel Pizza in Bar Harbor. Reel Pizza combines films with pizza and couches — a formula that our family finds hard to resist. Pirate’s Cove mini‑golf near the head of the island is kitschy and fun, and the Shore Path in Bar Harbor offers a calm, level stroll with plenty of benches for ice‑cream stops. Side Street Cafe has become a go‑to for nachos and cocktails, and Islesford Dock Restaurant (accessible via mailboat) makes a trip to Little Cranberry Island feel like a mini holiday.
And if you need one more reason to step off the bike: tidepooling. The park recommends visiting tidepools one‑and‑a‑half hours before or after low tide and advises sturdy shoes and caution around slippery rocks. Finding a sea star or watching a crab scuttle into a crevice is a humble thrill. Later, when the sky darkens, bring a blanket to Sand Beach or Lake Wood and watch for meteors. That’s the magic of Acadia: ride hard, paddle gently, hike high, and then lie back and watch the universe spin above you.