I was less than thrilled when my family announced we'd be vacationing in Bar Harbor, Maine this summer. I adore beach vacations, listening to the sound of the waves and digging my toes into the sand. The beaches in Maine are cold and I wasn't happy about our destination. However, when we arrived, I quickly fell head over heels for the rocky coastlines and beautiful pine trees. Throughout our stay, there were a few things I learned. Here are the do's and don'ts of vacationing in Vacationland.
DO ...
Pack for all weather conditions
Even though it's summer, Maine's weather is scattered and unpredictable. Pack for a variety of weather conditions - hot, cold, humid, muggy, rainy, sunny. If it's a weather condition, pack for it. One day I was sweating in shorts and a tank top, the next day I was bundling up in sweatpants and a hoodie.
DON'T ...
Go outside at night without bug spray
Or you will be eaten alive. The mosquitoes in Maine are savage. Unless it's windy, we didn't step outside after the sun set. They will carry you away or leave you with 20 bug bites on just one foot.
DO ...
Plan accordingly
Like I mentioned above, the weather is unpredictable and sometimes you have to plan around it. For example, we planned on walking across the sand bar at low tide to Bar Island. However, it was extremely foggy that day and what did we see? - The color white and the ground in front of us.
DON'T ...
Walk the shore line barefoot
It is rocky and jagged with bits of glass here and there. I even saw parts of a broken glass bottle scattered on the shore. The rocks and seaweed can also be very slippery. Be sure to wear durable shoes that you can easily maneuver your way around all the rocks.
DO ...
Visit Acadia National Park
From scaling Cadillac Mountain to driving the Park Loop, Acadia National Park has plenty to offer and doesn't lack in beautiful scenery. The park is breathtaking and far from disappointing. I recommend visiting Thunder Hole (at high tide) and climbing to see bubble rock.
DON'T ...
Stray away from marked paths during your visit at the park
There are signs throughout the park urging hikers to leave nothing behind, and that includes footprints. Not only will stepping off the designated paths trample fragile plant life and cause erosion, it will probably end with you feeling like you are on your very own special episode of the show Lost.
DO ...
Buy a park map
Acadia National park is a decent size and you can easily get lost. A park map shows you all the trails the park has to offer, along with the trails difficulty level, length, and time it takes to hike the trail. Reception in some parts of the park are nonexistent and a GPS could quickly fail you.
DO ...
Visit the town of Bar Harbor
From the Bar Harbor Tea Company to Bark Harbor, the seaside town has plenty of cute places to shop and dine as well. I recommend supping at Meet me at Geddy's and Stewmans Lobster Pound.
DO ...
Take a fishing trip on the Vagabond with Acadia Deep Sea Fishing Tours.
You'll get to behold sea lions basking in the sun, maybe catch a glimpse of an eagle, and catch mackerel, code, and pollack. Our boat was lucky enough to have a baby seal swim right up next to us. After the fishing is over, the crew hauls up lobster traps and hands out free, fresh lobster to the guests.
