Saturday, June 14, 2025
Acadia Day 2: Second is the best
On my first full day in Maine, I started my morning with a view of the Atlantic Ocean. We visited the most famous lighthouse in Acadia National Park— Bass Harbor Head Light. As a little girl, my favorite crayon was the blue one, and as I sat at the top of the rock near the shoreline, I could only think of how impressed my younger self would be of the color. My favorite part of this view is spotting a boat passing along the shoreline. Using Kira’s binoculars, I read the words, “I love you too” written on the side in red letters. I loved it! After grabbing an iced coffee from the gas station, we made a stop at Seawall. When we got out of the van, I could feel the breeze and caffeine waking me up—oh, my tumble into the seaweed also helped. Once I recovered from that, I found the best view of the trip. Eagle Lake had the most memorable mountain backdrop against the water. I ate my sandwich, took a deep breath, and let nature calm my nerves before our visit to the park headquarters. The Acadia National Park conference was incredible. I got to meet the GIS specialist I’d been hoping to interview for my paper—she was so cool! John Kelly introduced me, and I was in awe of the entire experience. After a successful day of conquering fears, I had dinner with my roommates and tried crab cakes for the first time. I was underwhelmed but they were good! We returned to Bar Harbor, where Kira took a cute photo of me stealing her ice cream. We ended the day on a sunset cruise, singing karaoke during golden hour with the Golden Girls. This day was a 10/10. I’m so thankful for Friends of Acadia and the experience. Thank you, Captain Phil, for the ride too! 
Acadia Day 3: My Day of Rest and Relaxation
Today was a must-needed rest day for me. Candice, Edith, and I overslept...the first time I checked my phone, it was 8:08 a.m. Cabin 16 is sincerely sorry, Jessica and crew. We drove over to the Wildwood Stables and took a horse-drawn carriage tour! Our horses were named Bud and Bill, and they were as charming as the view. We had a splendid, pleasant morning driving through the "hills that are called mountains."
 |
| Bill and Bud respectively |
After the carriage ride, we split off into groups to either go back to the camp, or go into Bar Harbor for the afternoon. My heart was set on going into Bar Harbor and sitting out on the grass overlooking the water, maybe while drinking a nine dollar coffee. I climbed into the van after Candice, sat down in the seat, and then all of a sudden, an overwhelming wave of fatigue washed over me like the waves at Sand Beach. I was not making it to Bar Harbor as a happy camper. I consulted Dale, and then I hopped into the shotgun seat of the white van.
Most of my day was spent doing homework, and bonding with more of my teammates. I lounged in bed, listened to lots of music (Lana Del Rey), filmed my first successful reel, ate two hot dogs and four golden-brown marshmallows, got interviewed by Maci, watched the sunset with Emma, Mallory, and Libby, and am currently have a deep conversation with my roommates. Candice and Edith when you see this, I love you guys. I am going to shake the remnants of outdoors off of my bedsheets, fill up my water bottle, go check out the stars with Dale, and go to bed so I wake up for our call time tomorrow in a timely manner!
A mental health day: Acadia Day 3!
Starting off a little later than expected (so sorry to everyone in the van), we made our way to the historic Rockefeller-funded carriage roads! Lead by Carrie & Matt, our horses Bill and Bud made their way up the steep inclines and sharp turns. It was Matt’s first day as a tour guy and he provided us with so many fun facts about the horses, the local flora and fauna and general trivia about Acadia & Bar Harbor! I forgot how humbling and grounding being around horses is, seriously an underrated therapeutic experience. The weather being cloudy and a little windy was the cherry on top, as it enhanced our ability to appreciate the great details in each of the carriage bridges.
