Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park Review

The only section of Maine's national park that sits on the mainland is at the southern side of the Schoodic Peninsula in the town of Winter Harbor. The park has a scenic 6-mi one-way loop that edges along the coast and yields views of Grindstone Neck, Winter Harbor, Winter Harbor Lighthouse, and, across the water, Cadillac Mountain. At the tip of the point, huge slabs of pink granite lie jumbled along the shore, thrashed unmercifully by the crashing surf (stay away from the water's edge), and jack pines cling to life amid the rocks. Fraser Point, at the beginning of the loop, is an ideal place for a picnic. Work off lunch with a hike up Schoodic Head for the panoramic views up and down the coast. In Winter Harbor you can get off at the ferry to Bar Harbor. The $20-per-car park admission fee is generally not charged when you're just visiting Schoodic.