ShoreTrips says...

Many people don't realize that Acadia National Park is technically located on an island. MDI, or Mount Desert Island, is the second largest island on the eastern seaboard, trailing only Long Island!

Like any place you travel, there are always "hidden gems" that often go overlooked and throughout the beauties of Mount Desert Island, the story is no different. Remove yourself from the hustle and bustle of the cruise ship pier and experience the quiet side of New England, the way it is meant to be seen.

On your way to the southwest side of Acadia National Park, you will overlook Historic Bar Harbor's Victorian mansions which date all the way back to the gilded age and represent coastal New England architecture in its purest form. Henry Ford and John D. Rockefeller constantly praised the region and owned many properties along the coast! Your first stop will be historic Somesville which is known as the oldest settlement on Mount Desert Island and provides the best views of Somes Sound. Considered by many as the "only fjord on the East Coast," this off-shoot of water created by glaciers played an integral role in forming the impressive landscape around you.

Your journey will continue to the quaint fishing village of Southwest Harbor as you approach the area's famous Seawall. Made up of granite and loose boulders, this spot represents the most sought after location by campers coming to Acadia for a long weekend. The ocean and forests are too inviting to just observe from the vehicle, so take advantage of the nearby Ships Harbor Trail and take a guided walk through a beautiful Spruce Forest. This 1.3-mile trail provides an easy way to get a taste of the secluded shoreline.

It isn't a trip to Maine without the exploration of a lighthouse and the one stationed in Bass Harbor might be the most picturesque. It was built in 1858 after Congress deemed there was "sufficient need" to increase safety on the water and, by 1988, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

We wouldn't send you back to the pier without a full stomach so fire up your taste buds for a traditional lobster dinner on Great Harbor. Have a 1.25-pound lobster all to yourself while enjoying a famous Maine tradition!

To be honest, you will probably be thinking about your fresh lobster meal from the moment you step foot in the vehicle.