After getting our Texan on with the horses, I got to explore Bar Harbor by myself! Soaking in my alone time, I began my personal tour at The Independent cafe & treated myself to my first ice coffee of the trip and a falafel wrap! Here I also got to try a red snapper hotdog that pleasantly surprised me! It was extremely tasty and reminded me of summer cookouts with my grandparents by the pool- very thankful for that experience. I perused around Main Street and stopped in several quaint stores, my favorite being an entire store centered around dogs named Bark Harbor!!! Today is my dog’s birthday so I did some gift shopping for him there, and had to stop myself from buying every one of the corgi items they had. My final stop was Bar Harbor clothing where I scored some specialty Maine socks for my parents- we’re a sock gifting family so it was meant to be. It was a serene day, with many people watched, pictures taken and good conversations had. Feeling grateful and grounded as I sign off!
Day Three in Acadia!
With days one and two of our trip being so intense and tiring, a day of relaxing like today was much needed. We started our day at the Wildwood Stables, where we were able to learn about the rich history of the carriage roads in Acadia. We also learned about our two horse friends, Jewel and Jill. Not to brag or anything, but all three of us were born in 2005, and our names start with a J:)
After we gave some good pets to Jill and Jewel, we parted ways and headed into Bar Harbor for a few hours. Helena, Audrey and I decided to stop for a quick brunch at Cafe That Way, which had the most incredible blueberry pancakes.
We walked over to a small coffee shop where we worked on some assignments for a while. After homework, we did what we do best: shop. We went into just about every shop in Bar Harbor, and I finally bought myself a souvenir after shopping only for my family and boyfriend. I also bought a book by my favorite author from the oldest bookstore in Maine, which is in Bar Harbor. We walked around shops for a bit longer and ended up running into one of the sweet ladies we met on the sunset cruise last night! We talked for a minute to catch up, and then parted ways. Seeing her was my favorite part of the day!
We left Bar Harbor to head back to our KOA, where we relaxed the rest of the day and the night. To me, this was a perfect day!
 |
| Jill and Jewel |
 |
| Cafe That Way |
An Afternoon Spent in Bar Harbor
For our third day exploring Acadia, it was much slower, which I truly appreciated. So far, our trip has been very fast-paced, so a slower day was much needed. A couple of us spent the afternoon at Bar Harbor with even more shopping and eating good food. Firstly, today was the "Art in the Park" festival, where the town featured local artists and their incredible work. We also spoke with some of the artists to hear their stories and learn about the inspiration behind their work. Then, we grabbed a delicious brunch at Cafe This Way. I got eggs Benedict, which is my classic order at any breakfast place. Maybe it's because I was hungry, but the meal was amazing!
 |
| Eggs Benny Breakfast |
 |
| Art at the Park |
After that, we headed over to the Independent Cafe to get some of our class work done. I got a London Fog (so good) and some blueberry coffee beans! I've been drinking the blueberry drip coffee at the Lobster Cafe in the KOA, and I am obsessed. We spent about an hour here, then headed out again for some fun shopping. I was able to find a cute Acadia sweatshirt for only $20! Also, we browsed in the bookstore in Bar Harbor. I (very surprisingly) did not buy any books, but I love looking at the local bookstores when I'm traveling. I had such a good time looking around the downtown area today and can't wait for the next few days!
 |
| Sherman's |
Artistic Inspiration!
I was so inspired today in Bar Harbor at the art fair. It looked like a farmers market with each artist having their own tent showcasing all of their amazing work. There were photographers, oil painters, acrylic painters, and even an artist who created key-hangers out of recycled wood material from Bar Harbor.
Luckily, I was able to get some pictures of the next artist that stood out to me.
One artist whose work stood out to me was a man who cut his photographs into strips and wove them together to create something new. I also loved his use of mixed media, where he would incorporate thread (like the kind used to make friendship bracelets) into his photographs. He took a picture of an old car in front of a tree and added "X"s to the headlights and little bobbles to the tree with the string. He told me that the car is always there, and he has pictures of it during every season, and it's like one of his friends.
Some of the vendors were stingy about taking pictures, so you'll just have to imagine it in your head.
Looking at her paintings felt like looking at the world through her eyes.
The way she emphasizes swirls in nature and adds touches of abstract elements to realistic landscapes is mesmerizing. I loved how she uses bright, saturated colors and blends everything so smoothly.
