Woody's Best Acadia National Park Harbors & Homes Dream Tour!

Sand Beach is Acadia National Park's largest recreational beach for tourists. Many daring souls can't resist a dip in its very cold waters, usually in the hot months of July and August. Putting your feet in the icy Atlantic Ocean waters is a great activity any time of year. Maybe Sand Beach is better for enjoying a book, or perhaps working on your next landscape. The sound of the ocean waves will serenade you and become your muse!

Thunder Hole is one of the most popular ocean-side attractions inside Acadia National Park. It is a significant formation of granite shoreline sculpted by the Atlantic Ocean's pounding waves and Mother Nature since the last Ice Age. At a few hours before the high tide, you have the best chance of hearing the thunderous sound of the ocean pounding into Thunder Hole's cave. It is named "Thunder Cave" on some old maps. If you get too close you can get drenched. You will feel the granite shake underneath your feet if the wave is big enough. The granite has a beautiful salmon-pink color all along the shoreline nearby, and at Thunder Hole in particular. During stormier days, Acadia National Park's rangers will restrict or shut down access to this attraction.

Otter Point is the highest cliff face on the entire seaboard of the contiguous United States. Acadia National Park's loop road takes us over and around Otter Point. Everything is visible from the vehicle. If you would like a stop, it is possible. The ringing buoy nearby is charming to most ears.

Bring your quarters because Otter Creek has coin operated showers. We go past this little island hamlet on our way to Seal Harbor village. Blackwoods Campground in Acadia National Park is near by and you will see some campers heading that way. We often see hikers getting ready to conquer the South Trail of Cadillac Mountain. Do not blink or you will miss it!

Wind along Mount Desert Island's coastal roads and as you listen to stories of famous historical figures such as John Rockefeller Jr. and Edsel Ford. Both spent many summers with their families here in exquisite Seal Harbor, Maine. Today, celebrities such as Martha Stewart frequent Seal Harbor Yacht Club. Enjoy beautiful mansions along this route, local homes, wharves, docks and boats. Enjoy the environs as we take a short stop at the Seal Harbor pier for pictures and a stretch.

This Japanese Strolling Garden is the legacy of Beatrix Farrand, Landscape Architect for John Rockefeller Jr. himself. For a suggested donation, visitors can easily enjoy the peace and tranquility of this meticulously maintained garden. An island treasure for sure!

Sargent Drive is just minutes away from Northeast Harbor village center. The natural mix of sea and mountains here form the only fjord on the Northeast seaboard of the United States. Sargent Drive is part of Acadia National Park and runs for a few miles along the ocean side at the center of Mount Desert Island. Tall sail boats and lobster boats are a common sight because Somes Sound fjord allows for the Atlantic ocean to reach almost two thirds into the middle of the island. This route takes us onward around the northwest side of Eagle Lake on the way back to Bar Harbor village.

We go right over Eagle Lake Carriage Road Bridge on the route back to Bar Harbor. Enjoy views of Eagle Lake and the largest Beaver Lodge known to this island!

Acadia National Park surrounds the village of Bar Harbor. Bar Harbor is a quaint New England fishing port and a sea food lover's paradise. Lobster doesn't get any fresher or more succulent than from these very icy Atlantic Ocean waters. Bar Harbor is visible from many different points as you move along during your excursion. The best view is from the summit of Cadillac Mountain one quarter of a mile above Bar Harbor. We drive through most of the village pointing out historical interests.