Acadia - Family Trip Summer 2011
Jan 18th, 2011, 09:09 AM
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Acadia - Family Trip Summer 2011
Just starting to think about a family vacation to Maine, Acadia National, from Delaware this Summer 2011. We've never been to this area and are basically starting from scratch knowing little. We will drive our family of five with three children aged 5-9 likely sometime in August. Our route will include New York CT, MA, NH, ME.
For anyone who has spent time in this area, where would be the best place to base our stay to explore Acadia and its surroundings? We prefer a place with a kitchen so we can cook a lot of meals and enjoy games, etc. in the evenings. Suggested cabins, vacation homes? What are the not to miss sights on our drive up and in the Acadia area of Maine? Keeping in mind our young children.
I have a book on order to hopefully guide me too but thought I'd start with a post here as I've done in the past. Love the Fodorites!!
For anyone who has spent time in this area, where would be the best place to base our stay to explore Acadia and its surroundings? We prefer a place with a kitchen so we can cook a lot of meals and enjoy games, etc. in the evenings. Suggested cabins, vacation homes? What are the not to miss sights on our drive up and in the Acadia area of Maine? Keeping in mind our young children.
I have a book on order to hopefully guide me too but thought I'd start with a post here as I've done in the past. Love the Fodorites!!
Jan 18th, 2011, 04:43 PM
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Are you planning to spend one night someplace on the way or making the trip in one long drive?
North of Camden and south of Ellsworth there's a huge Chicken Barn on Rt 1 that is antiques on the first floor, used books on the second floor. It might be a good stop for the family to pick out some reading material. Don't miss the auto road up Mt Battie in Camden ME. It overlooks the harbor and the view is incredible. Great place for a picnic. If you go during blueberry season there will be trucks along the road selling blueberries. Mixed with vanilla yogurt they make a simple dessert.
Will you be bringing bikes with you?
North of Camden and south of Ellsworth there's a huge Chicken Barn on Rt 1 that is antiques on the first floor, used books on the second floor. It might be a good stop for the family to pick out some reading material. Don't miss the auto road up Mt Battie in Camden ME. It overlooks the harbor and the view is incredible. Great place for a picnic. If you go during blueberry season there will be trucks along the road selling blueberries. Mixed with vanilla yogurt they make a simple dessert.
Will you be bringing bikes with you?
Jan 18th, 2011, 06:21 PM
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We loved our family trip there in 2005...stayed for 1 week in a rental not too far from Bar Harbor town center (and only a couple of blocks from the free trolley that will take you into town). If you're looking for a rental home, google Summertime I, II or III in BH...Sam and Sonja were excellent hosts and helpful with local information, and the 3 properties were wonderful (there are pics on their website).
We came from northern NJ and drove until we hit Wells Maine, where we were told to eat at the Wells Diner. Also made a quick stop at the outlets in Kittery. This was the halfway point (and the point when we were seriously considering leaving our kids at the side of the road for all their bickering!). A well-deserved break, to say the least.
Other activities we enjoyed with our 3 and 5 yr olds...
Atlantic Brewery tour and Sunday BBQ
ice cream in BH at the place with the big lobster out front (eat it a block away in the park with a beautiful view of the islands)
double kayaking on Long Pond? or was it Great Pond?
picnicking at one of the turnouts along the Acadia loop
sunrise/sunset from Cadillac Mtn
blueberry popovers at the Jordan Pond Inn
trip to Bass Harbor Light, stopping for lunch at the Hot Dog Shack in South Harbor (not sure if I'm getting the name right...it's been awhile)
eating at a real lobster shanty
crossing over the land bridge from BH to one of the Porcupine Islands during low tide and exploring the ocean floor
And our favorite...take a ride out with Diver Ed (check him out online...we were on a tight budget but this was absolutely worth the $...what a great time).
I'd also recommend any of the nature programs offered by the NPS...my older daughter had a blast exploring tide pools with other kids and finding all sorts of living things. She even earned her Junior Ranger patch/certificate at the ranger station.
Enjoy your trip...Acadia was our first national park and we hope to make it back again someday
We came from northern NJ and drove until we hit Wells Maine, where we were told to eat at the Wells Diner. Also made a quick stop at the outlets in Kittery. This was the halfway point (and the point when we were seriously considering leaving our kids at the side of the road for all their bickering!). A well-deserved break, to say the least.
Other activities we enjoyed with our 3 and 5 yr olds...
Atlantic Brewery tour and Sunday BBQ
ice cream in BH at the place with the big lobster out front (eat it a block away in the park with a beautiful view of the islands)
double kayaking on Long Pond? or was it Great Pond?
picnicking at one of the turnouts along the Acadia loop
sunrise/sunset from Cadillac Mtn
blueberry popovers at the Jordan Pond Inn
trip to Bass Harbor Light, stopping for lunch at the Hot Dog Shack in South Harbor (not sure if I'm getting the name right...it's been awhile)
eating at a real lobster shanty
crossing over the land bridge from BH to one of the Porcupine Islands during low tide and exploring the ocean floor
And our favorite...take a ride out with Diver Ed (check him out online...we were on a tight budget but this was absolutely worth the $...what a great time).
I'd also recommend any of the nature programs offered by the NPS...my older daughter had a blast exploring tide pools with other kids and finding all sorts of living things. She even earned her Junior Ranger patch/certificate at the ranger station.
Enjoy your trip...Acadia was our first national park and we hope to make it back again someday
Feb 8th, 2011, 05:49 PM
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Our extended family stayed at Eden Village last summer (with five kids ages 6-11). We all want to go back!http://www.edenvillage.com/index.html
Feb 13th, 2011, 05:24 PM
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Consider Acadia Cottages in Southwest Harbor. It's much less commercial than Bar Harbor, great for walking to town and close drives to Echo Lake, Bass Harbor, and Flying Mountain hiking trail. Definitely visit the OUR ACADIA Web site for "22 things to do with your kids" in Acadia:
http://www.ouracadia.com/kids-favorites.php?pg_id=20
http://www.ouracadia.com/kids-favorites.php?pg_id=20
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