This picture of a waterfall was my favorite. I get completely lost in the detail of the water. I also love the spots she added to the rocks on the left side. The color palette is gorgeous with the bright autumn yellows and reds contrasting with the neutral browns and greens. I am just obsessed with how she captured the movement of the water. She created something that translates the beauty of seeing it in person into a painting, which is so much more difficult than painting an exact recreation. I might just have to go back and get a print of it tomorrow. She had so many prints on display, but we were on the waitlist for brunch, so I couldn't look at them all, but I would definitely love a chance to go back. My best friend from my hometown is an art major and loves painting, so I was sending pictures to her because their art styles are pretty similar, and she loved it too!
It was a great feeling to be so inspired by someone's art because I haven't felt that feeling in a long time. I used to paint and draw until I fell out of love with it, and this inspired me to pull out my colored pencils from the vault and be more creative!
Day Two in Acadia!
Day two in Acadia was long and tiring, but equally as fun. We had the incredible opportunity to have an interview session with both employees of the park and Friends of Acadia. I was able to ask the wildlife biologist, Bic Wheeler, all the questions I had about endangered animals, and I was even able to narrow down my story thanks to him. After hearing about the four endangered bat species in the park, I decided that was the perfect story!
After our time with the park employees, we headed over to Bar Harbor, where we were able to interview employees of Friends of Acadia. They were all so knowledgeable and had really interesting things to say about the park and the work they do.
After we walked the streets of Bar Harbor for about an hour, we headed to our sunset cruise. Helena, Audrey, and I sat at the top for all of ten minutes before we decided it was way too cold up there and booked it to the galley. In the galley, we met the most incredible group of 21 women. They were on a girls' trip for their friend's birthday, and they had wine, drinks, and snacks on the boat. After chatting with the two cutest ladies for close to 20 minutes, we all sang Happy Birthday to Shannon, who was turning 60 (but didn't look a day over 40). After that, we all began singing different songs together and dancing around. This was truly so special to me as it reminded me that kindness is everywhere and there is more to life than worrying about what comes next. It was an incredible experience they were kind enough to share with us, and I truly hope we see them again!
 |
| The sunset from the cruise |
 |
| The ladies |
Boat Karaoke
Today had a clear and unforgettable highlight. I’d been looking forward to the boat tour all day, mostly because I was excited for the views and thought it would be fun to be out on the water. I had no idea how much better it would be.
We started off on the top deck, freezing in the breeze, taking in the stunning views while the guide shared fun facts and bits of local history. I took some pictures of the lighthouse and managed to get some slightly blurry but still exciting footage of seals and a bald eagle. Perfect for my “Who Calls Acadia Home?” reel.
Once the wind got too cold, we headed inside to warm up. That’s when things took a totally unexpected turn. We ended up sitting with a big group of twenty-one middle-aged women on a girls’ trip, and they were absolutely living their best lives (and wasted). Most of them were visiting from Chicago, and we had a great time chatting with them. They were really curious about Austin and Texas State, and one of them had a daughter who also does nails, so that was really cool.
The vibes only got better because it turned out it was one of their birthday, so they grabbed the mic and sang her Happy Birthday. One song led to another, and before we knew it, the boat had turned into a full-on karaoke and dance party. Everyone was laughing, singing, and completely in the moment. It was so cool to see our group of young people mesh so well with them. Not to mention the absolutely gorgeous sunset.
What started as a peaceful sightseeing tour turned into something way more memorable in the best way possible. Definitely one of my favorite moments so far.
Detours
Sunrise on Cadillac Mountain
I’ve never seen a sunrise, so what better place to see your first one than on top of Cadillac Mountain. We woke up from our 3 hour nap, not to be confused with sleep, at the buttcrack of dawn. But 2 A.M. was actually not that bad cause I was with my best friends on this trip.
I grabbed my coffee and we went up to the summit except it was too early even for the park rangers to be awake. So we took a detour to the pitch black parking lot of Eagle Lake. We drowned out the frogs with our laughter, making dance videos and taking the most insane .5x selfies. Kate and I flopped on the asphalt and stared at the black tree framed sky.
Yes the sunrise was absolutely gorgeous but it was the detour, rather than the main attraction that I loved the most.
Seal Snuggles
Once we finished up our dinner in bar harbor -consisting of BLT’s don’t tell Dale- we drove to the sunset cruise at Acadian Boat Tours. We knew we had a chance to see wildlife on the cruise but no one expected to see it before we even left the dock! Kira was looking through her “binos” at a nearby island and she spotted a moose! That was only the start of our incredible luck spotting wildlife on the cruise. When we boarded the sunset cruise I knew I had one goal for the night- snapping the best seal picture ever. I risked it all, white knuckling my Cannon camera over the side of the boat. Then we found a whole herd of seals on Jordan Island, all snuggled together next to each other. And I got it! I took some pictures of adorable harbor seals as they sunbathed and galumped down the rocky beach. I also realized that they snuggle together because the air on the coast was freezing. Kate, Libby and I snuggled up to stay warm, so not only did I take a picture of a seal I became one for a second. 
Harbor seal candid on Jordan Island
I’ve been looking forward to hiking Beehive Trail next to Sand beach in Acadia for over a week but when I heard and smelled the ocean waves, I knew I had to stay sea level. I felt a call to explore the crashing waves and tree sprinkled cliffs.
I took some (biasly) great pictures sitting on those rocks before promptly dropping my phone into the water. I proceeded to wander the coast while my friends braved an insane precipice nearby, until I found the perfect conversation spot- this log. As soon as I found it, Edith joined me and we proceeded to talk for the next hour.
Even though we’d only known each other a day, we were able to have an honest conversation about our faith, our fears and our shared interests. I learned she has a love of protecting God’s beautiful creation just like me. I don’t know if it was the stunning views or the long travel day yesterday, but we were able to have a vulnerable conversation like we’d known each other forever. I made a genuine connection and a new friend today. And it’s all thanks to God and that log.
On Top of the World!
 |
| Our group on Cadillac Mountain. |
Big Ole' White Van Adventures
 |
| 📷: Kate Maddison |
On June 13th, 2025, our day once again started at 8am. Everyone piled into the big ole' white van before heading to our first stop: The Bass Harbor Lighthouse. This was another rocky destination, but surprisingly I wasn't sore after my hike up Beehive Trail the day before. This spot was super fun and the perfect place to take pictures at, the lighthouse being a paid actor. Everyone was having a great time moving between rocks to find good angles, taking pictures of one another, and collecting content for our projects. After this, we all hopped back into the big ole' white van and headed to Seawall. This was more challenging to get content that wasn't repetitive, but I climbed out on some rocks and was able to get waves crashing against the rocks in cinematic mode. But my favorite of all was Eagle Lake, our last stop before Bar Harbor. I loved the open view of the lake, along with all the greenery. The sun set the perfect lighting for photos and it warmed us even though the weather was cool. I also thought it was super unique to see all the bikers go through that area, and I would love to add that to my bucket list.
Sunset Cruise Karaoke & Janet's 60th Birthday
Things I packed but haven't used:
It was warmer down in the cabin of the boat, filled with about 20 older white women. We sat on a bench in the back, watching them drink and talk. They had a plethora of snacks, charcuterie board on display on a shelf in the front. We waved to our friends who had visited us on the second floor, and I noticed a lady who was looking out the window, all by her lonesome. I tapped her shoulder and asked her if she was alright, and she said yes, she was just tired. She had been up since 3:45 a.m. to watch the sunrise on Cadillac Mountain. I asked her what her story was, what was the occasion?
"Aruba...Jamaica....ooh, I wanna take ya...." I crooned, and the ladies caught on and finished the verse for me. I can't hold a tune to save my life, but their energy was electrifying. We told them we were from Texas, and they urged us to sing a "Texas song," which directly translates to country music. We sang "All My Exes Live in Texas," by George Strait, and "Margaritaville," by Jimmy Buffett with Captain Phil. The ladies were begging us to continue the party, so Jessica took the reigns. She stood up, equipped with the lyrics pulled up on her phone, and sang "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" by Looking Glass. It was an absolute hit with the ladies! I hadn't heard that song in forever, and I surprised myself by knowing most of the words!
The ladies were magnificent. It reminded me of when I was younger and I would hang out with my mother and all her friends, and we would dance around our kitchen singing George Strait. They were all so beautiful, clapping their hands and stumbling through the words, and then bursting into laughter and giggles. I haven't felt that kind of girlhood in awhile, and it was a very special moment to share with us girls. They even invited me to the bars after with them! I cannot wait to grow older and be just like them.
- my purse
- my Reeboks
- makeup remover
- tripod
- any of the shorts I brought
Today was our second day in Maine, and my favorite part of the day was the Sunset Cruise. Candice, Edith and I boarded the boat and settled into our "reserved seats," two rows of benches on the top level left in the very front--the best seats in the house. The salty air whipped through my hair and I closed my eyes, enjoying the breeze and the spray of the sea salt.
We laughed and took photographs and listened to the tour guide detail about our surroundings. We passed coastal mansions, islands with rich history, and I kept my eye out for any interesting birds. I spotted a couple cormorants and many gulls, and I thought I saw something dark bobbing in the waves. Perhaps a seal? Maybe a whale? As I was inspecting the shoreline with my binoculars, two ladies came and sat with Edith and Candice on our benches. They were clutching plastic cups of wine, having come up to the second floor of the boat to hear the tour guide better. They invited us down to the first level, where some sort of party was commencing. The ladies descended down the stairs, and we decided to follow them.
 |
| Birthday Girl Janet in the lobster sweater |
"We grew up together in a neighborhood in Chicago," she replied. "We do a girls trip every two or three years, whoever can come. This year we chose Bar Harbor, and we stay at the same hotel and then split off into groups and do whatever we want during the day. We're celebrating Janet's birthday today."
Two ladies emerged from the door holding a microphone. We sang Janet a happy birthday, and her face shone with joy. Janet was glowing, and she tuned 60 today. The ladies led a round of birthday cheers, and they opened up the floor for karaoke.
I jumped up at the opportunity. When else would you ever be able to sing well-loved songs in front of a crowd of drunk older ladies, on a boat, in Maine! We had some technical difficulties with the microphone, but they encouraged me to sing anyway. I opened up my glamorous performance with "Kokomo," by The Beach Boys. Brian Wilson passed away the day we arrived, and he has been on my mind all trip.
 |
| Jessica preparing to preform |
"Your eyes could steal a sailor from the sea..."
The ladies were magnificent. It reminded me of when I was younger and I would hang out with my mother and all her friends, and we would dance around our kitchen singing George Strait. They were all so beautiful, clapping their hands and stumbling through the words, and then bursting into laughter and giggles. I haven't felt that kind of girlhood in awhile, and it was a very special moment to share with us girls. They even invited me to the bars after with them! I cannot wait to grow older and be just like them.
Waking Up Before the Sun
My day started off before most of my friends back at home had even fallen asleep. Waking up at 1:30 a.m. was definitely a choice, but it turned out to be so worth it in the end. Mallory, Libby, Kate, Maci and I left for the sunrise on Cadillac Mountain at 2:30 in the morning, but ended up being way too early since we couldn’t do any night sky photography due to the cloud coverage. To pass some of the time, we stopped by the Eagle Lake Carriage Road parking lot where we heard owls and tons of frogs and danced around said parking lot for a solid 2-3 minutes before getting back in the car. We drove back toward the entrance of the mountain around 3:40 a.m. and found ourselves overlooking the same body of water we toured on the Sunset Cruise yesterday. The wait was completely worth it and we got to be some of the first people in the United States to see the sunrise this morning. After we had gotten all of the footage we needed from the sunrise, we headed to Jordan Pond for some more views and fresh air at around 6:00 a.m.. Our next stop was Bar Harbor where we all decided to nap in the car for around thirty to forty-five minutes before getting coffee at A Slice of Eden pastry shop for some fuel to go meet everyone else at the carriage rides.
Sunrise at Cadillac Mountain
NO SLEEP 'TIL BROOKLYN
 |
| Van sleep |
Jack Don't Let Go!!!
 |
| Libby, Maci and I being cuddle bugs in the freezing weather. |
It was the dusk of Friday eve when the crusading crew embarked on a journey of heartache, toothache and painstaking adventure also known as the sunset boat tour. Libby and I embarked on a journey beforehand to acquire sweatshirts for this daunting adventure. As we boarded the boat with our newly styled fits, we evaluated our chances of exiting the boat in one piece. The boat tour was extremely pleasant and educational. I received immense amounts of enjoyment from the “totally true” stories that were being fed to us by the first guide. Once the tour was coming to an end, Libby, Maci and I all huddled together to insure the lasting functionality and integrity of our limbs. Then, the delirium kicked in. Everything was funny. Everything was cold. In the end, the only thing that kept us alive was the burning fire of our friendship, and maybe a bean burrito that I had eaten in a past life.
Our Busy Second Day in Maine
 |
| Sunset Cruise View |
Unexpected Friends on Day 2 in Acadia
For our second day in Acadia, we had quite a busy day! From seeing our first lighthouse on the coast, walking around the Seawall, taking more scenic walks, and conducting many interviews, we were very productive. The best way to end a day like this is with something calming, to truly unwind from all the craziness. So, I was very excited for our sunset cruise on the Acadian that evening! I've always loved being on or close to the water, so I knew this was going to be a fun adventure. We loaded up onto the boat and were off!
 |
| Seals! |
 |
| The Acadian, our boat |
 |
| Gorgeous Maine sunset |
Maine Day 3: A Delirious and Scenic Adventure
 |
| The Sunrise Squad |
Scenic views and a park ranger revelation: Acadia day 2!
Somehow, the second day was even better than the first. Starting off strong with a visit to of the oldest lighthouses in Maine- Bass Harbor Lighthouse! Bought for $80 dollars in 1858, this space provided priceless premium cliff side views of the lobstermen heading back to shore and all the pink granite you can imagine. After wrapping up there, we made a quick detour to Seawall to skip some rocks into the Gulf of Maine and a group of common loons in their natural element on a seaside rock.
We then took a lunch break at Eagle Lake and got a chance to observe a portion of the John D. Rockefeller carriage roads, which sit beside breathtaking views of Eagle Lake. Just a quick stop there provided views of lily-pads, kayakers and several dozen MORE common loons having their morning social hour (I’m starting to understand the name with each day).
After our morning views, it was time to get down to business. Like a real group of journalists, we sat down with three Acadia Park Rangers and chatted for an hour about all aspects of a national park- preservation, changing climate, extinction efforts, indigenous history and how to begin your journey working with the parks. I cannot thank them for their time and words more. Getting to speak with individuals who live and breathe this park was a strong reflection of how when you care so deeply about a space, this space will care for you back and work together- proving how alive nature is.
We then zoomed back down to Bar Harbor to speak with the Friends of Acadia nonprofit group! Their passion and knowledge for Acadia was inspiring, to say the least. Each individual spoke about the park with such respect , consideration , and admiration that I left that space no longer feeling like a visitor but rather an interim steward of the park.
Each of our stops and conversations with the local staff nudged me towards considering a career of environmental journalism. I now know I want to feel as passionate and knowledgeable about the great outdoors as the lovely women and men who spoke with us, and I feel compelled to join the National Park Service mentality of “being in the forever business”.
Maine Day 2: Scenic Cereal on the Rocks
 |
| My Scenic Cereal on the Rocks |
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)